| There is much debate over how to deal with
animal danger. Certainly traveling in a group has got to be a help.
I've heard it
said that mountain lions are intimidated in the face of a group of
people. Surely a group of people armed with walking sticks and knives
would be
a formidable adversary for an attacking cougar. The same group would
be far less likely to intimidate a mother grizzly protecting her cubs.
Some advocate making a lot of noise as your group travels in areas
known
to have dangerous predators. The tiny bear bells sold in souvenir
shops would seem to be of little value. If you choose to follow the
"make noise" approach harmonicas, whistles and similar items would seem
more appropriate. Some backpackers choose to carry firearms. This is
against the law in some locations but this is a judgment call. I am an
animal lover to an extreme but I would have no trouble acquitting
a person who saved his life (or his family) from a bear attack by
using an illegally carried firearm. Here's the problem
though...carrying
a weapon may give you a false sense of security and lead you to ignore
dangers and safe practices. Armed hikers have been found killed by
bears. Remember, this is an animal that can exceed 600 pounds but
still run forty yards much faster than the fastest human sprinter. This
animal is capable of stealthy attacks. Rounding a corner and
coming face to face with a startled mother bear will leave you a
fraction
of a second to draw and accurately fire your weapon. Speaking of
weaponry, I would prefer a grenade or a 50 cal. machine gun. In the
event these aren't available in your local sporting goods shop, the .44
magnum is the choice of many people. This might not be enough "gun"
but certainly nothing less is probably worth carrying. As with most
things, prevention is the best medicine.
Snakes are a different issue. By nature,
American
venomous snakes cannot look upon humans as prey. Remember snakes
cannot chew...they swallow victims whole. For snakes other creatures
fall into two categories: potential animals to eat and animals to be
avoided. Only in bad movies do snakes pursue human victims. In real
life they
can actually sense the size of approaching animals (it is believed pit
vipers have an almost infrared sensing ability to gauge the size of
other
creatures). If an animal represents danger the snake will lie still
and rely on its camouflage for protection. If disturbed they will
flee if possible and will usually only strike if they feel immediate
threat...such
as a huge human hand or foot suddenly appearing before them. There
world is one of reflex reaction so common sense tells us to look before
we step or reach. I personally use my walking stick to probe
questionable
areas. And it is a good idea to listen. Obviously rattlesnakes
sometimes
make a loud rattling/buzzing sound but other snakes will often vibrate
their tails in the dried vegetation in a sound very much similar to a
rattler. The majority of people bitten by venomous snakes are struck on
the hands
and feet...areas we can protect with common sense and boots. (about
10-12
people die each year in the US due to snakebite--many of them while
attempting
to handle snakes,) Read and follow the advice in the first aid books
for dealing with snake bite, or for that matter, the bite of any
animal. I carry a snake bite extractor kit but its use is very
controversial among
the experts. In the event of snakebite there is no substitute for
finding emergency medical treatment...quickly. Observing snakes from
a distance can be an enjoyable experience. They are valuable in the
natural world as rodent killers. Some are quite interesting. The Hog
nosed snake is known for its instinct of playing (and smelling)
dead when it is cornered by a potential enemy. It lacks both the
fangs and venom to be dangerous but like many snakes it will sometimes
fake being dangerous by striking and assuming an aggressive stance.
Camouflage and escape remain the main defense of all snakes.
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