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

Coolest thing ever. EVER.

Because Donkeys don't take shit from anyone. ANYONE.

As an avid user of PhotoShop, this looks incredibly suspicious. Not to mention implausible.

As a graphic designer and touch-up specialist this looks untampered. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio.

too right man if this is photoshopped the kudos sir cos it is very well done

Sounds real to me. I've seen cows attack dogs and coyotes that get too close.

An angry ungulate is a mighty force to be reckoned with!

This is real. They use donkeys to guard cattle from coyotes and wolfes. So why can't a mule be a bad ass.

According to "Snopes" the photographs are real, however the description is inaccurate.

The cougar was already dead, when the mule started fooling with it.

I don't know how accurate "Snopes" is, but it does seem to make a bit more sense.

The picture where the donkey is holding the cat in the air by the sholder, it looks like to me that the shadows of the cat and the donkey head don`t match.

It also looks like the shadow from the right rear leg of the donky is missing in the previously mentioned post.

if you were going to 'shop' a photo - you would remember to put a damned shadow in wouldnt you ...

it may be photoshopped, but lots of farmer keep mules with their cattle because they'll fight off coyotes and other predators... I don't think it would be too far a stretch to imagine the mule having the same reaction to a mountain lion.

I wish I had the time to inspect these photos and the energy to care whether or not they're real.

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

.

We should never underestimate any animal if caught in a crisis situation.

Just for clarification sake - a mule and a donkey are two different animals. A mule is a sterile hybrid cross between a mare (female horse) and a jack (male donkey.)

As a wildlife biologist, let me say that I've seen these photos and the fictional story that accompany them before...the cat was definitely dead before the mule took hold of it. The dogs shown are of the type commonly used on lion hunts (they track and commonly "tree" the cats to give the hunter a chance to get an easy shot off). A mule would have better sense than to try thrashing a live lion in this fashion.

The lion was obviously alive in the first picture. And seriously what possible gain do these people have by making these photos "fake"

Come on people

While I have no personal experience to speak of I take exception to the notion that I, and my cousins, couldn't kick the ass of any critter such as this one, in a fair fight. ;-D

Hey guys--I thought we were just about to get to the truth of the matter, and then people stopped posting all of a sudden? What's the matter? IS ANYBODY OUT THERE?

Hey guys--I thought we were just about to get to the truth of the matter, and then people stopped posting all of a sudden? What's the matter? IS ANYBODY OUT THERE?

Just like to thank Steve our resident "Wildlife Biologist" for his flaberghasting post. The marathon of thought he gave this topic is just astounding and will make Wildlife Biologists worldwide proud that Steve is on there team.Go Steve! Now, Jeremiah by your post I get the feeling you may be thinking there may be more to this? Well, unlike Steve the "Wildlife Biologist" that posted above, I invite you to do a miniscule amount of research on the topic of interest and you will be amazed at what these animals are capable of.

Just like to thank Steve our resident "Wildlife Biologist" for his flaberghasting post. The marathon of thought he gave this topic is just astounding and will make Wildlife Biologists worldwide proud that Steve is on there team.Go Steve! Now, Jeremiah by your post I get the feeling you may be thinking there may be more to this? Well, unlike Steve the "Wildlife Biologist" that posted above, I invite you to do a miniscule amount of research on the topic of interest and you will be amazed at what these animals are capable of.

Um I don't know what kind of 'wildlife biologists' are posting about this, but there are mountain lions who live in the mountains around my house where there also happens to be a small farm run by priests with 2 donkeys and 2 mules....these mules have defended themselves for years from mountain lions and beat the crap out of them everytime one tries to attack them (they graze on an open hilltop). So, its true guys, the mules and donkeys can hold their own against mountain lions so there's no reason why these photos wouldn't be real. I mean come on, if an animal is threatened it can do amazing things

Um I don't know what kind of 'wildlife biologists' are posting about this, but there are mountain lions who live in the mountains around my house where there also happens to be a small farm run by priests with 2 donkeys and 2 mules....these mules have defended themselves for years from mountain lions and beat the crap out of them everytime one tries to attack them (they graze on an open hilltop). So, its true guys, the mules and donkeys can hold their own against mountain lions so there's no reason why these photos wouldn't be real. I mean come on, if an animal is threatened it can do amazing things

I once saw a video where a donkey killed a litter of baby kittens by laying on them. This situation is most certainly true.

I heard baby kittens can kill navy seals.

Saying this is fake is like trying to say that video of the cow eating the chicken or the pelican eating the pigeon is fake. This stuff happens. If a mountain lion couldn't be killed by a horse or a donkey, I think donkeys would have died out long ago. It's nature, these things happen. Cats get beaten, asses kick... ass.

