According to KSLTV News, a Labrador retriever in Cedar Hills, Utah, fought off a mountain lion on July 19 in order to protect its family. The dog was severely injured but survived the encounter.
While Crystal Michaelis and her children were outside playing in the backyard, Ella, a 7-year-old yellow Lab, noticed the mountain lion. Michaelis didn’t see the mountain lion, but she noticed Ella acting strangely and looking back and forth from the kids to where the mountain lion was hiding.
“She kept looking at the kids and then quickly looking back,” Michaelis explained. “She was simply being cautious, and my daughter found it very concerning.”
Michaelis eventually took her kids inside. When they returned to the patio door, Ella had severe cuts on her head, face, legs, tongue, and neck. “When we opened the back door, Ella was completely bloodied. “There was blood all over the door and the patio,” Michaelis explained.
The family did not witness the fight, but officers from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources found mountain lion tracks leading to the scene. Wildlife officials explained that the mountain lion may have been distracted by some nearby goats in a neighbor’s yard and wandered too close to the Michaelis’ home.
Ella, a 7-year-old lab, suffered cuts on her head, neck, legs, her tongue, and has 30+ bites on her body after protecting her family from a mountain lion in Cedar Hills. We’ll have this story tonight on @KSL5TV at 6:30. #ksltv pic.twitter.com/gTaA9I3Djk
— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) July 20, 2022
The Utah DWR has not reported any additional sightings of the mountain lion, but has warned residents to be on the lookout and to stay safe. “They’ve also seen deer wandering through this area, and because deer are cougars’ primary food source, they will often follow where deer go,” DWR public information officer Faith Jolley explained.
Ella was bitten more than 30 times in total, all from the shoulders up. “Which means she never gave up and stayed in that protective stance and defended it,” Michaelis explained to reporters. Ella is expected to recover fully despite her injuries.
To know more about the story watch the video below:
