In a heartbreaking incident on June 21, visitors at Yellowstone National Park witnessed a bison’s distressing fate when it fell into the scorching waters of the Grand Prismatic Spring, located near Old Faithful.
A witness shared vivid images of the event on social media, recounting how the bison initially walked into a shallow region but quickly retreated. After a brief pause, the animal returned to a deeper area where it became trapped, making desperate attempts to escape. Louise Howard, who recorded the event, noted, “As hard as it tried, it couldn’t get out,” in a post that included graphic footage.
According to Michael Poland, the scientist overseeing the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, while rare, incidents of animals falling into hot springs do occur, with previous discoveries of animal remains in similar situations. He stated that the bison likely perished almost instantaneously and most likely boiled to death in the extreme temperatures of the hot spring.
The Grand Prismatic Spring, which spans 300 feet in width, has waters that can reach up to 192 degrees Fahrenheit. Poland explained the impact of such heat on organic material, highlighting that the bison’s body would be dissolved over time, leaving only skeletal remains.
Source: www.foxnews.com
