Army Veteran Fights Off Mountain Lion to Save Dog in Wyoming

An Army veteran bravely defended his pet Labrador retriever against a wild predator in Wyoming recently, and he lived to share the experience.

Adam Borkhus, while on a nature outing with his dog, Diesel, near Cody along South Fork Road, had hoped to snap some photographs of local elk, as he mentioned to a local news outlet on September 25.

Unfortunately, their peaceful excursion took a dangerous turn. Borkhus, who had brought bear spray and a pistol for safety, heard Diesel yelp and quickly realized his dog was in a scuffle with a juvenile mountain lion.

Borkhus recounted that he kicked the mountain lion to free his dog, engaging in a struggle that lasted about 20 seconds, during which he attempted to punch the animal while it swiped at him.

In the end, the mountain lion fled, leaving Borkhus with only minor scratches.

During the tense moment, Borkhus reflected, “I was trying to keep his mouth away from my neck and face. I think it was just as panicked as I was. It was so fast I didn’t even have time to really realize what happened,” he stated, according to another news source.

He opted not to use his bear spray or pistol, concerned about harming Diesel in the process. Describing the strength of the wild cat, he said, “I’m 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds, and that cat couldn’t have been more than 70 pounds. He hit me in the chest and put me right down. That thing was strong,” noting that Diesel had hurried back to the car without hesitation.

The Wyoming Game & Fish Department notes that mountain lions are elusive creatures rarely seen by the public.

They explained, “Their cryptic behavior is a result of the successful stalk and ambush predation strategy they use to survive. Mountain lions’ primary food sources are deer and elk, though research in Wyoming shows they also prey on various mammals like porcupines, raccoons, beavers, and coyotes.”

Mountain lions, also referred to as cougars, are well-documented in various wildlife databases.

Currently, Borkhus is receiving rabies vaccine shots, despite the fact that rabies is extremely rare in mountain lions, as reported by local news.

As for Diesel? His owner shared that the dog came through the ordeal unscathed and hasn’t changed a bit, humorously noting, “He’s just his own dumb self.”