Yellowstone’s Summer of Chaos: Bison, Biscuit Basin, and a Park That’s Very Much Alive

Yellowstone is having quite a year. If national parks had mood rings, Yellowstone’s would be flashing “I’m busy, please stop poking things.” Between the bison‑tourist incidents and the ongoing hydrothermal drama at Biscuit Basin, the park seems determined to remind everyone that it is a wild, volcanic landscape — not a petting zoo with scenic views.

The Bison Situation

Every summer, Yellowstone’s bison attempt to teach tourists the same lesson: You cannot take a selfie with a 2,000‑pound animal.

And every summer, at least a few tourists decide to test that theory. This year has already seen multiple injuries, each one a variation of the classic Yellowstone story: human gets too close, bison reacts like a bison, and rangers sigh deeply.

I can personally attest that bison are grouchy and it doesn’t take much to set them off. I wrote about my own close call in Yellowstone Wildlife Adventure — and that day, I genuinely thought I might become the next chapter in Death in Yellowstone.  Once you’ve had a bison give you “the look,” you never underestimate them again.

Meanwhile, Over in Biscuit Basin…

While the bison handle crowd control, Biscuit Basin has been busy doing its own thing — which apparently involves hydrothermal explosions.

Not geysers. Not bubbling mud pots. Actual steam‑powered blasts that throw rocks, open new vents, and send milky plumes drifting down the Firehole River.

A major explosion in 2024 damaged the boardwalk (no injuries, thankfully), and the area has been closed ever since. Then 2026 arrived with a whole series of smaller explosions, including one in June that created new runoff channels and set off seismic instruments. Scientists say it’s all normal behavior for Yellowstone’s hot‑water system — unpredictable, shifting, and very much alive.

Is the Volcano Waking Up?

No. The scientists at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory have been very clear: This is hydrothermal mischief, not volcanic unrest.

The magma chamber is quiet. The volcano alert level is normal. The aviation code is green. Yellowstone is simply doing what Yellowstone does — rearranging its plumbing.

Old Faithful, the Reliable One

With everything else acting up, Old Faithful is the only one behaving. It’s still erupting right on schedule, as if saying, “Don’t worry, I’m fine. I’m literally the only stable thing here.”

If Old Faithful ever did stop erupting, half the country would panic, and scientists would have to explain that it’s just taking a break. (That’s a joke — please don’t start packing emergency kits.)

So What’s Next?

Probably more of the same:

• Bison being bison
• Tourists being tourists
• Biscuit Basin continuing its dramatic steam‑powered soap opera
• And Old Faithful rolling its eyes at all of it

Yellowstone isn’t having “problems.” Yellowstone is simply reminding us who’s boss.

If You Go

Yellowstone is beautiful, majestic, and unlike anything you’ll probably ever see again — but it’s also dangerous. The park is filled with wildlife that would happily make a snack out of a careless human, and hydrothermal features that can change or erupt without warning.

If you visit:

• Follow every park rule. They exist because the landscape doesn’t play nice.
• Listen to the rangers. They know what’s safe, what’s not, and what’s about to become a problem.
• Give wildlife space. A bison may look slow and peaceful, but trust me — they can turn grouchy in a heartbeat. (Yellowstone has bear and wolves too)
• Stay on boardwalks and marked trails. The ground in Yellowstone is thin, hot, and unpredictable.

Respect the park, and Yellowstone will reward you with one of the most unforgettable experiences of your life.