Bear saves man in mountain lion attack
At least one man’s best friend is not his dog — it’s a wild bear that saved him from a mountain lion attack.
Thor, left, and Boo, denizens of the Detroit Zoo, recreate the epic bear/mountain lion scrap. (AP photo)
ParadisePost.com reports the unusual tale of Robert Biggs, 69, who was roaming the woods of north-central California Monday when the giant cat jumped him.
Biggs, a photographer who enjoys getting close to nature, but probably not this close, was initially saved by his backpack, which was “up around his head” and prevented the panther from landing a mortal blow.
After tussling with the panther for a few seconds, a bear appeared and battled the mountain lion for about 15 seconds, Biggs said, before the cat fled.
The bear left Biggs alone, and he suffered only relatively minor bites, bruises and bite marks.
Biggs told the Paradise, Calif., publication that he had been taking pictures of the bear and her cub before the mountain lion attacked him. He said he had taken pictures of the mother bear before, and had even played with an earlier cub.
Sounds like he owes momma bear a framed family portrait.
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78 comments Add your comment
Spud
March 28th, 2012
6:45 pm
I knew Yogi could take Snagglepuss any day of the week. This proves it!
Alex Teodorescu
March 28th, 2012
6:46 pm
Looks like he “bearly” survived!
Haroon Qureshi
March 28th, 2012
6:53 pm
Do you think he is telling the truth, or is he just “lion?”
jo
March 28th, 2012
6:58 pm
I live near Paradise and I am calling this story complete and utter BS.. Mountain Lions (not called panthers here) will try to stay miles away from a mother bear and her cubs. They are not stupid unlike the photographer who should know better than to wander aimlessly and unaware in Mountain lion country. We all know that. As for a cat attaching a full grown man? I’m not buying that either. As for the bear allowing him to play with her cubs??? Are you kidding me? I want to see these pictures… BTW the only grizzlies left in California are the ones seen on the flag and residing in the zoo
Jake
March 28th, 2012
7:02 pm
I believe the story and I also believe that the Mama Bear didn’t want harm done to the photographer because she knows him. BTW George I really enjoy reading your blog.
jo
March 28th, 2012
7:10 pm
Ok so after reading the original story, the photographer’s story sounds more plausible. Mr. Mathis you really missed the mark here. Your re-writing of the story put words in the guy’s mouth, over simplifies his statements and generally takes a well written story and turns it into something my 10 year old would write. Maybe you should stick to writing about stuff in your own neck of the woods (pun intended)
mojo322
March 28th, 2012
7:10 pm
If a man speaks out in a forest and there is no woman there to hear him, is he still wrong???
sorry had to do it:)
cbgb
March 28th, 2012
7:38 pm
And I was worried we had a communist in the White House. My bad.
Jake
March 28th, 2012
7:42 pm
Off topic: It saddens me to see such mean posters on the web. I read a lot of blogs for information and enjoyment. I see more and more mean posters that insult for no reason, and they seem so filled with anger. No wonder there are so many children that are bullies.
david
March 28th, 2012
8:26 pm
nobody can really think this is true. oh ya its atlanta.