7 Tips On How To Survive Wild Animal Encounters
Many of us love seeing wild animals in a controlled environment.
But what happens when we run into them in their natural habitats?
From coyotes and snakes to lions and bears (oh my!), here are 7 tips on how to survive
wild animal encounters:
7.
Bears - Although the teddy versions of these mammals are cute and cuddly, and even bring
comfort to a lot of us on lonely nights, running into the real deal while hiking in the woods
does the complete opposite of their cotton-filled counterparts.
Meeting up with one of these guys is unlikely, but it’s always best to stay prepared, especially
if you’re going into known bear country like the Rocky Mountains.
One suggestion is to carry pepper spray with you and keep it somewhere that’s easy to
access.
There is even a version of this product made specifically for use on bears in attack mode.
But if this doesn’t work or you forgot it at home, there are other ways to survive a
confrontation with one of Smokey’s relatives.
No matter how difficult it may be, stay put!
Your initial instinct will be to get outta Dodge, but maintain your position as running
will only egg the bear on.
After you’ve managed to stay still, you’ll want to get low.
Stop and drop, but don’t roll.
Just like a baby, bring your knees up to your chin and lace your fingers behind your neck.
Staying in the fetal position will give you as much protection as possible in this situation.
The last step is to pretend you’re no longer alive.
If the grizzly thought you were a threat, it’ll change its mind if it believes you’ve
given up the ghost.
Remain on the ground even after the bear seems to be gone because it’ll hang around to
make sure it hasn’t been tricked.
Follow these directions, and you’ll stand a chance against one of these giants.
6.
Coyotes - Although these four-legged fiends could be mistaken for domesticated dogs at
first glance, they are foes, not friends.
Standing just a bit smaller than its cousin, the wolf, the coyote can pack quite the punch.
Since they are widespread and capable of living in many different environments, you could
encounter them just by walking around the block.
The first step is to try and prevent them from moving in because these neighbors want
more than just a cup of sugar.
As sneaky hunters, they’ll be looking for places to hide.
Make sure to keep your hedges tidy, so they have to stay out in the open.
Plus, your homeowner association probably appreciates a well-groomed garden.
Other preventative measures include bringing tasty treats, like pet food, inside since
it could bait the coyotes, and setting up motion-activated lights in the yard to scare
them off.
But, inevitably, evading these bushy bandits isn’t always possible.
So if you come across one, follow these simple instructions to avoid an undesirable outcome.
First things first, plant your feet, so you’re facing the coyote and move your arms up and
down which will make you appear larger.
Since they generally hunt small prey, like bunnies (or roadrunners), these canines may
not want to take on a full-grown human.
Next, you’ll want to make a lot of noise, by shouting or clapping, to scare it away.
You can even fling small items, such as rocks, at the coyote to help dissuade it from attacking.
By recalling these safety measures, if you come face-to-face with one of these dog-like
predators, you’ll make it out scot-free.
5.
Rattlesnakes - Since they are extremely common in the hot and arid regions of the United
States, it isn’t far-fetched that you may run into a rattlesnake during your life.
So, if you decide to take a hike in the national parks of the American Southwest, make sure
you keep your eyes peeled for these noisy nemeses.
Some would say it’s easy to tell if a rattlesnake is in the vicinity, but they’re surprisingly
good at blending in with their surroundings considering their size.
These limbless reptiles can grow up to about 8 feet long!
Luckily its initial instinct is to flee, not fight.
The main diet of the rattlesnake consists of small rodents, so it’s unlikely that
one will want to take you on.
However, if they’re feeling threatened or surprised, they will strike to defend themselves.
If you are going to a place where these cold-blooded critters are known to hang out, there are
some precautions you should take to protect yourself.
Since snakes are mostly low to the ground, it’s a good idea to wear shoes that fangs
are unable to penetrate.
Your footwear should be made out of a thick fabric, like leather, and cover your ankles.
You’ll also want to wear pants that stretch down to your shoes to give your legs some
added protection.
In spite of taking these safety measures, it’s still preferable to stay away from
rattlesnakes altogether.
While enjoying your hike, make sure you avoid less traveled areas and give your surroundings
a thorough examination before sitting or setting up camp.
But, there is still a chance that you’ll run into one after doing what you can to prevent
it.
So if you come upon a rattlesnake, you should know the telltale signs that it’s not messing
around.
If it is in a tense curled up position and it’s looking right at you, it’s probably
going to strike!
It will often use its rattler to keep predators at bay but opposed to popular belief, these
snakes will stay silent a lot of the time.
If you come across one, try to retrace your steps quietly and reverse away from it.
If it is set on attacking you, the most you can do is try to escape.
These venomous villains are very quick, and the average person wouldn’t be able to block
an angry rattlesnake.
So if it bites, seek medical attention quickly but try to remain calm as the venom will circulate
at a faster rate if you’re panicked.
Although this situation would be really alarming, following these simple steps will keep you
safe from a rattlesnake’s fearsome fangs.
4.
Lions - Running into a lion during your everyday errands is highly unlikely.
However, if you’re planning a vacation to the Serengeti anytime soon, there are some
precautions you might consider taking.
Although you may be unfamiliar with African terrain, lions have ruled the roost in many
parts of the continent for centuries.
