The bison died in the boiling waters of the Grand Prismatic Spring. This happens from time to time, but usually not in front of a crowd.

A bison died after it appeared to stumble into a popular hot spring, where temperatures reach 192 degrees Fahrenheit, while tourists watched on at Yellowstone National Park1.

The incident occurred at Grand Prismatic Spring near Old Faithful as tourists were enjoying a close-up view of the famous and popular hot spring.

The Grand Prismatic hot spring in Yellowstone National Park is sourced from a magma chamber beneath it. The bright colours ...

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NPS / Curtis Akin Big picture view: Grand Prismatic Spring is Yellowstone ’s largest hot spring. By the numbers: It is 200–330 feet in diameter and more than 121 feet deep.

NPS / Curtis Akin Big picture view: Grand Prismatic Spring is Yellowstone ’s largest hot spring. By the numbers: It is 200–330 feet in diameter and more than 121 feet deep.

"I thought it was a great photo opportunity." A bison is seen right before falling into Grand Prismatic Spring at Yellowstone National Park on June 21, 2025. / Credit: Louise Howard ...

The animal walked straight into the Grand Prismatic Spring, tumbling into the hot water. Although it tried to escape, the bison was unable to free itself and ultimately died in the pool.

Grand Prismatic is about 300 feet wide, and its temperatures reach 192 degrees Fahrenheit, Poland said. Boiling point at Yellowstone, because of its high altitude, is 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

NPS / Curtis Akin Big picture view: Grand Prismatic Spring is Yellowstone ’s largest hot spring. By the numbers: It is 200–330 feet in diameter and more than 121 feet deep.

FILE - An archive photo of a bison riding through columns of steam at Yellowstone National Park's Grand Prismatic Spring. (Photo: Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) ...