Mule vs Lion

[Citation 650]

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 bad decision on the cats part.

The guy 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, then
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 four pictures.

 

[Incompatible]

Never underestimate "mother nature and her creatures." Most of the general public's misconceptions about nature/animal behavior comes from looking at these things in terms of human behavior in general and more commonly politically correct human behavior.

 

[20ducks]

Good story and pics.
I will never underestimate the power of self-preservation either. In Nam we had perimeter encroachment and all sorts of shite happening one very early morning. Sapers were breaching the wire, making a God awful racket and our unit and all in it were under slight duress. As a support unit we had some conscientious objector draftees who always seemed to get crap jobs/assignment because we didn't like people like that in the Army. Some of these guys are just cowards, others firm believers of whatever made them C/O's. I found one that had a change of heart because when the shite was hitting the fan chaos rules all things. Rationalizing the situation he looked at me white as a sheet and asked if I could get him a weapon. You never knew what or who could be coming at you and he was scared shiteless. But the last thing I needed was an idiot who only wants to save his own ass with a weapon he knew nothing about that would be within 6 feet of me. I handed him a .45 (I had a M16) and did what we were supposed to do....wait for orders. No bad guys came our way but it was a very exciting morning. Anyway about 5 minutes later we got orders to clear our area of anything we didn't like the looks of and within another 10 minutes we got an all clear. Victor Charles crept back from where ever they came from. I took the weapon back from the C/O and told him that he needs to do something about his conduct or I will. He walked away and I put the unloaded .45 back in its holster.

He got transferred within 2 weeks.

 

[mjmyers]

http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/mulelion.asp

 

[20ducks]

mjmyers, you won't find my story in Snopes.

 

[jokuhl]

Amazing bravery on part of that animal, that we all attribute to being dumb! Not so dumb!