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Army veteran fights juvenile mountain lion to save his dog near Cody, Wyoming

Adam Borkhus, an Army veteran, fought a juvenile mountain lion for about 20 seconds near Cody, Wyoming, after it attacked his Labrador, Diesel. Both survived; Borkhus had scratches and is receiving precautionary rabies shots.

2 outlets · 0L · 1C · 1R First reported Account updated
Image: Breitbart
Image: The Times of India

1 / 2

The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2Adam Borkhus, an Army veteran, fought a juvenile mountain lion for about 20 seconds after it attacked his dog, Diesel, near South Fork Road outside Cody, Wyoming. Mixed · 2Borkhus told Cowboy State Daily he had driven out to photograph elk and was carrying bear spray and a pistol when he heard Diesel yelp. Mixed · 2He did not use either weapon because he feared hurting Diesel, and instead kicked the animal.

Mixed · 2The lion turned on him, knocked him down and kept swiping as he tried to punch it and keep its mouth away from his neck and face, before running off. Right · 1Borkhus, who said he is 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds, estimated the lion weighed no more than 70 pounds and said, "That thing was strong." Mixed · 2Borkhus had scratches, and the Times of India, citing KTVQ, says they were on his face, hands and arms and needed no stitches; he received a tetanus booster, antibiotics and a precautionary course of rabies shots. Breitbart notes rabies is nearly nonexistent in mountain lions.

Mixed · 2Diesel ran back to the car unharmed, and Borkhus said the dog's behaviour had not changed: "He’s just his own dumb self." Centre · 1According to the Times of India, Wyoming Game and Fish searched the area that evening but could not find the lion, and said the incident was most likely a surprise encounter that triggered defensive aggression; it will keep monitoring the area. Centre · 1The Times of India adds that a Mountain Lion Foundation representative said a lion of that size could still be with its mother, and it relays department advice to fight back if attacked.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left0 outlets

No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Centre1 outlet

Framing
Detailed explanatory account of the encounter, adding the wildlife agency's assessment and safety advice.
Emphasis
Game and Fish investigation, medical treatment, safety guidance.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not stress the dramatic 'bare hands' framing in its body text.
For example
“That assessment is significant because it distinguishes the incident from a mountain lion deliberately pursuing a person.” — The Times of India

Right1 outlet

Framing
Short human-interest piece centred on the veteran's heroism and quotes.
Emphasis
Veteran status, 'bare hands', strength of the lion.
Leaves out or plays down
Omits the Game and Fish investigation findings and the lion not being found.
Charged language
“Fights Mountain Lion with Bare Hands”
For example
“An Army veteran defended his pet Labrador retriever against a wild predator in Wyoming recently and lived to tell the tale.” — Breitbart