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.
