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"Mommy, this followed me home. Can I keep
it?"
What parent hasn't heard this at least once? When
I was a kid, this usually applied to cats and dogs, with the
occasional frog or lizard. Depending on where you live, now this can
apply to all sorts of things you never thought you'd see. If you
think about it, it makes sense; since so many forests are being
cleared to build homes and businesses, animals who live there have
less space to roam in and are thus more likely to come into contact
with humans. This can be a good thing, and I'm sure your kids will
get a huge kick out of it. However, it's important to know what to do
if we encounter a wild animal. A lot depends on the animal itself,
but here are some basic guidelines.
For more common
'encounters'-
Deer- Deer aren't usually threatening
unless they themselves feel threatened. Don't feed them because it
will cause them to deviate from their natural habits and could cause
threatening predators to come up after them. They'll probably retreat
on their own.
For the most part, you never want to turn your
back on the animal.
Squirrels and other rodents-Most
of the squirrels I've seen are afraid of people and will run away
when they see us. If they don't, don't try to get closer or touch
them; a veterinarian friend of mine told me that illnesses such as
rabies take away their fear of people. Don't feed them.
Snakes- Back away slowly. Don't step toward
it and, for the love of God, don't let your kids chase it! I'm sure
you already knew that, but some kids don't have the sense of fear
that would keep them from getting close to a wild animal.
Wolf/Fox/Coyote-We get foxes and coyotes in
our area pretty often. If you see them, call animal control right
away. In the mean time, throwing rocks or yelling can scare them off.
Again, don't touch it or come close to it! Back away slowly. Do not
run because it may mistake you for prey.
Your average suburbanite probably won't encounter
these animals on a regular basis, but it still helps to know what to
do if you do.
Alligator/Crocodile-I
lived in an area with a lot of lakes and rivers that were home to
crocodiles. If you see anything-eyes
or a nose above the water, a tail, anything-get out of the water and
run away! Contrary
to popular belief, running in a 'zigzag' pattern won't make a
difference. If one does catch you, aim your hits into the animal's
eyes because these are particularly sensitive and will probably
prompt it to let you go.
Mountain
Lion-If
you are on a hiking trail and see a mountain lion or other 'big cat',
don't run or make any other sudden movements. Otherwise, it may
mistake you for prey. Stay together. If you can find rocks or
something else to use as a weapon, throw it. If it is downwind, use
pepper spray. If it looks as though it's about to chase you, make
make a lot of loud noises and move slowly behind a tree or other
large object. Never
lose sight of or turn your back on the animal.
Bears-If
you're hiking, make your presence known. Stay in a group and make a
lot of noise. Most of the time, they're more interested in your food
than you. If you see a bear, make yourself seem 'bigger' by waving in
your arms. If a bear stands up or appears to be charging, stand
still
until it goes away. They may not necessarily be looking to attack
you, but you don't want to take any chances. If a black bear touches
you, fight back and use your pepper spray. If a brown bear touches
you, drop and play dead.
As
interesting as it is to see a wild animal, you don't want to take any
chances. Knowing the right things to do can go a long way in keeping
safe!
