How can I get over a fear of animals while hiking?
February 3, 2023 9:14 AM Subscribe
Growing up, I had no real fears about being out in nature. We weren't a super outdoorsy family, but the idea of coming across, say, a mountain lion, wasn't a fear of mine. Nowadays, when I'd like to go out into the woods with my family, I find myself much more cautious. I know this is keeping me from getting out there. What facts should I know to help me get over it?
As I'm approaching 40, I'd like to make more time to get out into nature. We live in New England where many lovely hikes are just a quick trip away. But after hearing about a mountain lion killing a teenager years ago, I've found it hard to shake the fear of coming across hungry wildlife. I'd like to try hiking more with my daughters, both of whom are under 8, but it puts me into a kind of nervous protective mode.
So part of this is probably irrational fear, part of this is standard issue parent anxiety. Yet I know that many people hike *all the time* and never encounter wildlife, or at least not the toothy kind.
For those of you who are avid hikers, how can I reframe this thinking? Sure, I could buy a can of bear spray, but more ideally I'd find a new way to think about all of this so I could relax. How?
As I'm approaching 40, I'd like to make more time to get out into nature. We live in New England where many lovely hikes are just a quick trip away. But after hearing about a mountain lion killing a teenager years ago, I've found it hard to shake the fear of coming across hungry wildlife. I'd like to try hiking more with my daughters, both of whom are under 8, but it puts me into a kind of nervous protective mode.
So part of this is probably irrational fear, part of this is standard issue parent anxiety. Yet I know that many people hike *all the time* and never encounter wildlife, or at least not the toothy kind.
For those of you who are avid hikers, how can I reframe this thinking? Sure, I could buy a can of bear spray, but more ideally I'd find a new way to think about all of this so I could relax. How?
I'd recommend learning about the wildlife that lives in the areas you are hiking through. Most wildlife will not approach humans unless they are sick/starving or there are environmental conditions (wildfires, drought, etc). There are also a ton of excellent guides on "what to do if you encounter..."
Make the wildlife less scary/unknown and I think it would help. Your kids are not too young to start learning about it as well.
posted by routergirl at 9:32 AM on February 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
Make the wildlife less scary/unknown and I think it would help. Your kids are not too young to start learning about it as well.
posted by routergirl at 9:32 AM on February 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
Reframing: As someone who grew up in the mountains and often encounters bears and other wildlife still when visiting my family, just remember that these animals don't *want* to attack you. They aren't hunting you. They really only attack in defense. YMMV in very remote wilderness, but that doesn't sound like what you are doing.
Precautions: Strength in numbers. Take well populated paths/trails. Most predatory animals will be too scared to approach. As long as they sense you coming, they'll generally skedaddle. Hike in the morning/midday as they are more active at dusk/night. If eating on the trail, protect your food.
I've come into relatively close contact with bears multiple times (they like to come down off the mountain and dig through my mom's trash), and generally if you don't pose yourself as a threat, they won't perceive you as one. Good rule of thumb for most predatory animals in populated areas.
posted by greta simone at 9:33 AM on February 3, 2023 [15 favorites]
Precautions: Strength in numbers. Take well populated paths/trails. Most predatory animals will be too scared to approach. As long as they sense you coming, they'll generally skedaddle. Hike in the morning/midday as they are more active at dusk/night. If eating on the trail, protect your food.
I've come into relatively close contact with bears multiple times (they like to come down off the mountain and dig through my mom's trash), and generally if you don't pose yourself as a threat, they won't perceive you as one. Good rule of thumb for most predatory animals in populated areas.
posted by greta simone at 9:33 AM on February 3, 2023 [15 favorites]
Check beforehand to see what kind of wildlife inhabits the area that you're planning to hike. I believe some areas do not have a large mountain lion population in New England.
I live in an area with mountain lions and they're not very active during daylight hours. I stay off the trails in the very early morning and dusk/evening. Stick to actual paths (don't go far offtrail) since animals become familiar with the areas that have high levels of human activity as to avoid it.
posted by extramundane at 9:34 AM on February 3, 2023
I live in an area with mountain lions and they're not very active during daylight hours. I stay off the trails in the very early morning and dusk/evening. Stick to actual paths (don't go far offtrail) since animals become familiar with the areas that have high levels of human activity as to avoid it.
posted by extramundane at 9:34 AM on February 3, 2023
Is this maybe more about a parent's fear for their children's safety in general, than about you not knowing enough about specific animals?
