On a rainy Saturday in the South Fork area outside Cody, Adam Borkhus—an Army veteran and avid wildlife photographer—was confronted by a juvenile mountain lion that had just taken hold of his two‑year‑old Labrador, Diesel.
Borkhus had been standing near the Deer Creek Trailhead, waiting for the light to fall on a herd of elk, clutching a canister of bear spray and a handgun for protection against the region’s grizzly bears.
When the dog began to bark, Borkhus sprinted to the sound, only to find the lion perched atop Diesel; the animal’s claws were tangled with the dog’s legs, and any shot could have wounded the canine, so Borkhus chose to kick the predator.
The lion responded by lunging at Borkhus, knocking him to the ground and engaging in a 20‑second melee that left him with facial scratches and a bruised chest. In the struggle, Borkhus managed to keep the lion’s jaws away from his neck, and the animal eventually fled into the brush.
After the lion disappeared, Borkhus checked on Diesel and found the retriever standing calmly by the vehicle, uninjured. Borkhus then received a tetanus booster and a course of antibiotics, while the Wyoming Game and Fish Department dispatched wildlife officers to search for the lion and to reassess safety protocols for the South Fork Road corridor.
Officials say the incident was likely a surprise encounter that triggered defensive behaviour, and they have announced plans to intensify monitoring along the trailhead and surrounding vegetation.