Mountian Lion vs. Horse/Mule

[Jayems]

Whup Ass

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...

Got it in an e-mail.

Anyway, I guess use your own discretion, its not gory or anything, just interesting.

http://www.americasroof.com/content/...orse_lion1.jpg

The cat was still alive here and trying to fight back

http://www.americasroof.com/content/...orse_lion2.jpg

The mule stomped the cat, then pinned it to the ground, and bit the neck out of the dead cat several more times

Not gory. Cant see it.
http://www.americasroof.com/content/...orse_lion3.jpg

Cat was dead here, and the mule picked it up and swung it in the air. Then stomped on it a few more times.

http://www.americasroof.com/content/...orse_lion4.jpg

Note the dog audience. Gives new meaning to "Bad Ass"

Found bigger pics, but the story is a little different.... Arizona.

[Superfraggle]

The place i work is in cougar country and has quite a few horses. Over the winter, most leave, but we keep 3 or four around, along with a couple donkeys to protect them from cougars. Apparently, donkeys are fiercely territorial...guess the aggressiveness transfers over to mules as well. This is the first case I've heard of an actual altercation, though. Cool

[Jayems]

nevermind.

[Cowperson]

The farmer in our valley has some donkeys around . . . . they'll beat the crap out of a coyote at the drop of a hat.

I didn't know they were cougar protection though!!! Good to know for our two Golden's and the four farm dogs down in the valley.

A cougar killed some elk one hill over a few years ago and another cougar killed some cows in the river valley a few miles away before that . . . . but I've never seen one around.

Some say you know a cougar is in the area when all the deer and elk disapper . . . .

Cowperson

[Superfraggle]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

The farmer in our valley has some donkeys around . . . . they'll beat the crap out of a coyote at the drop of a hat.

I didn't know they were cougar protection though!!! Good to know for our two Golden's and the four farm dogs down in the valley.

A cougar killed some elk one hill over a few years ago and another cougar killed some cows in the river valley a few miles away before that . . . . but I've never seen one around.

Some say you know a cougar is in the area when all the deer and elk disapper . . . .

Cowperson

I've spent a lot of time in areas that have cougars around, and STILL haven't seen one in the wild...one of those things I really want to do...and yet don't. I think really what I want is to be able to look back and remember that time I saw I cougar, rather than actually be there right now.

As for the "some say" bit...cougars really don't take down many animals in a short period of time...one big kill will do them for quite a while. Which makes sense - look at the size of an elk, as opposed to that of a cougar.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Superfraggle

Apparently, donkeys are fiercely territorial...guess the aggressiveness transfers over to mules as well.

I was going to ask the question; what is the difference between a mule and a donkey. (This city slicker didn't know.) I came across this interesting page: http://ask.yahoo.com/19991021.html

And I also learned that the word "jacka$$" can be used as a non-swear.

[troutman]

There are plenty of cougars around Turner Valley and Millarville. THey are mostly nocturnal, so you don't see them much. About 10 years ago one of my dad's mares had a colt. A cougar came a couple of times to attack him; he still has a bad scar on his flanks. The mare chased the cougar off the first time, and dad shot at it the next time. They see cougars or cougar tracks quite often. Children should not be left alone out there. Dogs are a good deterrent.

[Superfraggle]

Originally Posted by troutman

There are plenty of cougars around Turner Valley and Millarville. THey are mostly nocturnal, so you don't see them much. About 10 years ago one of my dad's mares had a colt. A cougar came a couple of times to attack him; he still has a bad scar on his flanks. The mare chased the cougar off the first time, and dad shot at it the next time. They see cougars or cougar tracks quite often. Children should not be left alone out there. Dogs are a good deterrent.

Huh...I didn't realize they were mostly nocturnal. I was under the impression that dawn and dusk were the most active times, but they'd also be around during the day...

After a bit of checking around: http://www.mortay.com/Cougar/LionBehavior.html
"Contrary to popular belief, cougars do not lurk in the treetops waiting to ambush passer-bys. They hunt on the ground and ambush their prey from behind. They are generally nocturnal and solitary hunters"

"Sometimes cougars are not nocturnal, because they need to be active at the time time their prey is active. For instance, deer are active at dawn and dusk, so a mountain lion that feeds on deer with adjust its schedule to match the deer's."

Maybe that explains it...lots of deer around.

[Displaced Flames fan]

It's definitely not in Montana. Looks more like northern Arizona.

[Jayems]

Can someone explain the deal with everyones sig saying "somethingsomethingsomething" bob

Is it like internet talk or some mumbo jumbo? One guy had like 10 in one.

[Vulcan]

My dad had a logging camp up the B.C.coast and I had a run in with a cougar there when I was five. I didn't know what it was at the time, bit I still remember it and don't want to repeat the experience.

[Igottago]

As if this isn't cool as heck..its right up there with that snake that split open eating an alligator..no way I'd ever pick the Mule over the couger, no way...nature rocks!

[Bobblehead]

The mountain lion was already dead, at least according to Snopes. link

The lion was dead before the mule Berry took and shook the lion. A lion is a powerful and lethal predator and can easily kill a mule — however a mule can be quite an adversary.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

The mountain lion was already dead, at least according to Snopes. link

Still, makes a kickass story.

[Superfraggle]

The lion was dead before the mule Berry took and shook the lion. A lion is a powerful and lethal predator and can easily kill a mule — however a mule can be quite an adversary.

Funny they never say WHAT killed the mountain lion. Was probably still the mule...just earlier with a kick or something, since they don't say that it was shot or anything.

A mountain lion IS a powerful and lethal predator and can easily kill a mule...IF it's hunting the mule. Things are pretty easy when the mule doesn't see it coming. Face to face, however, I doubt things are quite so simple.

For anyone interested, I recommend "Kleo", a short story by Andy Russell, which is told mainly from the point of view of a cougar that starts in the wild and ends up getting captured for use in movies. THAT cougar gets its butt kicked by a deer that was raised by humans around dogs and, as a result, attacks the cougar instead of fleeing. The unexpected attack puts the cougar on the defensive and it books it...away from a deer. Despite the fact that it's a "powerful and lethal predator"