---
title: "From the Archives: Mountain Lion and Ram Fall to Their Deaths"
description: "We often receive photos and stories that are just too good not to share. Check out this mountain lion's life-ending bid for his last supper."
date: "2022-04-11"
modified: "2022-04-12"
authors:
  - name: "Outdoor Life Online Editor"
    link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/outdoor-life-online-editor/"
url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/photos/gallery/hunting/2009/05/death-dive/"
categories:
  - "Animal Attacks"
  - "Survival"
---

# From the Archives: Mountain Lion and Ram Fall to Their Deaths

![cougar and sheep fall to their deaths](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/11/deathdiveopener.jpg>)
*Aftermath of a cougar and sheep falling to their deaths. Outdoor Life*

Editor's Note: We’ve received a ton of wild photo submissions through the years, but this series of images showing the aftermath of a cougar and sheep that allegedly fell to their deaths is definitely among the most shocking. The series came to us in May 2009, during the old chain email days, through a message to our hunting editor Andrew McKean. The only information to go with the images read:

"My brother was visiting a friend in Montana and touring through Glacier National Park. They were hiking up a closed road when they came upon this scene. It is evident that the mountain lion and bighorn sheep were fighting on the mountain and fell to their immediate death sometime during the struggle. Pay special attention to the mouth of the mountain lion—it still has sheep hide in its mouth!!!!"

During those early days of our website, we were never able to fully verify, or discredit the story that went with the images. A few [smaller websites](<https://www.montanaoutdoor.com/2013/08/bighorn-sheep-and-mountain-lion-tragically-fall-to-death-at-glacier-national-park/ramcat/>) did pick up the story years later and the series of images even popped up on [a Reddit thread](<https://www.reddit.com/r/natureismetal/comments/7rnl9r/mountain_lion_fell_off_a_cliff_while_attacking_a/>) almost a decade later.

Consider this a bit of a cold case from the first years of OutdoorLife.com, but also a truly remarkable reminder of how brutal the predator-and-prey relationship can be.

![sheep and mountain lion](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/7KMES72EIBL7QOELQKZH2DM3VY.jpg>)
*The bighorn and cougar, discovered where they fell. via email*

![bighorn sheep fall](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/CDUXHITQKQXRC2QUFAUMZ76HIU.jpg>)
*The crash from the cliff was so forceful one of the ram's horns busted off. via email*

![dead mountain lion](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/2XOP3QFNEYR35Z5FMT7VY3BD6E.jpg>)
*The mountain lion has a mouthful of sheep hide still in its mouth. via email*

![dead mountain lion chasing sheep](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/DM3FVVXERM7MNCCRL4YCWTGQZA.jpg>)
*Another shot of the fallen cat. via email*

![broken sheep leg](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/53CHSFXUTPAEIAXORCYRI3FLBA.jpg>)
*Bones protruding from the ram's hind leg. via email*

![fallen mountain lion and sheep](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/3CGH5NYCYABXIJT3XIQYUV7CEY.jpg>)
*The ram and lion on the the road where they crashed. via email*

![glacier national park cliff](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/UELKHIYI3YXAKCSCLSVNGV2LEE.jpg>)
*Looking up at the cliff from where the animals tumbled. via email*