Are you also afraid when your children are not in possible danger?
I'm just asking because with some types of fear, it's more about fearing lack of control, and the more you focus on gaining more control to conquer the fear, the more you affirm the legitimacy of the fear and make it grow.
Accepting the fact that you can't control a situation, and therefore don't have the duty to do so, can be a more effective way to let go of that kind of fear.
posted by Zumbador at 9:48 AM on February 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
Are you also afraid when your children are not in possible danger?
I'm just asking because with some types of fear, it's more about fearing lack of control, and the more you focus on gaining more control to conquer the fear, the more you affirm the legitimacy of the fear and make it grow.
Accepting the fact that you can't control a situation, and therefore don't have the duty to do so, can be a more effective way to let go of that kind of fear.
posted by Zumbador at 9:48 AM on February 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
I’ve been bitten by the dog of another hiker, so I’m more worried about unleashed dogs. I carry pepper spray now and that helps the anxiety.
posted by dianeF at 10:04 AM on February 3, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by dianeF at 10:04 AM on February 3, 2023 [5 favorites]
I think you could start by going on hikes in relatively urban settings where you'd be unlikely to encounter any big animals. I live in Nashua, NH, and we have a park called Mine Falls between a supermarket and a high school football stadium. It's a nice place to just be outdoors, and it's where I took my kids to introduce them to the concept of hiking. (No point in driving into the backcountry for them to decide they want to go home fifteen minutes into the hike, right?) That's not to say there are no animals; I've seen deer and fox, not to mention tons of unleashed dogs and high school kids doing drugs. Seems like a pretty low stakes way to get started, and then as you get more comfortable, you can gradually start going further and further afield.
posted by kevinbelt at 10:13 AM on February 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by kevinbelt at 10:13 AM on February 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
Most of the time you are highly unlikely to see big dangerous animals. I've never encountered anything that big while hiking in my life.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:19 AM on February 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:19 AM on February 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
Are there particular animals you are fearful of? There are no mountain lions in New England, and dangerous encounters with bears are exceedingly rare. In fact, in the entire United States, in 2021 one person died in a bear attack. More than 40,000 people were killed by cars; those things scare the hell out of me.
And remember, there are huge health benefits of hiking for kids and adults - and it's fun!
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 10:42 AM on February 3, 2023 [14 favorites]
And remember, there are huge health benefits of hiking for kids and adults - and it's fun!
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 10:42 AM on February 3, 2023 [14 favorites]
For me, this is the kind of anxiety that responds well to my just flooding myself with information - learning about the habits, habitat, and behavior of an animal will let me figure out how to take action to minimize the likelihood of running into something dangerous ("okay, so mountain lions usually don't even wake up until like an hour before dusk, and they don't attack groups. So...we'll hike in a big group at like 11 am. done!").
This also works for smaller animals too ("okay, the ticks that carry Lyme disease lurk in tall grass and tend to wait for something to brush past, so we'll just have to stay to the middle of the trail. And hey, look, using two kinds of repellant really minimizes the risk, lemme do that too"). My mother and brother, both of whom have Lyme disease, are in my head telling you not to forget about those risks (and I'm shushing them and saying that you can also guard against those risks too, which was my point).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:18 AM on February 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
This also works for smaller animals too ("okay, the ticks that carry Lyme disease lurk in tall grass and tend to wait for something to brush past, so we'll just have to stay to the middle of the trail. And hey, look, using two kinds of repellant really minimizes the risk, lemme do that too"). My mother and brother, both of whom have Lyme disease, are in my head telling you not to forget about those risks (and I'm shushing them and saying that you can also guard against those risks too, which was my point).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:18 AM on February 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
I do a fair bit of hiking and camping in black bear country. In the wild the "wildest" animals I've seen were beavers and a moose. However in a fairly busy campground I did see a black bear walking around because so many people were careless with their food. If you make a lot of noise and keep your food and garbage properly stored when you're sleeping you'll probably never run into any dangerous animals either because animals usually don't want anything to do with people.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:32 AM on February 3, 2023
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:32 AM on February 3, 2023
I agree that someone's unleashed dog is a lot more likely to cause a problem for you than a wild animal. Maybe contact some local hiking groups to get advice on what creatures you might see and what you can do to avoid encounters (like wearing a bear bell or otherwise making noise). What I have consistently heard is that things like bears and big cats almost always want to avoid you, so preventing bad encounters is mostly just a matter of making your presence known.
