Terrifying encounter between child and rampaging bison in Yellowstone National Park

A family outing at Yellowstone National Park turned into a frightening close call when a child was chased by a bison after visitors wandered dangerously close to the beast.

The footage, recorded by Brittany Peteler, shows a woman calmly walking past the animal as it slowly approaches a wooden boardwalk. She makes it across safely while onlookers breathe a sigh of relief.

Moments later, another group — including several children — heads straight toward it despite warnings from witnesses watching the scene unfold.

As the distance closes, one child suddenly takes off running, prompting the bison to give chase for several terrifying seconds before the youngster escapes unharmed.

Park officials have repeatedly warned that bison are responsible for more injuries to visitors than any other wild animal in Yellowstone.

“Bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal,” officials said.

“They are unpredictable, can run three times faster than humans and will defend their space when threatened,”the National Park Service said.

“Wild animals can be aggressive when people do not respect their space. Visitors are responsible for staying at least 25 yards away from all large animals, including bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose and coyotes.”

The latest scare is just one in a string of dangerous run-ins between visitors and bison that have rattled Yellowstone National Park this summer.

Just last month, an oblivious fisherman narrowly avoided disaster after a massive bison quietly crept up behind him as he cast his line into a stream.

Video showed the animal approaching from only a short distance away before the man’s wife, sitting in a nearby vehicle, repeatedly honked the horn to get his attention. He turned, spotted the hulking animal and calmly walked away without incident.

Days earlier, another viral video captured a bison slamming into an SUV on a park road hard enough to puncture one of the vehicle’s tires.

The startled driver was forced to pull over after the animal rammed the side of the vehicle while traffic crawled through the park.

The most serious incident came in July, when 65-year-old Carl Isom-McDaniel of Washington suffered multiple broken bones after an agitated bull bison charged him near Yellowstone Lake and hurled him several feet into the air.

His grandson escaped unharmed, and fellow visitors rushed to distract the animal until emergency crews arrived.

Park officials have repeatedly reminded tourists that bison are wild animals capable of sprinting at speeds approaching 35 mph—roughly three times faster than humans—and can become aggressive without warning, particularly during the summer breeding season.

Visitors are required to remain at least 25 yards, or 75 feet, away from bison and other large wildlife, but videos circulating online continue to show tourists ignoring the rule by walking, stopping for photos or allowing children to get dangerously close.

The latest close call involving a child is another stark reminder that even a seemingly calm encounter can turn perilous in seconds.

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