Mad Enough ...Odds be Damned

We all know mules are sturdy work animals, known for being sure-footed, hardy and intelligent.  But they're still a prey animal, right?  Mules are not predators.  Like like most equines, their first instinct when attacked is to take flight and run away from the danger. Mountain lions, or cougars as they are known in some parts, are fearless and capable stalk-and-ambush predators capable of taking down animals as large as a horse or mule. 

So which do you think would prevail in a fair fight?

If you put your money on the mountain lion, you'd better think again.  Apparently the mule in the pictures below either felt too encumbered by the tack and trappings he was wearing to take flight or maybe he was just mad.  Mad enough to stand his ground and give the big cat what-for.

I don't know who to give credit to for these pictures.  They came to me several years ago in an email that had been forwarded multiple times.  But they are obviously not staged.  That's not a 'trained' mule doing a stunt and that's no stuffed cat.  Kind of impressive, huh?  The cat was the aggressor but the mule is definitely the victor in this fight.  The mountain lion didn't live to take any lessons from this encounter.  But I bet the mule learned a lot about himself and his own abilities that day.

I think part of the reason there's so much frustration and tension in the ranks these days is that we have been indoctrinated with a 'can't fight city hall' mentality.  We watch our taxes and unemployment go up and up.  Meanwhile, our property values and wages sink to new lows.  Even our most basic and fundamental freedoms are attacked and eroded on a daily basis.  It's downright discouraging.  But maybe we need to get mad.  Really mad.  Mad enough to take a stand and fight ...odds be damned.