A couple from Montana were out riding on the range, he with his rifle and she (fortunately) with her camera. Their dogs always followed them, but on this occasion a Mountain Lion decided that he wanted to stalk the dogs (you'll see the dogs in the background watching).  Very, very bad decision...



The hunter got off the mule with his rifle and decided to shoot in the air to scare away the lion, but before he could get off a shot the lion charged in and decided he wanted a piece of those dogs. With that, the mule took off and decided he wanted a piece of that lion. That's when all hell broke loose...  for the lion.

 

As the lion approached the dogs the mule snatched him up by the tail and started whirling him around. Banging its head on the ground on every pass. Then he dropped it, stomped on it and held it to the ground by the throat.  The mule then got down on his knees and bit the thing all over a couple of dozen times to make sure it was dead, than whipped it into the air again, walked back over to the couple (that were stunned in silence) and stood there ready to continue his ride...  as if nothing had just happened.

Fortunately even though the hunter didn't get off a shot, his wife got off these 4...

Great story spot.  Locals use burros for protecting their sheep from 'otes.  I've heard that a donkey will kill a predator.  but this is a lion and the muled seemed to show no fear!

BEAR

BTW -

    I just got that email from a Friend.

The notes say MT so I'm figuring some of our MT home boys should keep an eye out for it.

   I do get a kick out of the dog's watching the cat get the horse feathers getting kicked out of it in the last pic.

Spot

Bear is right, many sheep folk use donkeys & burros as guard animals.  They are much more prone to stay with the flock and will run off or kill even the neighbors dog if it is unfamiliar.

This is one of those stories you have to see to believe.  WONDERFUL PICS!!!!

Pics are true, story is wrong.  Sorry it really does make a good story.

But the truth is almost as good.

This was taken at the conclusion of a hunt, the dogs tracked and treed the lion, hunter shot and killed it.  That is why the dogs are peacefully sitting there, they had done their job.

I believe they put the carcass on the mule, or tried to.  the mule was having none of it and grabbed the "dead" lions paw or tail, and started swinging it madly.  the photos show what happened.

Probably ruined someones trophy, but it does show what a mule thinks of the big cats.  I also suspect when it was over the mule pissed on the carcass and gave it a few extra kicks.

The mule's name is Berry and the incident took place in New Mexico.  Western Mule Magazine, did an article on it.  Look it up in your back issues (about 2004), sure you all subscribe

BEAR

Since you are a good friend of the "skinner" maybe he will send you his library!

BEAR