How Can I Stay Safe From Animal Attacks?
- Don’t approach unfamiliar animals regardless of their friendliness.
- Stay calm in their presence.
- Pay attention to the animal’s temperament. Back away at the first sign of aggression.
- Be aware of your environment and the animals that live in it.
- Keep in mind that both predators and prey are equally dangerous to people.
- Follow proper outdoor etiquette when camping.
- Never run away because it makes you look like prey.
- Yell for help and always travel in a group so there’s always someone who can respond.
A while ago I received a call from my mother, it was a very unexpected call that caused me to jump into my car and immediately drive 4 hours away…
My brother was mauled by two pit bulls and now had 45 staples in his legs, groin, arms, and face.
I was absolutely petrified at the thought of this.
(As a toddler I was attacked by a pit bull and still have a few scars left to prove it!)
Now, I don’t harbor any ill will towards the dog or that breed in general… I have personally found that in general it is more often than not the small dogs that are the most vicious.
In fact the most terrifying thing I could think of would be a 100lb Chihuahua…
(Sure, go ahead and laugh but think about it… that would be one hell of a guard dog!)
So here is the scoop.
The first dog that attacked my brother was actually just let out of quarantine for biting someone else.
My brother opened his door to see this friendly pit bull sitting in his front yard.
It came up to him and let him pet it, so my brother decided to walk it next door, open the gate and put it back in its own yard.
He opened the gate at the same time that the neighbor’s young child opened the front door.
Somehow this triggered the dog into thinking that my brother was going to hurt the little boy and the dog immediately went into attack mode.
It tore open his thigh, and according to the doctor, barely missed severing an artery.
The dog kept going for my brother’s throat but, luckily, he was able to keep it away from his neck.
That is until the neighbor’s SECOND pit pull decided to come through the gate that my brother had just opened and began to attack him too.
Thank God that the other neighbors were home, they heard the screams and came out.
It took three people to pull the dogs off of my brother… he still hasn’t fully healed and probably never will.
An animal attack is no joke.
Animals act on instinct, not reason.
You can’t talk your way out of a fight with an animal…
But luckily, there are a few things you can do to try and avoid an altercation in the first place, regardless of if you are in your front yard or out on the trail…
You may never know when an animal can or will attack or bite you.
And it is sad to say that the victims are usually children, under ten years old.
They constitute 60 percent of all animal attack cases.
Information regarding animal attack prevention is very serious and you’d do well to read on. To help keep you and your family safe from any form of animal attack, look into the following tips:
1) Do not approach unfamiliar animals even though they look tame or friendly.
2) Stay calm and do not scream when an animal is approaching toward you.
3) Pay attention to the animal’s behavior. If you see or feel that the animal shows aggressiveness, stay away from it.
4) Report any lost animal (especially dogs) immediately so that its owners may be contacted and be warned of any possible danger.
5) The main thing is to know where you might be in danger. Be aware of areas where wild animals attacks are common and be vigilant.
6) For example, there have been many attempted attacks on joggers along trails. If you go camping, it is a good idea to know what animals, especially predators, might be in the area. You need to be prepared if you are out in the wild. Some people live near a forest and have to be on the alert at all times.
7) Realize that it isn’t just predators that you need to look out for. Many animals such as hogs, moose, mule deer, and more can become aggressive at any time, especially during mating season.
8) When hiking, especially if you are in bear country, it is a good idea to make a good amount of noise. Whistle, sing, talk, and rustle leaves as you hike. You can also tie tin cans to the outside of your pack. Bears will hear you long before you see them and 9 times out of 10 they will do anything they can to get away from you.
9) Make sure that when camping you follow proper outdoor etiquette when it comes to storing, cooking, and cleaning your food at your campsite. (i.e. clean fish well away from the campsite and don’t leave scraps lying around; hang your food high enough in a tree to be out of reach for any animal looking for an easy meal; etc.)
10) If you see an animal demonstrating odd behavior, remind yourself that you are a predator and act like one. These animals look for an easy target. Watch the animal and see if it intends to leave. Is it just startled and leaving or is it watching you?
Do not run, this instantly makes you look like prey. If you have children you should pick them up.
11) Yelling for help is usually a good idea. You should ideally be traveling in groups. You should be standing up straight and make yourself big. Do not turn your back on the animal. You should keep watching the animal, but in some cases it is best not to stare (some animals like dogs consider staring them I the eye’s an act of aggression).
The idea is not to start an attack if you don’t have to. If you can, start backing away and heading to safety. Throw things and generally let the animal know it would be bad for them to attack. In some of these cases, animals attack to protect their cubs so make sure you’re not standing between them and their young.
These are just 11 very simple and basic rules to follow that can avoid you from becoming seriously injured by an animal. Your best bet is to study your area and know what poses the greatest risk to you.
Stay Safe.