In comparative risk terms, you are also drastically more likely to die from ill health as a result of inactivity than from any kind of wildlife encounter. You are also probably far more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash on the way to the trail.
posted by sindark at 11:51 AM on February 3, 2023
In comparative risk terms, you are also drastically more likely to die from ill health as a result of inactivity than from any kind of wildlife encounter. You are also probably far more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash on the way to the trail.
posted by sindark at 11:51 AM on February 3, 2023
I'll speak to the reframing.
I think you would find the stats and locations reassuring. All my remarks are in the context that I think the risk of an attack by a large animal are pretty low, and that I personally believe time in nature is healing and important. I also think "nature" is a pretty big category! But I have taken my kids on hikes, including on trails where black bears are possible, and we have camped in campgrounds and one backcountry experience.
As a parent I have lost a child to a 1:10,000 event and so I don't have any illusions about that possibility, especially after sitting in support groups with bereaved parents. I've also had a parent with a brain injury and I broke my back as a teen.
But what I wanted for my infant daughter was to live a beautiful, full life. So for my sons, I also want them to grow up Doing Things. Mostly I've tried to provide the best safety gear/training I can and then just dealt with my fear.
Sometimes though I have let myself make decisions out of fear: backyard trampolines and tobogganing are kind of two of weird areas where I'm a bit irrational. My rule there is I just make short decisions. "Not this year" or "not this week." So I would like to encourage you to hike with your girls, but just remember - even if you decide the fear is too much this year, you can revisit that next year.
I'd also add to the recommendations above - if the idea of bear bells or spray isn't enough, consider wilderness or remote first aid or outdoor skills training. For bear safety, I know there are sites in Canada that offer online training for about $40 Canadian, because it's a workplace safety issue for some people.
Courses like that give you some information and also models for your kids that we can take risks, but sometimes taking a good risk means safety gear or training.
posted by warriorqueen at 11:59 AM on February 3, 2023 [4 favorites]
I think you would find the stats and locations reassuring. All my remarks are in the context that I think the risk of an attack by a large animal are pretty low, and that I personally believe time in nature is healing and important. I also think "nature" is a pretty big category! But I have taken my kids on hikes, including on trails where black bears are possible, and we have camped in campgrounds and one backcountry experience.
As a parent I have lost a child to a 1:10,000 event and so I don't have any illusions about that possibility, especially after sitting in support groups with bereaved parents. I've also had a parent with a brain injury and I broke my back as a teen.
But what I wanted for my infant daughter was to live a beautiful, full life. So for my sons, I also want them to grow up Doing Things. Mostly I've tried to provide the best safety gear/training I can and then just dealt with my fear.
Sometimes though I have let myself make decisions out of fear: backyard trampolines and tobogganing are kind of two of weird areas where I'm a bit irrational. My rule there is I just make short decisions. "Not this year" or "not this week." So I would like to encourage you to hike with your girls, but just remember - even if you decide the fear is too much this year, you can revisit that next year.
I'd also add to the recommendations above - if the idea of bear bells or spray isn't enough, consider wilderness or remote first aid or outdoor skills training. For bear safety, I know there are sites in Canada that offer online training for about $40 Canadian, because it's a workplace safety issue for some people.
Courses like that give you some information and also models for your kids that we can take risks, but sometimes taking a good risk means safety gear or training.
posted by warriorqueen at 11:59 AM on February 3, 2023 [4 favorites]
Hopefully reviewing some stats and learning more about what animals actually live near you will help some. If you live in New England you don't have to worry about mountain lions. Black bears are the only animal in your area that are even worth worrying about. Yes, there are coyotes, and coyotes occasionally attack people, but it's not common and the Wikipedia page on coyote attacks only lists two fatal attacks ever. None of the other predators in New England are dangerous enough to worry about. A lot of people think animals like foxes, raccoons or bobcats are a lot bigger than they actually are, so they're needlessly afraid of them. Don't worry about anything but black bears, and don't worry very much about them. There aren't a whole lot of fatal black bear attacks, according to the Wikipedia page on fatal bear attacks in North America.
