Bear Saves Hiker from Mountain Lion Attack

We don't expect humans to be bears' best friends. After all, hunts like this don't exactly say, "Let's be friends!" so much as it does, "We're having bear burgers tonight!"

Regardless of any interspecies animosity, one California hiker insists a bear saved him from a mountain lion attack.

According to Yahoo! News, Robert Biggs, 69, of Paradise, Calif., was attacked by a cougar while hiking last Monday, but luckily for him, a nearby mama bear came to his rescue, fighting off the pesky puma while Biggs made his escape.

Biggs said the mountain lion tried going for his head, but instead grabbed his backpack, which was pulled over his head. Biggs said earlier he had seen the bear and her two cubs nearby, and because the cougar was likely stalking the cubs, Mama decided to strike. The two predators battled for about 15 seconds, Biggs said, before both retreated into the woods.

Biggs escaped with minor injuries -- and one hell of a story to tell.