Wyoming Photographer Kicks Mountain Lion to Save Dog

Adam Borkhus kicked a mountain lion in the face to save his two-year-old Labrador retriever, Diesel, from a surprise attack on September 19. The 33-year-old amateur wildlife photographer was on a remote road outside Cody, Wyoming, looking for elk when he pulled over to change camera lenses and let his unleashed dog out.

Diesel yelped within seconds. Borkhus ran into thick brush to find a mountain lion on top of his dog. He was carrying a firearm and bear spray but did not use them, fearing he would hit Diesel. Instead, he delivered a kick that redirected the lion's attention.

The lion then pounced, hitting Borkhus in the chest and knocking him down. "He was fighting against the cat," Borkhus said. "I’ve seen a dog in a fight-I don’t think he was sure what was happening." The 6-foot-3, 300-pound man landed on his back, using one hand to keep the animal's teeth away while punching with the other. He eventually grabbed the lion's ear, wrenched its skin, and the juvenile cat fled after a tussle lasting roughly 20 to 30 seconds.

Borkhus suffered minor scratches to his face, hands, and arms, which did not require stitches. Diesel was waiting unscathed at the truck's tailgate. After bandaging his cuts, Borkhus drove about an hour back to Cody and reported the incident to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Expert Context on Mountain Lion Behavior

Wildlife experts confirm such attacks are extremely rare. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department, which sent personnel to investigate, determined the cat was likely a juvenile based on its behavior. They describe mountain lions as the state's most elusive large carnivores.

Joshua Lisbon, a researcher with the Mountain Lion Foundation, compared the rarity of such encounters to being struck by lightning. Wyoming has never recorded a fatal mountain lion attack. Lisbon believes the young lion was acting defensively, not preying on the dog. Borkhus agreed, saying the cougar seemed as surprised as he was.

Recent fatal attacks in other states provide stark contrast. In January 2026, a mountain lion killed a 46-year-old hiker on Colorado’s Crosier Mountain Trail, the state’s first fatal attack in over 25 years. In 2024, a mountain lion killed a 21-year-old man and seriously injured his brother in Northern California. A Colorado trail runner famously killed an attacking cougar with his bare hands in 2019.

Backcountry Safety Advice

Lisbon advises dog owners to keep pets leashed or under strong voice control in the wilderness. If a mountain lion grabs a dog, he recommends using bear spray rather than jumping into the fight, even if it means spraying the dog. The spray would most likely end the encounter, though the dog would need tending afterward.

Bear spray affects mucous membranes, causing pain, eye closure, and tearing. Effects wear off in about 45 minutes, but the oil-based spray requires washing with soap and water. Authorities advise against rubbing affected areas, as it intensifies the effects.

The standard advice for a mountain lion attack is to fight back, not play dead. Get big, be loud, and try to intimidate the animal. Lisbon stresses that a potential encounter should not deter people from recreating outside, but is an opportunity to practice backcountry safety. Wyoming Game and Fish officers say they will continue to monitor the area where the encounter occurred.

Borkhus, who carries bear spray and a pistol due to plentiful grizzlies in the area, reflected on the lion's perspective. He quoted its apparent reaction as, 'What is this giant Sasquatch that I’m fighting with?' After the ordeal, Diesel ran back to the vehicle and sat there as if saying, 'We need to go.'