So, while you’re setting up camp during your long-awaited safari, make sure you’re
on the lookout for these kings of the jungle.
Number one on the list while fending off a lion, is to remain where you are!
Against every impulse in your body, try not to panic.
Once you have restrained yourself from fleeing, you’ll want to move slowly away, while continuing
to look at the ferocious feline.
Then, if the beast decides to charge, be loud and roar just like the lion would!
Wave your arms around too, in an attempt to ward it off.
However, if it decides to stay, you may have to fight.
A charging lion will attempt to jump directly at the face and throat so use this to your
advantage!
You’ll want to try and hurt the lion to get it off of you.
So if you’ve taken kickboxing classes, this would be your chance to put that uppercut
to good use!
While aiming for its eyes and head, strike the lion while it jumps toward you.
Hopefully, this will discourage it from continuing, and it will view you as a threat, or at least
too difficult a dinner option.
Once you’ve fended off the big cat, seek medical attention as soon as possible since
hand-to-hand combat with one of these guys will surely result in at least a few scratches.
3.
Alligators - Although it may seem like a far stretch to run into one of these gigantic
reptiles, alligators are seen pretty often in places like Florida, which happens to be
a favorite vacation spot.
The best idea would be to avoid them entirely.
It’s highly recommended to stay out of freshwater ponds, lakes, and streams, especially at night
since this is when alligators do most of their hunting.
However, if you happen to find yourself in a brawl with one of these subaquatic champions,
there are measures you can take to come out unharmed.
If you meet up with the alligator on land, you should run the other way as quickly as
you can.
Although they are nearly unmatched for speed in the water, people can almost always outrun
the creatures on solid ground.
But if you happen to be swimming or accidentally take a tumble into an alligator’s watery
residence, don’t give up hope and don’t panic.
If you flail around, you’ll draw attention to yourself making the gator more likely to
come over and investigate.
But if this sizable lizard decides to introduce itself, be prepared for the confrontation.
Move around a lot!
If you resist enough, it’s likely that the brute will withdraw and find something smaller
to eat.
If you can retain a sound mind in the middle of this encounter, try and jab the alligator
in the eyes because that’s its most exposed area.
By doing these few things, you should make it to land intact.
2.
Elephants - If you’re planning a wildlife tour of the African savannah or maybe even
hanging out at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park, lions are not the only large mammals you’ll
want to keep an eye out for.
Elephants are generally very mellow creatures, but depending on their temperament or mood,
they can pose a threat to even the strongest person.
If at all possible, refrain from approaching these giants in the first place.
If you’re viewing them from a vehicle, stay in the vehicle, but if you’re on foot stay
at a distance.
Although Dumbo was able to fly away from unwanted situations, your average elephant doesn’t
have that option so all it can do is fight back or try to scare you away, if viewing
you as a danger.
So in the instance that avoidance isn’t possible for you, there are things you can
do to continue your holiday unhurt.
These grey behemoths will often perform a mock charge before they decide to follow through
with a real one.
If it has its ears hanging naturally, the elephant is probably just trying to fake you
out, but if it has its ears fixed tightly against its head, you’ll need to prepare
for the real deal.
If you think it is a mock charge, you can stay as still as a statue and hopefully eliminate
yourself as a hazard in the elephant’s mind.
If it doesn’t retreat, you can attempt to frighten it away by yelling loudly.
If both of these options don’t work, it’s a good idea hide behind some object like a
pole, boulder, or tree.
Another action you can take is to climb as elephants tend to lack this talent themselves.
You may also distract it by throwing items, such as your purse or backpack, away from
yourself.
Doing this will sometimes cause the animal to veer off course and attack the object.
If nothing prevents the elephant from charging, the last option is to pretend you’ve breathed
your last.
If it believes you’ve passed on, it will likely leave.
Just make sure you shield your head as well as you can.
Even though this event would surely cause a lot of internal turmoil, try to remain calm
and look back on these tips as they could save you from an early demise.
1.
Sharks - Sharks can be a real worry if you’re swimming in a large body of water, be it an
ocean, river, or maybe even a lake.
However, there are certain places where these creatures are more likely to be.
The mouth of a river is a bad place to swim and the area around a fisherman’s boat is
another place to steer clear of.
While people are luring in fish, the fish are luring in sharks.
It’s also recommended to stay on shore if you have any scrapes or need to use the restroom
because these Jaws stars can smell excretions from miles away.
However, with the number of shark species out there, it’s not always an option to
avoid this sharp-toothed fish.
But in case you do meet a shark out in the blue abyss, there are some steps you can take
to protect yourself.
Number one is to calm down!
Although confronting a great white would certainly terrify anyone, try your best not to panic
as that would only draw more attention to yourself.
Next is to keep an eye on the beast.
This predator tends to swim in circles around its prey, so keep watch while you try to slowly
move toward safety.
If there’s no question the shark is going to attack you, try to make yourself appear
bigger than you are because sometimes this will deter it.
Another tactic is to put some sort of wall behind yourself so the animal can’t maneuver
it’s way out of your line of sight.
Even though the situation would frighten just about everyone, if you keep your wits and
remember these suggestions, you may just leave the water unscathed.
Which animal encounter are you most frightened of when you’re out and about in the wilderness?