Gotta love mules!!!

What a crazy story I got today- but it just reminds me why I have never wanted a mule. They are just too stinkin' smart. :) Cougars are pretty, but after living in Yacolt and hearing the stories of them stalking animals and even small children, I am not a fan and so proud of this mule for not only protecting the dogs, but also protecting his rider who was on the ground.

"A couple in Montana were out riding their 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, very bad decision.

The hunter 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 (who 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 the pictures.