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Life and Death Struggle on Hwy 20

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  • Life and Death Struggle on Hwy 20

    On the night of January 2, 2015, Greg Walker and his family were driving up Ashton Hill toward Island Park. As they reached the midpoint of the mountain climb, through a light fog, Greg saw a large elk standing in the roadway 200 yards ahead. He slowed as he approached the elk, which remained on the deserted highway.

    The bull was hopping into the air like a bronc attempting to throw a cowboy after it leaves the chute. His first thought was that it may have been hit by a vehicle. He continued to assess the situation as he drove within 50 yards of the erratic elk. There appeared to be an enormous flap of skin dangling from the animal’s chest. Greg’s concern for the injured elk changed to astonishment as the animal hopped closer to his vehicle. The large chest injury turned out to be an enormous mountain lion clinging under the bull’s neck with all four paws.

    As the panic-stricken animal neared the Walker’s car, Greg put the vehicle in reverse fearing that he would end up with an elk/lion hood ornament. Just as it appeared that a collision was inevitable, the mountain lion released his grip. The lion ran west across the road, up the hillside and vanished. The relieved bull elk fled in the opposite direction, up the east side of the pass and into the night.
    Greg said that after the encounter, he and Lesli wished that they had captured it on video but had been spellbound in the moment.

    Mother Nature occasionally withdraws her veil and reveals amazing things to those who spend time in Island Park.
    Mike Bogden
    FlashLantern turns your flashlight into a lantern!
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