Are you more scared of hiking than you are of driving to the trailhead? Your chances of being in a car accident are much, much higher than your chances of being attacked by an animal. But I bet you put your kids in the car and head off on unnecessary outings all the time without even thinking of it as something that puts your family in danger. Look at these stats on violent deaths at schools. Your kids are not very likely to get shot at school, but that's more likely than being attacked by an animal while you're on a hike. If you're able to put your kids in a car or send them off to school without feeling scared every time it happens, you ought to be able to take them hiking with feeling any more scared.
posted by Redstart at 12:39 PM on February 3, 2023 [3 favorites]
Are you more scared of hiking than you are of driving to the trailhead? Your chances of being in a car accident are much, much higher than your chances of being attacked by an animal. But I bet you put your kids in the car and head off on unnecessary outings all the time without even thinking of it as something that puts your family in danger. Look at these stats on violent deaths at schools. Your kids are not very likely to get shot at school, but that's more likely than being attacked by an animal while you're on a hike. If you're able to put your kids in a car or send them off to school without feeling scared every time it happens, you ought to be able to take them hiking with feeling any more scared.
posted by Redstart at 12:39 PM on February 3, 2023 [3 favorites]
I am pretty loud when I'm in the woods. If I'm alone or with my dog, I talk to my dog and don't try to be quiet at all. I want any animal in the area to know I'm around so it can run away. These animals don't want to see me, and I don't want to see them, so I'm loud.
posted by bluedaisy at 12:43 PM on February 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by bluedaisy at 12:43 PM on February 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
I think what you need is not facts but philosophy. One of the hardest lessons I've had to learn in life is that caution creates its own dangers, including the risk of wasting your opportunities for joy. You have to find a balance.
I live in a very rural area with all kinds of everything, go hiking all the time, and have gotten myself into several really hairy situations. I've also had statistically improbably tragedies befall me, so I know for sure that the fact that something is improbable doesn't mean it won't happen to you, and that taking every precaution in your power can't necessarily keep it from happening. The bad thing can happen despite your best efforts. Once you've been on the wrong end of a probability, statistics lose their ability to comfort.
I'm not hiking with kids but with a small dog who is the object of my extremely protective instincts. I don't want him to get kicked to death by a moose or snatched off by a coyote, both things that have happened to friends' dogs. But we live where he can live his best life running laps around me while I hike and I've decided that the risk of death is the price of letting him really live. Honestly, the same for me. And I'm not going to ruin our fun by being fearful the whole time. So I'm just not. I haven't been able to hike at all this winter because of my knee and who knows what the future holds, so I'm extra glad that we had a good time while we could. Life is going to rob you of your abilities and pleasures soon enough so be fierce in your enjoyment of the things you can still do.
posted by HotToddy at 1:03 PM on February 3, 2023 [3 favorites]
I live in a very rural area with all kinds of everything, go hiking all the time, and have gotten myself into several really hairy situations. I've also had statistically improbably tragedies befall me, so I know for sure that the fact that something is improbable doesn't mean it won't happen to you, and that taking every precaution in your power can't necessarily keep it from happening. The bad thing can happen despite your best efforts. Once you've been on the wrong end of a probability, statistics lose their ability to comfort.
I'm not hiking with kids but with a small dog who is the object of my extremely protective instincts. I don't want him to get kicked to death by a moose or snatched off by a coyote, both things that have happened to friends' dogs. But we live where he can live his best life running laps around me while I hike and I've decided that the risk of death is the price of letting him really live. Honestly, the same for me. And I'm not going to ruin our fun by being fearful the whole time. So I'm just not. I haven't been able to hike at all this winter because of my knee and who knows what the future holds, so I'm extra glad that we had a good time while we could. Life is going to rob you of your abilities and pleasures soon enough so be fierce in your enjoyment of the things you can still do.
posted by HotToddy at 1:03 PM on February 3, 2023 [3 favorites]
Making noise is a good strategy, and will come naturally if you are hiking with kids. You don't have to shout, just to talk with each other in a normal tone of voice.
But, then you won't see the peaceful animals either. Even though there are tons of deer where I live, every time I get close to one, it puts a smile on my face. If I see a fox or a rare bird, it's even better. My aunt met a badger, which is really rare. So most of the time, I'm quiet.
However, there is a single wolf who has a lair on my land, a few hundred meters from my house. I've watched a science-based YouTube video about how wolves can be very close and still keep their distance, and I trust that information. Also, not a single person has been attacked or even growled at by wolves in this country in the last 400 years. But sometimes at dusk, I feel he is very close, and then I will sing while walking my dog (there's no-one except the wolf there to hear me). I've never seen him, probably because I have a big dog, but both my aunts and most of my neighbors have, and he was walking away from them in all cases. So that confirms what the videos have told me.
posted by mumimor at 1:17 PM on February 3, 2023
But, then you won't see the peaceful animals either. Even though there are tons of deer where I live, every time I get close to one, it puts a smile on my face. If I see a fox or a rare bird, it's even better. My aunt met a badger, which is really rare. So most of the time, I'm quiet.