I can assure you these pics are REAL. I know the people that took them. This happened in Bouse, AZ. If you want email me and I can try to dig up Jackie's email address (the woman that took the photos)

Recent research shows that Robotic Technicians have been successful in the quest for a remote controlled closely-resembled-to-farm-protecting-donkey/mule, known to take on any intruder to their families. Such intruders include giant squids, blood-thirsty grizzlies and three-toed sloths.

These robots are user friendly, in fact, even the family pets (in this case the two dogs) can operate and watch.

oh my

The mule didn't kill the mountain lion, it was already dead when he picked it up.
http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/mulelion.asp

This is not necessarily fake at all. More people are killed by jenny donkeys every year than by all other animals in the US. I was raised in the country and can tell you they are completely erritorial and completely badass. When you buy one they wont let you go in and check them out alone most of the time. They will kill you quick, guarding the herd. A cougar wouldnt be a match, believe it or not. Been kicked accurately by a small horse and it lifted me about 5 feet back and fractured my arm. Lucky it wasnt a head shot or I wouldnt be typing this.

I always knew Chuck Norris was an ass. :)

The Mountain Lion made an Ass of himself!

Anyone who thinks these pictures are fake or that mules can't kill things has obviously never lived/been on a farm.

That'll teach pesky mountain lions(republicans) not to mess with democrats!

That'll teach pesky mountain lions(republicans) not to mess with democrats!

I cant say for sure this is real but I believe it. I was raised by cowboys as far back as I know and I grew up with livestock. Ive also had a fair amount of experiance with wild animales. The odds of this happening are very remote but certianly not impossable. Horses mules jackasses donkeys and even some cattle devolpe a respect and love for there masters that make them risk there own life to protect there masters. This is the same as the dog that ran in a burning building to save a child. I believe this did happen. If you compare the light source to the shadows they do match. The terrain matches as well, although the directon changes. This would be expected if it was real. Also I think the pics are out of order. Pic 1 was pick 2, pick 2 was pic 1, pic 3 was pic 4 and pic 4 was pic 3.
Here is how I would imagine it went down according to the pics and real life. The cougar attacked. The mule struck it with its front legs and pinned it down,(pic 2). It began biting it and the cougar squrimnd free almost. The mule grabbed it by the tail (pic 1) as it was getting loose. It flung the cat in the air like a cat playing with a mouse.
When the cat came down the mule pounced again, and began striking it with its front hooves. pic 4.
This killed the cat. the mule picked it up by the neck and flung it just to make sure. Pic 3. Once again just like a cat killing a mouse. There is clear evidence of this in pic 3. You can clearly see the hoof marks on the shoulder and the side that were inflicted in pic 4.
I believe this is real. I believe this is a prime example of the love that can be found between animals and man. Dog is not the only mans best friend. The dogs were throwing a fit, but staying back. I expect this is exactly what they were trained to do. I suspect they were some very well trained dogs doing exactly what they had been taught to do.

I have to laugh everytime I find pictures of really cool 'stretch of the imagination' experiences there is always some commenters who play photoshop cops. There are things that happen in this world that do not require photoshop to be interesting or real for that matter. It is kind of a shame that photoshop even exists because it causes such skepticizm and paranoia.I don't like photoshopped pics because they are not the real thing. So poo to the nay sayers.

this is a rare moment where an ass is better than a pussy :)

Let it be known that no mule nor donkey nor stallion could ever mangle a mountain lion! We are way too quick! Although last year my uncle did get cheap-shotted by a freakin moose, but we tuned him up real good for that one. Lets just say he's wearin cement horseshoes if you catch my drift. Aw forget about it. You bloggers that got a problem better take it up with the Don. His name is tinker-bell and he's a house cat on the corner of lewis and mantle street. Felines rule Montana! capiche?!

Hey! com'on the cat weighs what? 100+lbs its like a flyweight fighting a heavyweight this happens mules are very tough critters.

I've work with PS since vs.3 the pix look real to me

Lets face it, many of these things are personality metaphors, so people will be biased. Admittedly, I'm predisposed to the lion, but primarily objective. I believe the photos are real, but the lion was allready dead or severely wounded, likely shot. Mules (and pretty much all animals besides humans) are very tough indeed. All big cats regularly kill prey many times their size. "the cougar is capable of killing a 600 pound moose or elk." from here: http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/wilderness/animals/cougar.htm Look anywhere and youll find the same. The photo in which the cougar appears to be bending up easily could be just inertia form the donkey swinging it. Anything is possible, even if unlikely, but I'm going to go with occums razor on this and postulate that it was shot, concurring with the article in 'Western Mule Magazine':
http://westernmulemagazine.com/image/webimage/MULE%20VS%20MOUNTAIN%20LION2.pdf I think this ones allready been busted.

The mule seems to get a lot of people attention! In fact the person who deserves it most got that attention in Western Mule magazine. His name is Jody! Check it out, the real story.

This mule seems to be a popular attraction. Just wanted everyone to know the real hero is in the Western Mule Magazine! Standing in a portrait with the exact mule from these photos

Come on. It is fake. Just google it. The lion was already dead. End of story. Move on - nothing to see here.

