Bison Dies After Falling Into Yellowstone’s Grand Prismatic Spring in Rare, Tragic Incident

An American bison at Yellowstone National Park

A bison tragically died after slipping into the scorching waters of Yellowstone National Park's Grand Prismatic Spring, in a shocking event witnessed by park visitors on June 21. The animal's death serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers posed by the park's geothermal features to both animals and humans.

The incident occurred in the Wyoming section of the park, where the bison reportedly walked too close to the spring's fragile edge, began to thrash, and ultimately slipped into the steaming water behind a veil of mist. Onlookers, including Katie Hirtzel from Salt Lake City, Utah, captured the scene and later described the atmosphere as “quiet” and “eerie.”

The bison struggles to escape the boiling water

“It was beautiful and powerful to witness,” Hirtzel said. She and her family were camping nearby and revisited the site the next day, finding the bison's body still floating in the spring, unchanged. She hopes the animal will be left in place as a natural part of Yellowstone’s "circle of life."

According to Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory with the U.S. Geological Survey, the high temperature of the spring will gradually decompose the bison’s remains. He explained that while rangers are likely to allow the body to decay naturally, they will monitor the area to ensure scavenging animals do not come dangerously close to the busy tourist site.

The bison struggles to escape the boiling water

Poland emphasized that animal deaths in Yellowstone’s thermal features, while not unusual, are rarely witnessed by so many people. This event, he said, underscores the need for visitors to stay on marked trails and boardwalks to avoid serious injuries or fatalities.

The Grand Prismatic Spring is Yellowstone’s largest hot spring and among the largest in the world, with a diameter of 200–300 feet and a depth of over 121 feet. The spring’s surface temperature hovers around 192°F, just below boiling at that elevation. In deeper areas, temperatures can reach the boiling point, making survival impossible.

Though many assume Yellowstone’s springs are acidic, Poland noted that most are actually neutral. The intense heat, not acidity, breaks down tissue over time. In this case, the bison will slowly decompose, with only bones likely to remain.

The beast fell into the Grand Prismatic Spring, where temperatures are around 192 degrees

Hirtzel expressed her disbelief that an animal as majestic as a bison could make such a fatal misstep, especially after she and her family had just discussed how wildlife must instinctively avoid geothermal features. But according to Poland, animals don’t have special instincts to avoid danger near hot springs. While they can sense heat and may act cautiously, they are still susceptible to fatal mistakes—especially in winter months when warm springs attract animals seeking heat.

Poland referenced other geothermal areas, such as “Skeleton Pool” in the Lower Geyser Basin, known for its accumulation of animal remains. These areas highlight the frequent but often unseen dangers Yellowstone's thermal features pose to wildlife.

The animal died “fairy quickly,” according to an expert

In this rare public incident, the bison likely ventured too close to unstable ground, was burned, panicked, and ultimately slipped into deeper, lethal waters. The tragedy highlights the critical importance of designated trails and boardwalks, which are designed to protect both visitors and the fragile geothermal ecosystem.

“This is why the boardwalks and trails are where they are,” Poland said. “It prevents damage to the thermal areas and it also prevents people from getting into bad situations.”