However, there is a single wolf who has a lair on my land, a few hundred meters from my house. I've watched a science-based YouTube video about how wolves can be very close and still keep their distance, and I trust that information. Also, not a single person has been attacked or even growled at by wolves in this country in the last 400 years. But sometimes at dusk, I feel he is very close, and then I will sing while walking my dog (there's no-one except the wolf there to hear me). I've never seen him, probably because I have a big dog, but both my aunts and most of my neighbors have, and he was walking away from them in all cases. So that confirms what the videos have told me.
posted by mumimor at 1:17 PM on February 3, 2023
I was afraid to hike for a long time because of my fear of snakes (and of running across strange violent men in the woods, but that’s another story.
Eventually I started hiking with friends. I also joined a Facebook group about snakes in my area. Learning about all the different snakes in the area, learning how people interact with them, how different types of snakes behave - all of this helped me feel less afraid. I am still cautious of snakes but it’s less of a big undefined fear and more of a practical respect.
It also helped to get to know the different hiking trails in my area. Some are wilder and deeper in the woods, some are carefully maintained and have clear or even paved trails, some are just minutes from urban areas. I know when trails will be less peopled and even they’ll be busy. I know which places I’m most comfortable with at different times of day.
In short, learning more about the animals in your area, and the hiking trails you have access too, can make a big difference. And so can hiking with groups.
posted by bunderful at 1:39 PM on February 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
Eventually I started hiking with friends. I also joined a Facebook group about snakes in my area. Learning about all the different snakes in the area, learning how people interact with them, how different types of snakes behave - all of this helped me feel less afraid. I am still cautious of snakes but it’s less of a big undefined fear and more of a practical respect.
It also helped to get to know the different hiking trails in my area. Some are wilder and deeper in the woods, some are carefully maintained and have clear or even paved trails, some are just minutes from urban areas. I know when trails will be less peopled and even they’ll be busy. I know which places I’m most comfortable with at different times of day.
In short, learning more about the animals in your area, and the hiking trails you have access too, can make a big difference. And so can hiking with groups.
posted by bunderful at 1:39 PM on February 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
Don't try this, but:
I was out hiking with a friend once upon a time. Hiking can make you hungry! We came upon a HUGE blackberry patch. I started eating berries. There was a black bear eating berries on the other side of the berry patch. The black bear was disinterested in us; there were more than enough berries for everyone. I continued eating berries until my friend dragged me away.
posted by aniola at 2:31 PM on February 3, 2023 [8 favorites]
I was out hiking with a friend once upon a time. Hiking can make you hungry! We came upon a HUGE blackberry patch. I started eating berries. There was a black bear eating berries on the other side of the berry patch. The black bear was disinterested in us; there were more than enough berries for everyone. I continued eating berries until my friend dragged me away.
posted by aniola at 2:31 PM on February 3, 2023 [8 favorites]
Carrying a walking stick does wonders for this. I think there's something about having a big stick in one hand that is particularly satisfying to our hominid hindbrain. You can attach bells to the stick when you're in bear country. And you can use it to nudge overly pushy dogs.
posted by heatherlogan at 3:23 PM on February 3, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by heatherlogan at 3:23 PM on February 3, 2023 [3 favorites]
I hike all the time, like four times a week. There are black bears, wolves, deer, fishers, badgers and coyote in the woods I hike in. (Potentially also traveling cougars and moose, though exceedingly unlikely. Cougars have been spotted here on trail cams, but they're transient.)
I have hiked these trails for 30 years, and only encountered a black bear twice. Both times my heart was pounding, but I simply started talking calmly "hello bear" so that it knew where I was at all times, as I walked in the other direction. As said above, they don't want to interact with you one bit. I did encounter a huge moose once while kayaking in a shallow river. It was huge and it ran away from me immediately.
A cougar only will stalk you if you're running/biking by yourself and look like fun to chase. Attacks basically never happen. The other day I was walking my big husky/malamute in a remote forest. Saw wolf scat, and I noticed my dog was listening to the woods intently. Could have been wolves out there, but we saw nothing.
