An Army veteran from Cody, Wyoming, found himself in a fight with a juvenile mountain lion after the predator attacked his two-year-old Labrador retriever, Diesel, near the South Fork Road area outside Cody. Adam Borkhus had driven into the area hoping to photograph elk and was carrying bear spray and a pistol when he heard his dog yelp. He ran towards the sound and found the mountain lion on top of Diesel. Because the animals were entangled, Borkhus feared shooting could hit his dog, so he kicked the mountain lion. The animal immediately turned on him, knocked him to the ground and fought with him for roughly 20 seconds before fleeing. Borkhus suffered scratches, while Diesel escaped without significant injuries.
How a Wyoming Army veteran ‘s trip to photograph elk turned into a fight
Borkhus had travelled with Diesel to the South Fork area near Cody, where he hoped to photograph elk. KTVQ reported that rainy weather had made him think the conditions could produce interesting photographs. He stopped near the Deer Creek Trailhead and let Diesel out of the vehicle. The situation changed within moments. Borkhus heard Diesel yelp and went to investigate, discovering a young mountain lion on top of his dog. The encounter occurred in heavy cover along South Fork Road, according to Wyoming Game and Fish officials.Borkhus already had two forms of protection with him. He was carrying bear spray and a pistol because of the presence of grizzlies in the area. However, the close-range struggle between Diesel and the mountain lion created another problem: either weapon could potentially injure his own dog.“There wasn’t time to think,” Borkhus told Cowboy State Daily, explaining that his immediate concern was protecting Diesel.
The kick that made the mountain lion turn on him
With Diesel underneath the mountain lion, Borkhus decided to intervene physically. He kicked the animal, which caused it to turn away from the Labrador and towards him.The mountain lion then pounced on Borkhus and struck him in the chest, knocking him onto his back. The Wyoming man said he tried to keep the animal’s mouth away from his neck and face while using his other hand to fight it. Borkhus estimated that the physical struggle lasted around 20 seconds, although KTVQ reported that he described the entire encounter as lasting less than 30 seconds. During the fight, he attempted to punch the mountain lion as it repeatedly swiped at him.Despite being much larger than the animal, Borkhus said he was surprised by its strength. He described himself as 6 feet 3 inches tall and 320 pounds and estimated that the juvenile mountain lion weighed no more than about 70 pounds.“He hit me in the chest and put me right down. That thing was strong,” Borkhus told Cowboy State Daily. The mountain lion eventually broke away and disappeared into the surrounding vegetation.
Diesel escaped without serious injury
Once the mountain lion fled, Borkhus discovered that Diesel had escaped the confrontation without significant injuries. The Labrador apparently had little interest in continuing the adventure. According to Borkhus, Diesel ran directly back to the vehicle and waited there while his owner recovered from the encounter. Borkhus later joked about his dog’s reaction, saying Diesel appeared to be communicating that they should leave. He also said the experience did not seem to change the dog’s personality. “Nope. He’s just his own dumb self,” Borkhus told Cowboy State Daily when asked whether Diesel had become nervous or behaved differently afterwards.Borkhus, meanwhile, was left with scratches on his face, hands and arms. KTVQ reported that the injuries were not severe enough to require stitches. The encounter nevertheless resulted in medical treatment. Borkhus received a tetanus booster and antibiotics, and doctors also began a precautionary course of rabies vaccinations.
Wyoming Game and Fish investigated the encounter
Borkhus contacted the Wyoming Game and Fish Department after the incident. Wildlife personnel responded that evening and searched the area for the mountain lion, but they were unable to locate it.Officials confirmed that a dog had been attacked in heavy cover along South Fork Road near the Deer Creek Trailhead, followed by an attack on a person. Based on their investigation, the department said the incident was most likely a surprise encounter that triggered aggressive defensive behaviour from the mountain lion. The department said it would continue monitoring the area.That assessment is significant because it distinguishes the incident from a mountain lion deliberately pursuing a person. Wyoming Game and Fish describes mountain lions as the state’s most elusive large carnivore and says they are rarely seen.The department explains that their cryptic behaviour is linked to their successful stalking and ambush hunting strategy. Deer and elk are their primary food sources in Wyoming, although research has documented mountain lions eating other mammals, including porcupines, raccoons, beavers and coyotes.The animal involved in Borkhus’s encounter was described as a juvenile. A representative of the Mountain Lion Foundation told Cowboy State Daily that a mountain lion of that size could potentially still be associated with its mother, since young lions generally remain with their mothers until around the age of two.
What to do if a mountain lion appears
Wyoming Game and Fish says conflicts between people and mountain lions are rare, but it provides specific advice for people travelling in lion habitat.The department recommends avoiding solitary recreation when possible because groups are more likely to make enough noise to prevent a surprise encounter. People should never approach a mountain lion and should give the animal a route to escape.If someone encounters a mountain lion, the department advises remaining calm and speaking in a calm, firm manner. The animal should not be chased or cornered.Most importantly, Wyoming Game and Fish says that if a mountain lion attacks, people should fight back and defend themselves. The department also asks people to report mountain lion sightings and encounters to wildlife authorities.The brief fight began with Borkhus trying to save his dog and ended with both the man and the Labrador making it back to their vehicle. Despite the frightening encounter, Borkhus indicated that he and Diesel planned to continue enjoying the outdoors together.
