A family outing at Yellowstone turned dangerous when visitors approached a bison and a child was briefly chased before escaping unharmed. Video captured by Brittany Peteler shows the animal charge after a child when a group moved too close despite warnings. The National Park Service reminds visitors to stay at least 25 yards (75 feet) from bison, which can run up to about 35 mph and be unpredictable. Recent summer incidents — including a fisherman near-miss, an SUV struck by a bison, and a July attack that left a man with broken bones — reinforce the need to keep distance from wildlife.
Child Chased by Bison at Yellowstone After Visitors Move Too Close — Video Shows Narrow Escape
A family outing at Yellowstone National Park turned frightening when a bison briefly pursued a child after visitors approached the animal too closely. The encounter, captured on video by Brittany Peteler via Storyful, shows a woman calmly cross a boardwalk while the bison moves slowly toward the area. Moments later, another group — including children — walked toward the same animal despite warnings from onlookers, and one child ran as the bison gave chase for several seconds before the youngster escaped unharmed.
Yellowstone National Park visitors are seen during a close encounter with a bison that began chasing after a child. Brittany Peteler via Storyful
What the Footage Shows
Peteler's video begins with a tense moment as a woman crosses a wooden boardwalk past the grazing bison. After she is safely across and observers exhale, another group approaches the animal. As the distance closes, a child suddenly bolts and the bison charges, chasing the child for several heart-stopping seconds. Fortunately, the child was not injured.
The heart-stopping moment the wild animal began chasing after a child. Brittany Peteler via Storyful
"Bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal. They are unpredictable, can run three times faster than humans and will defend their space when threatened." — National Park Service
Park Warnings and Safety Rules
The National Park Service repeatedly reminds visitors to stay at least 25 yards (75 feet) away from bison and other large wildlife such as elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose and coyotes. Park officials emphasize that bison are wild and unpredictable, can reach speeds approaching 35 mph, and may become aggressive without warning — especially during the summer breeding season.
Park officials have repeatedly warned that bison are responsible for more injuries to visitors than any other wild animal in Yellowstone. Brittany Peteler via Storyful
Other Recent Incidents
This close call is one of several run-ins with bison in Yellowstone this summer. In separate incidents, a large bison quietly crept up behind a fisherman while he cast his line, a bison rammed an SUV and punctured a tire on a park road, and in July a 65-year-old man, Carl Isom-McDaniel, was seriously injured after being thrown several feet by an agitated bull bison.
Takeaway
Videos like Peteler’s underscore how quickly a seemingly calm wildlife encounter can turn dangerous when visitors ignore posted distance guidelines. The safest action is to admire wildlife from a distance, follow park rules, and keep children close and supervised at all times.
Credit: Video captured by Brittany Peteler via Storyful.
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