Bison Stampede in Yellowstone in Incredible Footage

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Written by Jennifer Geer

Published: January 24, 2025

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A herd of bison moves quickly along the Firehole River in Yellowstone National Park (near Midway Geyser Basin).
YegoroV/Shutterstock.com

Imagine sitting in your car on a bridge with a hundred massive bison charging towards you. As the bridge shakes, their hoofbeats grow louder. Just as you wonder if the herd will collide directly with the front of your car, they begin to stream around each side in thunderous motion. Some lucky tourists got to have this exact experience from the safety of their vehicle at Yellowstone National Park. And fortunate for us, they filmed the whole thing.

According to the person who posted this impressive video, the stampede began with 10 bison and then turned into 100. Take a look at the footage above to see the animals in action. Amazingly, once they cross the bridge, the bison disperse and begin to casually mill around in the grass, grazing and resting. Why do bison stampede and what should you do if you find yourself in the middle of one? Read on to find out.

Majestic bison causing a traffic jam in Yellowstone, with vehicles waiting patiently and a dog strolling nearby, showcasing nature's dominance.

Bison can run as fast as 35 miles per hour and weigh up to 2,000 pounds.

About the Bison of Yellowstone National Park

There were once millions of bison roaming freely across North America. Not to be confused with the buffalo that are native to Asia and Africa, the American bison is the largest mammal on the continent. Males can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and stand six feet tall. By the end of the 19th century, the millions of bison were nearly gone with less than 1,000 remaining.

Today, thanks to poaching laws and conservation efforts, there are around 31,000 bison in North America. Although it’s nowhere near their former numbers, the majestic animals are now free from the threat of extinction. If you’d like to see free-roaming bison, your best bet is heading to Yellowstone National Park. Here, around 5,400 bison roam freely, and they still exhibit the same wild behaviors as their ancestors did hundreds of years ago.

Aside from Yellowstone, some other good places to spot wild bison include Custer State Park in South Dakota, Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge in Nebraska, and Caprock Canyons State Park in Texas.

Why Do Bison Stampede?

A seemingly tranquil group of bison can get spooked and start running in no time at all. Because of their unpredictability, officials at Yellowstone require tourists to stay at least 25 yards away from bison at any time. Though bison are typically calm, you never know when one may decide to charge. Even just one 2,000-pound charging beast is bad enough, but when a herd gets going, it’s best to get out of the way.

Just like African wildebeests that form stampedes when running from a predator, American bison stampede when they perceive a threat. It can just take one member of the herd to set off a chain reaction among the others. In the past, bison would stampede when running away from hunters. Today we can’t know exactly what set might trigger a stampede. It could be as simple as a crack of thunder, a tree falling, or any other incident that a member of the group perceives as dangerous.

Once one buffalo gets scared or excited and starts running, the herd will often follow. The group keeps going until everyone decides the threat is gone and they are free to calmly graze once again. You can see this happening in the video above when the bison reach the other side of the bridge and begin grazing and lying in the grass.

How Many Animals Does It Take To Make a Stampede?

While there is no exact requirement for how many animals it takes to be considered a stampede, it’s generally thought of as happening with large groups of herd animals. For bison, it generally involves a few minutes of frantic running before it dies down.

The larger the animal, the more massive the stampede. Even a crowd of people can be dangerous when everyone is trying to get away from a perceived threat all at once. And when the crowd is 1,000 to 2,000-pound bison running at 35 miles per hour, it’s best to get out of the way immediately.

Keep Your Distance From Bison

You always want to keep a safe distance from bison to avoid provoking the animals. According to a recent study, American bison in Yellowstone National Park have injured more people than any other wildlife in the park, and that’s including bears.

The danger occurs when people get too close. Half of the injuries at Yellowstone happened to people trying to take a picture of the bison. The majority (80%) occurred when the person approached the animal. If a herd of bison is crossing a road in front of you, let the entire herd pass. Don’t think you can pass in between them. You can recognize an agitated bison by watching its behavior. The animal might shake its head from side to side, paw the ground, and raise its tail. And if it continues to think someone is a threat, it will eventually charge.

How to Stay Safe if You Ever Find Yourself in an Animal Stampede

But what should you do if you are following all the rules, and still, a wild stampede is headed your way? Stay calm and try to get out of the way of the direction of the moving herd as quickly as possible. Don’t try to outrun them or think you can run with them. If you can’t move out of their path in time, look for shelter or climb a tree to get yourself to safety.

The most important rule to keep you safe is to remember to keep your distance. Although mostly docile, bison are wild animals that can easily turn aggressive when threatened.


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About the Author

Jennifer Geer

Jennifer Geer is a writer at A-Z Animals where her primary focus is on animals, news topics, travel, and weather. Jennifer holds a Master's Degree from the University of Tulsa, and she has been researching and writing about news topics and animals for over four years. A resident of Illinois, Jennifer enjoys hiking, gardening, and caring for her three pugs.

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