That Viral Yellowstone Bison Video Is A Good Reminder To Be Viligant

Over the weekend, a video of a bison launching a man eight feet in the air went viral, and even though it took place in Yellowstone National Park, it had southwest Oklahoma residents wondering if it happened at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

On Monday, July 13, the nature photographer who captured the video, Mike Macleod, spoke with NBC News, and stated that the park visitors who were attacked by the bison were "doing everything right" - observing from a safe distance and being respectful of the bison. Once the bison became agitated, the spectators tried to get away, but according to Macleod, "they were at the wrong place at the wrong time."

Bison at Yellowstone National Park launched a 65-year-old man eight feet in the air.

The viral video showed two visitors at Yellowstone National Park observing a bison grazing and rolling around in the grass near a campground. The bison then appeared to be agitated and the two visitors started to move away. But the bison charged at the pair and chased them through a wooded area.

The 65-year-old man then came out of the woods, turned around, and the bison bucked him, launching him eight feet in the air. Macleod told NBC that he stopped recording when he noticed the bison was hovering over the man. Then him and other campers distracted the bison and chased it away.

NBC reported that the man is still in the hospital, recovering from surgery, according to his family.

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Visitors to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge should also be on guard when observing bison.

Like Yellowstone National Park, Oklahoma's Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is an open range where bison freely roam. Visitors at the refuge are encouraged to admire bison from a safe distance and should not try to get closer.

The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge has had instances over the years where bison have charged at visitors, however, these were mostly caused by visitors getting too close. In 2021, KSWO spoke with refuge officials about a video of a bison charging at a man after the man tried to pet it. The official stated that was natural reaction from the bison due to feeling pressured or stressed out.

Even though most of the bison-related instances at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge were caused by people getting too close, it's still possible that a bison could react the same way it did at Yellowstone over the weekend with safe-distance bystanders.

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The National Park Service encourages bison admirers to remain 75 feet away from the animal.

Three months ago, the National Park Service shared its guidelines for viewing bison at national parks on its official Facebook page. These safety guidelines can also be applied when admiring bison at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

• Keep 75 feet, two school bus lengths, between you and the bison.
• Do not approach bison for a photo, visitors should zoom in with their camera.
• Stay inside your vehicle.
• Bison are also stubborn, and will not budge or move faster when honked at.

More safety details are available on the National Park Service's official website.