Photographer describes distracting bison after it launched tourist into air
Photographer describes distracting bison after it launched tourist into air
Alicia Sitz Wed, July 15, 2026 at 7:01 AM UTC
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(NewsNation) — It’s a video that’s gone viral: a man is chased and then launched into the air by a bison at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. The footage was captured by professional photographer Mike MacLeod, who not only recorded the entire incident but also helped drive the animal away.
MacLeod spoke exclusively with NewsNation’s Jesse Weber on Tuesday. He said the bison was agitated as soon as it entered the Bridge Bay Campground. MacLeod began recording and caught the animal first charging at some boys, then at a couple, before it seemed to settle.
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“I have a master’s degree in wildlife biology, and I studied at the University of Montana, and I have a lot of experience reading animal behavior in general,” MacLeod said. “And if you watch bison behavior, when they settle down into the dust, it usually means that it’s pretty good.”
However, the bison took a turn as soon as it saw Carl Isom-McDaniel, 65, and his grandson, 13.
How did Mike MacLeod help during the bison attack?
“Carl and his grandson started walking along the road, and the bison saw them,” MacLeod said. “And for whatever reason, he got up and charged.”
Isom-McDaniel boldly told his grandson to run while he distracted the bull bison.
Photographer Mike MacLeod captured the moment the bull bison chargedand launched Carl Isom-McDaniel, 65, into the air. (Credit: Newsflare)
“Carl told his grandson to run along the road and go back to the place where they had just come from while he lured the bison away,” MacLeod said. “So, he saved his grandson’s life.”
Just as Isom-McDaniel jumped into action to protect his grandson, MacLeod did the same for Isom-McDaniel.
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“Someone just needed to distract that bison,” he said. “So, I started yelling for other campers … running, jumping up as high as I could, and screaming at the top of my lungs, and ran at it to distract.”
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Luckily, the move worked, and the bison ran in the other direction. That’s when MacLeod was able to approach Isom-McDaniel, who suffered multiple broken bones, but the ordeal didn’t break his spirit.
“He was in severe pain,” MacLeod said. “People came to help comfort him. And he started making jokes.”
Since the attack, MacLeod and Isom-McDaniel have been talking regularly on the phone, telling NewsNation that he’s recovering well and has an amazing attitude about the whole thing.
“Carl’s a really neat man,” MacLeod said. “I’m really glad it worked out the way it did. … I have no fear that he’ll have a full recovery because he’s got so much going on in his life.”
NewsNation’s Rob Taub contributed to this article.
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