Wyoming photographer fights off mountain lion to save dog
On September 19, 2026, Adam Borkhus, a 33-year-old wildlife photographer, fought a mountain lion bare-handed to protect his Labrador, Diesel, near Cody, Wyoming. Borkhus had stopped to change lenses when the cat attacked the dog. Unable to use his firearm or bear spray without risking hitting the dog, he kicked the animal in the face. The lion then attacked Borkhus, leading to a 20-30 second struggle where he eventually wrenched the cat's ear to drive it away. Both Borkhus and Diesel survived with minor injuries. Experts note such attacks are extremely rare, and Wyoming has never recorded a fatal mountain lion attack.
Key points
- Adam Borkhus, 33, was photographing elk near Cody, Wyoming, on Sept. 19, 2026, when a mountain lion attacked his 2-year-old Labrador, Diesel.
- Borkhus, who is 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, kicked the lion in the face to free the dog but was then attacked by the cat.
- The struggle lasted 20-30 seconds; Borkhus eventually grabbed the lion's ear and wrenched it, causing the animal to flee.
- Borkhus suffered scratches to his hands, arm, and face, while Diesel escaped uninjured and waited by the vehicle.
- Wyoming Game and Fish investigators believe the cat was a juvenile acting defensively, and the state has never recorded a fatal mountain lion attack.
Background
This incident highlights the rarity of human-mountain lion conflicts in Wyoming, a state where such encounters are uncommon. While the archive contains unrelated sports news about the Detroit Lions, the current story focuses on wildlife safety in the Teton Wilderness near Yellowstone, where Borkhus had previously seen grizzlies but not mountain lions.
How outlets are covering it
OutKick and Outside Magazine emphasize the physical struggle and Borkhus's decision to use his foot rather than bear spray or a firearm to avoid harming his dog. PetaPixel adds that Borkhus received rabies shots after the incident, a detail not mentioned in the other sources. KTVQ notes that Borkhus is an Army veteran and that his girlfriend, Christine Welch, described him as protective. All sources agree that the encounter was rare and that experts recommend using bear spray rather than physical combat in such situations.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the importance of backcountry safety and the unpredictable nature of wildlife encounters. It also highlights the debate between using bear spray versus physical intervention when a pet is attacked, with experts generally advising bear spray despite the risk to the animal.
What to watch
Borkhus and Diesel are preparing for the upcoming Wyoming hunting season. Wyoming Game and Fish continues to monitor the area, though the mountain lion was not found after the incident.
- Wyoming man kicks mountain lion in the face to save his dog, then fights it off bare-handed Fox News
- When a Mountain Lion Grabbed His Labrador, This 6-Foot-3 Photographer Fought Back Outside Magazine
- Photographer Has Fist Fight With Mountain Lion After It Attacked His Dog petapixel.com
- Man kicks mountain lion off his dog, then fights the big cat with his bare hands KTVQ
- "That Thing Was Strong": Cody Man Fights Mountain Lion To Save Dog Cowboy State Daily
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