Viral Video Shows Fisherman Walking Away Safely As Bison Approaches From Behind at Yellowstone National Park
A fisherman safely avoided a close encounter with a bison in Yellowstone National Park after another visitor alerted him as the animal quietly approached from behind. The incident, captured on video, ended without injury. The encounter comes weeks after a woman was gored by a bison, prompting park officials to reiterate wildlife safety guidelines for visitors.
A fisherman narrowly avoided a potentially dangerous encounter with a bison at Yellowstone National Park after the animal quietly approached him from behind while he was fishing along a river. The incident, captured on video by park visitor Kristi Wilt, shows the man unaware of the bison's presence until he was alerted by another parkgoer, allowing him to move away safely without provoking the animal.
Wilt, who witnessed the incident, said the situation unfolded calmly despite the potential risk. According to her, a nearby vehicle first sounded its horn to alert the fisherman, who later learned that it was his wife who had honked. The encounter ended without injury as the man slowly walked away from the bison. Yellowstone National Park Viral Video Shows Bison Puncturing a Car’s Tyre; Here’s What Happened.
Fisherman Narrowly Avoids Bison Encounter After Timely Warning
A man fishing at Yellowstone National Park appeared to be completely unaware a bison was lurking behind him until concerned parkgoers alerted him to the approaching animal. https://t.co/4RbI9tHOrT pic.twitter.com/WuDV98Fe5F
— ABC News (@ABC) July 26, 2026
In the footage recorded by Wilt, the bison can be seen steadily approaching the fisherman from behind while he continued fishing with his back turned. The fisherman remained unaware of the animal until he heard the warning.
"The truck behind us started honking before we did, alerting the fisherman, who later found out it was his wife who honked," Wilt told Storyful. Wilt said she debated honking her own horn before the man was alerted, but worried the noise could cause the bison to charge. US: Bison Hurls Tourist Into Air at Yellowstone National Park (Watch Video).
"We were all so relieved as he walked like a boss, no eye contact, no fast movements, away from the bison," Wilt continued. "My family cheered because we all felt so much relief in the way he handled himself."
The close encounter comes just weeks after a 47-year-old woman was gored by a bison near the Lake Lodge Cabins on the north shore of Lake Yellowstone.
According to the National Park Service, the woman was walking with another individual through a field near the lodge when they spotted two bison. The pair turned to walk away, but one of the animals charged and gored the woman.
She suffered significant injuries to her chest and abdomen and was flown by helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Following recent incidents, Yellowstone National Park continues to remind visitors to maintain safe distances from wildlife. Park officials are reminding visitors to stay at least 25 yards away from all large animals, including bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose and coyotes.
Visitors should also remain at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, bison, the largest mammals in North America, can become more aggressive during the summer breeding season as they gather in large herds to compete for mates.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 27, 2026 11:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
