I was
running on my local bike trail recently and came across a sign that was taped
to a mileage post. It said that there
were mountain lions spotted in the area and to not run alone after dusk. It was a little late for me to take that
warning into consideration. I can tell
you my senses were heightened and every little lizard or mouse in the bushes
made me think I was being stalked by a mountain lion. Luckily, I made it home safe. The sign did say what to do if you are
approached though. I wanted to compile a
list of what to do if you are approached by various predators.
Mountain Lion
According to
the California Department of Fish and Game, from 1986-2014, there were only 14
attacks on humans (only 3 being fatal attacks) (1). While it is rare, mountain
lion sightings do happen. Do not
run! Running may stimulate a mountain
lions instinct to chase. Instead, stand tall
and face the animal. Start to shout and
throw sticks and rocks (2). This can intimidate the mountain lion, which can
make it lose interest. Your chances of
being confronted by a mountain lion are reduced if you are not alone.
Rattlesnakes
can be identified by two characteristics.
They have a triangular shaped head and typically have rattles at the end
of their tails. One note of caution is
that just because it doesn’t have a rattle, that doesn’t make it any less
dangerous. They can lose their rattles
and it is hard to see rattles on baby rattlesnakes. Rattlesnakes are typically docile and would
rather stay away from humans than attack them.
Most attacks are due to the snake feeling threatened or startled. Rattlesnakes shake their rattle to warn you,
but don’t always rattle before attacking. If a rattlesnake bites you, it will
most likely be painful, but is rarely life threatening (3).
The first
thing to do is to stay calm. If there is
any restrictive clothing or jewelry near the wound, remove it. There will most likely be swelling near the
wound and you don’t want to cut off circulation. Immobilize the wounded limb as much as
possible and try to keep it below your heart.
Unnecessary movement will only make the venom spread faster. Get to a hospital as soon as possible. Contact them when you are on the way to let
them know that you are coming and that you have a rattlesnake bite (3).
If bitten by
a rattlesnake, do not use a tourniquet, try to cut the wound to get the
venom out, try to suck the venom out, apply ice, or drink anything (except for
a little bit of water) (3).
Bear
Bears
naturally try to avoid humans. Do not
try and outrun a bear. They can run
faster than humans on any terrain. If
you are far enough away from the bear (about 350 feet) and it has not detected
you, retreat slowly. If you need to go
past where the bear is, wait a while for the bear to leave (4).
If you are
far enough away from the bear (about 350 feet) and it has detected you, let it
identify you as a human. Stop moving and
speak calmly to the bear. This will let
the bear know that you are not a threat.
It will usually give up some ground.
Find a way around the bear, but try to stay upwind of the bear and
continue to talk calmly. That way, the
bear knows where you are and that you are not a threat. You may also wave your arms to help identify
you as a human (4).
If a bear
identifies you and starts to act aggressive, you should first assess the
situation. You want to try to retreat if
possible, keep an eye on the bear and continue to talk calmly. Do not look at the bear in the eyes though,
just watch for where it is at as you back away.
You can try and climb a tall tree, although bears can climb trees
too. You will want to get at least 30
feet up in the tree. The hope is that
they will feel less threatened with you in the tree and leave (4).
If you are
attacked by a black bear, fight back with anything you can get your hands
on. If you are attacked by a grizzly
bear, play dead. After the attack has
ended, remain where you are for a few minutes to determine if the bear has left
the area. If so, leave and obtain
medical help. These are the most
effective ways to survive bear attacks (4).
A Human Predator
Most attacks
by humans are in locations where people run alone, like remote parks, or are
running in the dark. The best thing to
do is run with a partner or run when it is light out. If attacked, scream or do anything else to
draw attention to you. A cheap dollar-store
whistle is a great investment and can help alert people in the area that you
need help. It may scare off the predator
as well. If you are attacked, try to
fight off your attacker. Go for the most
vulnerable spots. Eyes, noses, ears,
genitals, and knees are all great places to hit or kick if possible. This could give you enough time to get to
your feet and run away.
There are
several free apps for your smart phone which can help keep you safe and notify
your family if you stop moving. These
apps include Kitestring, Road ID eCrumb, bSafe, and the React Mobile app. While there are threats out there, we can be
better prepared to handle these situations.
This will increase the chance of survival. What are your tips on surviving these
predators or others?
Data Reference:
(1) http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/lion/attacks.html
(2) http://www.ocregister.com/articles/mountain-633089-lions-lion.html
(3) http://www.alongtheway.org/rattlesnakes/snakebite.html
(4) http://www.mountainnature.com/Wildlife/Bears/BearEncounters.htm
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