Golden Retriever Saves Hikers From Mountain Lion

DenverChannel News ^ | 2.5.04

[ambrose]

Golden Retriever Saves Hikers From Mountain Lion Friendly 'Stanley' Charges Until Mountain Lion Climbs Up Tree

POSTED: 8:08 AM MST February 5, 2004

UPDATED: 8:56 AM MST February 5, 2004

LYONS, Colo. -- A trusty golden retriever named Stanley is being hailed a hero after saving his owner and her friend from a mountain lion.

The two women were hiking with their dogs off Highway 7 in Lyons last week when a mountain lion approached. They had noticed tracks in the area but they thought the tracks were old until Betsy Burton spotted an animal out of the corner of her eye.

"I turned to my left and he was right there. About 4 to 6 feet, kind of to the left of me, but behind me. It was this absolutely gorgeous mountain lion," Burton said. "At first I really didn't get it. I saw him and I thought, 'How beautiful.'"

Then the lion spotted Burton and Cindy Kaylan. They say it crouched down and began to growl.

"The lion just kept staring at Betsy and it just seemed like he was going to come after her," Kaylan said. "I felt like running but I knew that wasn't the right thing to do."

Burton then yelled at Kaylan to find a big branch and hold it above her head to make her appear larger.

"You know, that made me act big. We just kept screaming," said Kaylan, who owns Stanley.

"Then all of a sudden Stanley just charged at him, and the mountain lion ran up a tree about 30 feet away," Kaylan said.

They could hear the lion roaring at the dog from the tree.

"About a minute later Stanley came (back). We thought Stanley would be dead or completely bloody but Stanley was fine," Burton said. "What is good about that is Stanley, being as brave as he is, gave us time to do what we're suppose to do."

The Department of Wildlife is monitoring the area. It estimates that the mountain lion the woman confronted weighs about 150 pounds.

A local wildlife expert recommends anyone who wants to hike in mountain lion territory to carry bear Mace. It sprays up to 30 feet and scares the lions long enough for a person to get away.

[jslade]

I remember last winter. I live in Central Florida next to the St. Johns River. One afternoon my wife and I saw five black bears in our back yard (five acres). Our Doberman was fearless and charged off the deck after them. These bears were in the 300-400 lb. range. They took off and ran up the oak trees like squirrels. Amazing. Don't tell me about the courage of dogs. Dobermans rule.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I hope to never find out! If you could get a good head shot you may be ok. If it rips off half of your right arm in the beginning it's going to be an uphill battle!

[John Beresford Tipton]

LOL, yes I saw that ad, but back to Timmy in the well.
Timmy grew up never doing a lick of work and now weighs 300 pounds and he is *REALLY* stuck in the well.

[Tymesup]

Female lions versus hyenas depends on which side has more weight. Male lions trump any number of hyenas.

[RosieCotton]

Ping!

I want a Golden!

[The_Media_never_lie]

Do you underestimate the power of a full grown 200lb man? I guarantee you, no 60lb dog is going to get the better of me. He may injure me, but he will die...even if I don't have a weapon.

I guarantee no 60 lb. dog would underestimate that power. The dog will yield unless it's got suicidal/homicidal tendencies (a pit bull).

[SAMWolf]

[Clintons Are White Trash]

Our Goldens have never been nervous or high strung. We have 3 rescued retrievers. They can be a bit hyper if not well exercised until they reach about 2 to 2 1/2. We belong to the local Golden Retriever Rescue and obviously absolutely love the breed. They were bred for companionship and have the best personalities are are smart dogs.

[Professional Engineer]

Good doggie, Stanley. Want a bone?

[blam]

Doggie bump.

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[Castlebar]

Heaven is covered with a thick layer of drool and dog hair. Very few of us will be worthy to even serve the trays of liver treats.

[Carry_Okie]

Belgain Goenindal shepherd?

[Ol' Sox]

Best dogs in the world.

That's right - and thats why I have a pair of 'em. :^)

[Nakota]

Mine was 1/2 Golden and 1/2 Yellow Lab. Now that was a combination made in Heaven!

[Oorang]

Okay, gotta show off my pal

[Mr.Atos]

Belgian Sheepdog (Groenendael). Technically the blacks are designated sheepdogs. The browns (Tervurens, Malinois) are Belgian Shepherds. But, in reality it's the same breed and referred to by the designation BSD.

[general_re]

Well, yeah, but then again male lions run 400+ pounds and you're not likely to see too many of them wandering around suburbia - the mountain lion is a different breed of cat, so to speak ;)

In terms of what they encounter, wolf packs can and do take down bull elk weighing upwards of 800 pounds. The normal tactic of wolves is to wear down prey larger than themselves, until it's too exhausted to resist, but with really big moose or elk, it's more of a hit-and-run kind of thing. If they can't swarm over it and take it down quickly, they abandon the hunt rather than risk injury. And packs of feral dogs behave much the same way.

[osagebowman]

Rosie; thanks for the ping. I don't doubt any part of the story. The Golden is wonderful.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

I could have tapped the lion on the nose with the gun barrel.