This is a list of deaths that have occurred within the boundaries of Yellowstone National Park since its establishment in 1872. Military deaths The U.S. Army administered Yellowstone from 1886 to 1917 from the park headquarters at Fort Yellowstone. During the Army’s tenure, at least 14 soldiers died in the park. Date Victim Circumstances1891Private James PruittDied from a horse kick1893Private Andrew PreiberFroze to death while on winter patrol1893Private Ellis LingardHorse wreck1894Lieutenant Lunsford DanielRunaway horse1897Private John W.H. DavisFroze to death on winter patrol1898Private Harry P. DonaldsonDrowning1904Private Richard R. HurleyFroze to death on winter patrol1906Private Harry B. AllenDrowning1908Private Presley H. VanceFroze to death on winter patrol1910Private Frank F. MonaghanDrowning1912Private Frank CunninghamSelf-defense shooting1916Lieutenant Joseph McDonaldAvalanche1918Sergeant Arthur S. BrewerDrowning1918Private Victor ManterfieldDrowning
Bear attacks DateVictim CircumstancesSeptember 8, 1916Frank WelchKilled by a bear at a camp near Sylvan Pass. He was carrying hay and oats when attacked; other campers later killed the bear with a dynamite trap.August 23, 1942Martha HansenMauled to death by a bear in the Old Faithful area. Hansen had left her cabin to go to an outdoor restroom at night, surprised a bear around a corner, and was attacked. Hansen succumbed to her injuries four days later in a hospital.June 24-25, 1972Harry Eugene WalkerMauled and partially consumed by a grizzly bear after he camped illegally in the backcountry. Walker's death led to a high-profile wrongful death trial.July 30, 1984Brigitta Fredenhagen Dragged from her tent during the night and killed at a backcountry campsite at the southern end of White Lake. Park investigations concluded the grizzly was likely food-conditioned.October 5, 1986William TesinskyMauled to death and partly eaten by a grizzly bear in the Otter Creek area of Hayden Valley. Tesinsky had approached the bear too closely while trying to take photos. The bear was later shot and killed by park rangers.July 6, 2011Brian MatayoshiAttacked and killed by a female grizzly with cubs on the Wapiti Lake Trail near Canyon Village.August 24, 2011John WallaceBody was found along the Mary Mountain Trail after hiking alone. An autopsy confirmed he died from a bear attack. August 7, 2015 Lance Crosby Killed by a grizzly bear in an off-trail area near Elephant Back Loop Trail
Bison incidents Date Victim CircumstancesMarch 22, 1902Dick RockPoacher gored near Henry's Lake 29 times by captive bison.July 31, 1983Alain Jean Jacques DumontGored by a solitary bull while taking a photo about six feet away from the animal, died in the hospital September 2.
Thermal pool accidents Date Victim CircumstancesJuly 1890James Joseph StumboFell into a hot spring during a family excursion and died.September 1905Fannie WeeksFell into a hot spring near Old Faithful and died a month later from her injuries.July 8, 1919 Jame Baxter Hughes4-year-old boy from Gueydan, Louisiana, fell into hot spring at West Thumb Geyser Basin.August 15, 1927Rollo FallagherFell into a hot spring near Firehole Lake and sustained injuries, was recommended to seek medical care nearby but chose to drive to Salt Lake City, where he later died.July 5, 1929Georges LandoyVisiting from Belgium when he fell into a hot spring near Grand Geyser.June 28, 1970Andrew Clark HechtFell into Crested Pool spring and died. The Andrew Clark Hecht Memorial Public Safety Achievement Award was created in his memory, and is annually given to the individual or group who contributes the most in public safety. The recipient also receives $1,000.July 20, 1981David Allen KirwanDied after diving into Celestine Pool in an attempt to save a friend's dog, which had fallen into the waters, which have an average temperature of . Kirwin (age 24) was severely burned and blinded, but survived until the next day when he died at a Salt Lake City hospital. After being removed from the pool, he was reported to have said: "That was stupid. How bad am I? That was a stupid thing I did."August 21, 2000Sara HulphersConcessions employee who accidentally fell into a hot spring while walking in the park before dawn. Her friends who fell in with her survived with extensive burns.June 7, 2016Colin ScottDied after slipping into a thermal pool while exploring a prohibited area of the park with his sister. Reports indicate that they intended to partake in "hot potting," the prohibited activity of bathing in Yellowstone's thermal pools. July 31, 2022 Il Hun Ro70-year-old man died after entering Abyss Pool (West Thumb Geyser Basin); part of his foot in a shoe was found floating in August 2022.
Falls from heights Date Victim CircumstancesJune 17, 2006 Deborah Chamberlin Stepped over a retaining wall to take a photograph and fell 500 ft to her death.September 28, 2007Charlotte HarrisonSlipped from the Calcite Springs overlook and fell 400–500 ft into the canyon while taking photos.August 26, 2016Estefania Liset Mosquera Alcivar Park concessions employee fell ~400 ft from Grandview Point into the canyon while socializing with co-workers.June 7-8, 2017Jeff MurphyFell ~500 ft from Turkey Pen Peak (near Rescue Creek Trail) while hiking alone searching for the Forrest Fenn treasure.
Hiking accidents Date Victim CircumstancesJuly 16, 2013 Joseph Austin Parker 23-year-old from Valdosta, Georgia, was hiking alone on Electric Peak. Fell 300 ft. and was found dead at the bottom of a scree cliff.On or after September 17, 2024Austin King22-year-old who disappeared after a 7-day solo camping expedition around Eagle Peak. He reached the summit and left a note in the registry book dated September 17, 2024, detailing severe weather and numbness in his fingers. He is believed to be dead after no evidence of his remains or whereabouts was found after extensive searches, but his ultimate fate is uncertain.
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