This summer’s viral video of a 65-year-old man getting tossed 20 feet into the air by an agitated bison in Yellowstone National Park was a horrifying reminder that one never knows what to expect from the creatures we share space with on planet Earth.
Accordingly – even though one needn’t fear a bison attack in the Tidewater region – it is wise to know how to conduct one’s self in the face of an encounter with an animal that can do us harm. More typically, for us, that would be a fox, a raccoon, an aggressive dog or, possibly, a coyote or black bear. Particularly as new neighborhoods are built in our region, it’s wise to recognize that our wider presence in former wildlife habitats increases the chances that encounters with undomesticated animals will take place.
In the new safety series, “A Bright Idea,” that we’re inaugurating with this article, we’ll track (barring special circumstances) the safety lessons that Operations Manager Glen Presson shares at the monthly meetings of the CEC Board of Directors.
With many animals, a fundamental step to avoid a confrontation even around your home is to secure food and water so they won’t come snooping around. For outdoor trash cans, secure them with bungee cords if need be, and pick up fruit that has fallen from trees in your yard. If you have small pets, don’t leave them unattended outside, especially at night.
If you’re walking around the neighborhood or hiking in the woods, make sure you’re attentive in your surroundings. That often means no headphones or earbuds. Carry an approved spray or repellent and have it accessible – not tucked in a backpack where you have to look for it under duress. Walk in a group if possible and, even if you’re by yourself, make noise so that you won’t have a “surprise” encounter. If one does occur, you typically shouldn’t run but raise your arms and try to appear as large as possible, then slowly back away. When encountering an aggressive dog, avoid direct eye contact so you won’t appear to be challenging the animal.
In many of these cases, if you do need to engage physically with the animal, fight back hard and try to inflict pain on the nose or snout. Stuff whatever you can into the mouth of the animal to reduce the risk of getting bitten. Ball your fists to protect appendages and shield your face and neck with your forearms as best you can.
Being outdoors doesn’t mean we should be scared. Encounters like those discussed above are rare. Still, it doesn’t hurt to act prudently and think ahead of time how you can protect yourself in the event an unusual encounter with an undomesticated animal does occur.