A local man who claims he identifies as a mountain lion is recovering in a Branson hospital after he was attacked by actual mountain lions while trying to live among them in the Ozarks wilderness.
The man, who dyes his hair a striking bright blue, was wearing a full homemade mountain lion costume — complete with oversized floppy fake ears, messy face paint with whiskers, a cheap fur vest, and a fake tail — when he crawled into the dense forest on all fours. According to witnesses and first responders, he was attempting to “blend in” and communicate with a group of wild mountain lions when the animals turned on him.
He suffered multiple scratches and bite marks across his face, chest, arms, and legs before rescuers were able to reach him. Paramedics rushed the man to a local hospital, where he remains under observation. Photos taken at the hospital show him lying in the full hospital bed, still wearing much of his ridiculous costume, including the ears and tail, as he recovers.
One rescuer who helped pull the man to safety described the scene as chaotic. “He was out there convinced the lions would accept him as one of their own. It didn’t work out that way.”
Hospital staff say the man is in stable condition but is in significant pain from the injuries. He is expected to stay in the hospital for at least the next several days while doctors monitor his wounds and recovery.
The story has already exploded across social media, with thousands of people sharing the viral hospital photos and reacting with a mix of disbelief, frustration, and dark humor. Many locals are calling the incident a perfect example of taking identity politics to an extreme and dangerous level. Others have questioned whether the man received proper mental health support before heading into the woods dressed like that.
Wildlife experts in the area are using the event to remind residents that mountain lions are wild predators, not pets or companions. “You can’t just decide to be one and expect them to go along with it,” one biologist said.
This latest bizarre incident has once again put Branson in the national spotlight for all the wrong reasons. The man has not yet made a public statement from his hospital bed, but sources close to him say he remains committed to his identity despite what happened.
The situation is being closely watched by local authorities and animal control as they investigate exactly how the encounter unfolded.