Don't mess with this mule ! ! ! !

An aquaintance of a friends friend ... sent us a website where these pics were posted. However, I cannot post the link, here on DG ... But felt that the tale .. and the pics that pretty much back it up .. were most interestingly amazing. I have tried my best to edit the tale, of a few expletives .. for my own wishes, and that of all fellow DGers!

Says a whole lot about (some) mules - THIS one, in particular !!

- Magpye

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Some folks, which are packers in Arizona ... were packing a group in the high desert of Arizona. Apparently the mountain lion had been stalking the group with an eye on the dogs. The lion attacked and all haydees broke loose. The horses spooked throwing riders on the ground. This mule went bersek, throwing his rider and proceeded to attack the mountain lion.

The mule literally stomped the lion into the ground. As the riders regrouped, shots were fired but they didn't think the lion was hit. By the time the group regained their composure, the mule had the lion down. Consequently only a few pictures were taken.

The dogs didn't go to the lion until the mule had calmed down. Note the dog audience. The mule literally grabbed the lion by the tail while the lion was still alive. After the lion was dead, the mule started biting the lion on the neck and throat. I bet the dogs have more respect for the mule now. My dad always told me that mules were capable of almost anything, but the trainer had to be smarter than the mule.

... Pic # 1 ...

... Pic # 2 ...

... Pic # 3 ...

END > ... Pic # 4 ...

Magpye,

Goodness!!! Please send me the website address in a DG email. I would like to post it to my website since I like to mention the unusual. That's one guard mule for sure!!!

Judy

Thanks for this story and pictures. Jack says he would not want that mule angry with him! I'd like to have the website too. Jack remembers his dad farming with mules and has some great stories about these great animals.

I showed this to a co-worker of mine who is a horse person. She said it is fairly common for them to protect in this way.
Those hooves and their sheer weight are a deadly combo!

I think this is the third time I've looked at those pictures Magpye......that mule continues to amaze me!

here's some info on the picts
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_mule_mountain_lion.htm

lol lol

Thanks, very much Strever .. for a bit of enlightenment !! ...
From viewing the site you referenced: it appears to be a relative recent 'event' that's showing up (unless I've again 'missed' something else)!! ... And here lately, danggum it - most anything's possible!! .. lol ..

Oh well ... perhaps that's why I rec'd the tale and the pics, as a link .. and, in the manner that I did.

Twas a rather foul-mouthed websites' forum .. which, naturally .. why I refrained from using/posting the link. And bless pat, here I went and opted to remove the expletives - to merely bring the tale to acceptable standards, to post and share with other DGers ...

And to think .. usually, I'm one that doesn't take such things at face (or mule) value either!
(a good whop!)

The truth remains to be seen. But, ya know .. no matter how it's sliced or diced it - the photos do indeed depict one mitey determined mule .. plowing into a cougar with such intensity - - no matter if it were alive at one time .. or .. a mere carcass, to begin with! And, that .. is something of which .. I can't seem to remove or dismiss the image .. too doggone easily !! .. hee hee ..

- Magpye

(geez, I need some super zoomin' binoculars .. to spot my big wording boo-boo's!! .. 'ese here lil'uns don't bother me none! HEE)

This message was edited Jan 26, 2005 9:58 AM

Magpy, What I found almost as amazing as those pictures is that there is an "American Mule and Donkey Society" Who knew?!! They have a very interesting web site too.

In the mountains of western NC, where I'm from, they farm on such steep land they have to plow by hand and haul out the produce on sleds. They always work a horse and a mule together because the mule seems to have all the smarts in navigating the steep land. Also, one of the favorite stories they love to tell "flat landers" is when they harvest potatos they just pull out one at the bottom of the hill and all the others roll down out of the hole. LOL
Pati

Hee Hee .. Patischell .. That tater harvestin' - definitely sounds 'bout right !! .. LOL

Up here tho' ... we'd have to be well prepared to be duckin' too! .. Fer there'd be jes as many rocks come a tumblin' out of them holes, as there'd be taters !!! ...

Loved your lil story, about your native NC mountains !! ... Thanks so much for sharing it ..

- Magpye

This message was edited Mar 6, 2005 8:01 PM

After Strever posted the link Magpye I thought the same as you. The story may be false but the cat was alive in the first pic.

"we do believe them to be a true depiction of what a mule or donkey would do faced with the situation of a predator invading their territory."

This quote kills me....the mountain lion was invading THEIR territory? Helloooooooooo.... Give me a break. Mountain lions are indigenous wildlife to that area....mules and donkeys and dogs and horses, for that matter, are NOT native to this continet. Period.

Plus..I think these photos are photo-shopped. april