Wyoming Man Fights Off 70-Pound Mountain Lion to Save 2-Year-Old Lab

Q: When a mountain lion attacked his Labrador near Cody, why did a Wyoming man choose a kick over bear spray or a gun?

He kicked the mountain lion because he believed using his gun or bear spray could also hit his dog, Diesel, who was pinned beneath the cat in thick brush. Adam Borkhus said the lion and Labrador were tangled together when he reached them near Cody, leaving him little room to use either weapon safely. He was carrying both a firearm and bear spray, but he did not want to risk shooting Diesel or spraying him at point-blank range during the struggle. In his account, there was also almost no time to think: he heard the dog yelp, ran in, and reacted immediately by kicking the lion in the face to break the attack. The kick worked briefly, forcing the lion off Diesel, but it then turned on Borkhus and knocked him down. He fought it off with punches and by grabbing its ear until it fled. Borkhus suffered scratches, while Diesel was unharmed. Wildlife experts later noted that, in general, bear spray is the preferred option in a pet attack because it can stop the encounter without requiring close contact, even if the dog also gets sprayed. But in that moment, Borkhus chose the kick because he saw it as the quickest way to avoid injuring his dog with his own defensive tools.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 29

Adam Borkhus, 33, said he kicked a mountain lion in the face on Sept. 19 near Cody, Wyoming, after it attacked his 2-year-old Labrador, Diesel, while he was stopped on a remote road.
Borkhus had a firearm and bear spray but avoided using either because the cat was tangled with the dog; when the lion turned on him, he said it pounced on his chest and knocked him onto his back.
The 20- to 30-second struggle ended after Borkhus punched the cat and yanked its ear, sending it off; he suffered scratches to his hands, arm and face, while Diesel was unhurt and retreated to the vehicle.
Wyoming Game and Fish says mountain lion conflicts with people are rare and advises people not to run, to give the animal space, and to fight back if attacked.
Mountain Lion Foundation researcher Joshua Lisbon said dog owners in lion country should keep pets leashed or under strong voice control and use bear spray if a lion grabs a dog.