Amateur wildlife photographer Adam Borkhus says a mountain lion ambushed Diesel, his Labrador retriever, in thick brush outside Cody, Wyoming, on September 19 — and when he rushed in, the cat turned on him.
With Diesel pinned and bear spray too risky to use at that distance, Borkhus said he fought the cougar off by grabbing its ear until it finally bolted.
Here's what to know
Borkhus, 33, had pulled onto a remote road near the Thoroughfare Valley to change camera lenses and let his 2-year-old Lab out of the truck when he heard a yelp, according to Outside.
He ran into the brush and found a mountain lion on top of Diesel. Because Diesel was under the animal, Borkhus said he could not safely use the firearm and bear spray he was carrying without risking his dog. The 6-foot-3-inch, 300-pound photographer instead kicked the cat in the face, pulling its attention off Diesel and toward himself.
After the kick, Borkhus said the cat pounced on his chest and knocked him onto his back. Following what he estimated was 20 to 30 seconds of fighting, the cougar ran off.
Borkhus escaped with scratches to his hands, forearm, and face that did not require stitches. Diesel returned to the truck uninjured, and Borkhus then drove about an hour back to Cody after bandaging himself.
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The setting only heightened the encounter. Borkhus was near the southern end of Yellowstone National Park and the Teton Wilderness, an area search-and-rescue experts described to Outside as one of the most remote places in the Lower 48.
Joshua Lisbon, a researcher with the Mountain Lion Foundation, emphasized just how unusual these incidents are. He said such attacks are "extremely rare," adding, "This is about as rare an encounter as you can have," and noting Wyoming has never recorded a fatal mountain lion attack.
More background
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department determined the cougar was likely a juvenile based on its behavior, Borkhus told Outside.
Lisbon said the animal may have been acting defensively rather than hunting the dog. "I don't think it was preying on Diesel," he said. "I think it was a surprising, defensive behavior."
Human activity may also have helped create the conditions for the encounter. Borkhus had stopped on a road, stepped out to swap camera gear, and let his dog into dense brush in an active predator habitat.
Outside noted that Colorado recorded its first fatal mountain lion attack in more than 25 years in January 2026, while California's first fatal attack in 20 years occurred in 2024.
In 2019, a Colorado trail runner also survived by killing an attacking cougar with his bare hands.
What can be done?
For dog owners, Lisbon said the best prevention is to keep dogs leashed or under strong voice control in the backcountry.
Doing so lowers the risk of a pet rushing into thick cover and startling a predator before a person even realizes it is there.
If a mountain lion grabs a dog, Lisbon said bear spray is the better tool than physically joining the fight, even if the dog gets sprayed too.
"You could bear spray both the dog and the cougar, and it would most likely end the encounter," he said. "You would then have a very unhappy dog that you would need to tend to, but if it's life or death, then it's worth it."
BearWise says bear spray can inflame the eyes and mucous membranes, but the effects usually wear off in about 45 minutes; because it is oil-based, soap and water can help remove it from skin, clothing, or gear.
If a cougar attacks a person, Wyoming Game and Fish says not to play dead. Instead, fight back, get big, get loud, and try to intimidate the animal into retreating.
For Lisbon, the takeaway is preparation without panic. "Be safe in wild places," he said. "Take knowledge, skill, and bear spray with you. But you don't need to take fear with you."
Where can I learn more?
These articles show how close calls like this can turn dangerous fast, especially when pets are involved.
• In Costa Rica, a hiker faced a close encounter with a starving mountain lion on the trail.
• Near Pelican Lake, South Dakota, unusual bears spotted near city streets left residents scrambling.
• In Yellowstone National Park, a ranger intervened during a close call with tourists crowding a black bear.
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