Your chances of even seeing a big animal are exceedingly small. Even in the real wilderness. Read up on what you're supposed to do when encountering such beasties.
posted by RedEmma at 4:06 PM on February 3, 2023 [4 favorites]
I have hiked these trails for 30 years, and only encountered a black bear twice. Both times my heart was pounding, but I simply started talking calmly "hello bear" so that it knew where I was at all times, as I walked in the other direction. As said above, they don't want to interact with you one bit. I did encounter a huge moose once while kayaking in a shallow river. It was huge and it ran away from me immediately.
A cougar only will stalk you if you're running/biking by yourself and look like fun to chase. Attacks basically never happen. The other day I was walking my big husky/malamute in a remote forest. Saw wolf scat, and I noticed my dog was listening to the woods intently. Could have been wolves out there, but we saw nothing.
Your chances of even seeing a big animal are exceedingly small. Even in the real wilderness. Read up on what you're supposed to do when encountering such beasties.
posted by RedEmma at 4:06 PM on February 3, 2023 [4 favorites]
Very true about the stick. With a suitably large and hefty stick I could imagine myself fending off any manner of dog, wolf, or other animal smaller than a bear. I highly doubt I'd actually be able to do it but for sure there's a confidence boost.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 4:09 PM on February 3, 2023
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 4:09 PM on February 3, 2023
Noise scares every animal you can think of away. You can make an impenetrable defense system from four things: hiking in a group, bear bell, bear spray, and walking stick - I'll be no one has ever been attacked under those conditions.
And read @RedEmma 's comment again, its right on.
posted by RajahKing at 5:41 PM on February 3, 2023
And read @RedEmma 's comment again, its right on.
posted by RajahKing at 5:41 PM on February 3, 2023
I’ve hiked a lot and the scariest wildlife encounter I ever had was with a pack of 7 raccoons communing under a streetlight about a block from my home in very suburban, very populated California. I was on a bicycle and it was after dark, but not particularly late.
Can you focus on preparing for the challenges you are more likely to encounter in the wilderness? After a series of bad decisions that left me stranded outside overnight because I couldn’t safely finish a hike in the dark, I always hike with 1-2L water, a light source (a headlamp if I think I’m doing anything “risky”, a charged cellphone otherwise), a snack, a layer that would keep me warm enough if I got stuck outside overnight, and a waterproof shell if there’s any chance of rain. I also use a backpack with a built in whistle, but you can carry one separately to call for help/scare away creatures.
posted by A Blue Moon at 7:43 PM on February 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
Can you focus on preparing for the challenges you are more likely to encounter in the wilderness? After a series of bad decisions that left me stranded outside overnight because I couldn’t safely finish a hike in the dark, I always hike with 1-2L water, a light source (a headlamp if I think I’m doing anything “risky”, a charged cellphone otherwise), a snack, a layer that would keep me warm enough if I got stuck outside overnight, and a waterproof shell if there’s any chance of rain. I also use a backpack with a built in whistle, but you can carry one separately to call for help/scare away creatures.
posted by A Blue Moon at 7:43 PM on February 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
Everyone has posted lots of statistics but if you dig into the specific anecdotes behind a lot of these bear or cougar attacks, it becomes clear that the vast majority of these incidents happen to hunters. That is because hunters go looking for the same animals to eat as the big predators, and then if they're successful, the hunter has to butcher and then hike out a giant thing of predator food on their backs in the predator's own territory. I don't have a link to back it up but I'm pretty sure the vast, vast majority of bear attacks in North America happen to hunters in the middle of field dressing their deer/elk or whatever.
Unless you are planning to drag a dead deer through cougar country, your actual odds of getting attacked on trail in a park are exceedingly low.
posted by bradbane at 6:42 PM on February 6, 2023
Unless you are planning to drag a dead deer through cougar country, your actual odds of getting attacked on trail in a park are exceedingly low.
posted by bradbane at 6:42 PM on February 6, 2023
This thread is closed to new comments.
There are also generally signs of mountain lions becoming habituated to people well before they actually attack a person - pets disappearing is a common sign. Are people seeing mountain lions in an area? Usually they're around, but shy enough that they're rarely seen. If they're not shy, that's the concern.
I think The Cougar Conundrum is the book my naturalist book club read a few years ago, but I can't check it out right now.
posted by momus_window at 9:32 AM on February 3, 2023 [6 favorites]