Tourists at Yellowstone National Park witnessed a bison’s tragic death on June 21, when the animal fell into the near-boiling waters of the Grand Prismatic Spring at Midway Geyser Basin, near Old Faithful.

A witness who posted photos of the incident on social media said the bison took a few steps into a shallow area before turning around and stepping out quickly. The animal then apparently paused before turning back and stepping into a deeper area, where it became trapped and was unable to free itself.

A view of a bison on Oct. 9, 2024 in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. (Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images)

Michael Poland, the scientist-in-charge at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, told CBS News that while it is rare, it is not unheard of for animals to fall into hot springs. He said scientists have found skeletons at hot springs in the park. According to Poland, the bison died “very quickly” and most likely boiled to death.

Sign warning Yellowstone visitors not to go near wildlife. (Leila Coker/Getty Images)

“This bison carcass is basically sitting in a pool of nearly boiling water, and … that boiling water will eat away at the organic material, the tissues, and eventually there will just be some bone,” Poland said, according to NBC News.

The Grand Prismatic Spring is 300 feet wide, and its waters can reach up to 192 degrees Fahrenheit.