This is why mountain lions should be shot. Ha they look pretty but when you are up in person with one you will think twice about going over and petting it.

I liked the story and will take it at face value. I once saw a house cat chase off a black bear. I saw a guy named Tim kiss a wild grizzly bear (later, he was eaten by one). So, why couldn't a mule or a donkey kill a mountain lion. It's not like mountain lions weigh 400 pounds. If I were a donkey, that's how I'd do it, grab the cat right by the tail, I would!

The story is true. Here is the website for, as Paul Harvey says, The Rest of the Story.

http://www.westernmulemagazine.com/image/webimage/MULE%20VS%20MOUNTAIN%20LION2.pdf

Kenn and everyone else,

The story is NOT TRUE. If you had taken the time to read the very western mule magazine you reference, you would know the mountain lion was already dead, as the mule belongs to a mountain lion hunter and the mule likes to play with the dead lions. The hunter isn't the one who posted the fake story and he doesn't know who did. A mule could never catch a mountain lion, and that isn't a put-down on the mule - it's just that a mountain lion is very very fast.

I have seen a donkey take 2 rottweilers before. they go after predator animals like crazy. anybody who knows them will tell you that, so the naysayers must just be people who don't know animals very well. pretty presumptuous for an "avid photoshop user" to say it doesn't look real, you don't really have to be a photoshop user to know colors, lighting, shadow, etc., of real life. if anything a real damn artist would be better. this doesn't really surprise me.

See, this is why you don't send Donkeys to SCHOOL!!!

Cause no one likes a SMART ASS!!!!!!!!

I liked the story and will take it at face value.

Yep - the pics are real; but the story isn't. Check Snopes.com for details. The mule didn't take on the cougar before the hunter shot it, nor could he have been quite this successful were he to try. Nonetheless, unlike horses, donkeys (this is a MULE btw, which is HALF donkey and half horse for those who think they're the same) are fight instead of flight animals AND given their personalities (VERY smart and LOYAL), it doesn't surprise me in the least that a mule would have picked up on what his owner was doing and decided to "help out."

Also, were this a coyote\dog (canine of any form really), YES, I'd believe it. They HATE canines and are VERY capable of taking one of those on - just not a large cat like this that can leap up to 20' in the air.

just a note, i have 2 draft horses,
they almost stomped the hell out of 2 of my pit bulls, ( yes the dogs are alive) Not feeling so tough though.

I live in central vermont, i have 300 acres ( 50 in fields rest is MOUNTIAN)

ANy Way 1 horse got a bit of flesh/skin really
riped on her belly and now sewn up,

but the vet wanted me to put her in the pen overnight do the shavings in her stall wouldnt mess w/ the stiches/ wound

anyway i had a wierd feeling that night so i put down hay instead and kept her inside her stall.

Later, my husband and his cousin went to the barn to check on the horses and they saw a mountian lion run in beetween some trees and my kids swing set

I had seen it the month before late night when i was puling into my driveway
( i have a spot light on an old cop car )
i like to shine my fields when i get home to watch the deer
( usually a few out there )

anyhoo now i got nervouse cause well i got a child, 2 horses and 4 dogs right ,
and I am scared of this fucking lion !

so i mentioned it to the guy i bought the horses off of,
and he said to get a donkey !
I was like "what" he said a donkey will kick the shit out of and kill a lion

that his family and other farmers use them to protect cows, sheep, horses.

so that is my Imput ,

I AM GETTING a Donkey Myself!

and this dog/ horse/ lion thing happened 2 days ago

thanks

I did'nt see anyone mention the gaping, not fresh wound in the side/back of the cougar that can be clearly seen in the first frame. I adjusted the brightness and contrast to see it more clearly. It looks like the skin is pulled back and flipped up slightly, and inches across. If not, what is that? Its not a leg, left leg is straight at camera, right leg is toward mule. Any other explainations for that part of the image??

I did'nt see anyone mention the gaping, not fresh wound in the side/back of the cougar that can be clearly seen in the first frame. I adjusted the brightness and contrast to see it more clearly. It looks like the skin is pulled back and flipped up slightly, and inches across. If not, what is that? Its not a leg, left leg is straight at camera, right leg is toward mule. Any other explainations for that part of the image??

not true--http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/mulelion.asp

I looked up donkey killing because our gentle 32 year old donkey just killed my mums beloved dog the same way these pics show the mountain lion. We have had the donkey 16 years and are all in shock. I had no idea the donkey was capable of this it was sickening

Kudos to Annabelle, I was about to point this out myself. The mule was just defending his riders against a crazy ass mountain lion.

who's the jackass now!

who's the jackass now!

BS, the true story is the lion was already dead when the MULE not donkey freaked out on it. It was a lion hunting party with what are called lion dogs, usually hounds trained to hunt lion.