Surviving a Cougar encounter

4. Mountain Lion/Cougar

Attacks from mountain lions are very rare, and they’re going to prey on elk and deer – not humans. But danger arises when people hike alone or families with children let the kids run ahead and make noises.

Families and adults should think like a sandwich and the parents should be like a piece of bread and the children should be the filling. One adult should be leading the pack and one should be in the back.

Here is a list of tips for a mountain lion encounter from the conservation advocacy group, The Cougar Fund:

1. Be especially alert when recreating at dawn or dusk, which are peak times for cougar activity.
2. Consider recreating with others. When in groups, you are less likely to surprise a lion. If alone, consider carrying bear spray or attaching a bell to yourself or your backpack. Tell a friend where you are going and when you plan to return. In general cougars are shy and will rarely approach noise or other human activities.
3. Supervise children and pets. Keep them close to you. Teach children about cougars and how to recreate responsibly. Instruct them about how to behave in the event of an encounter.
4. If you come into contact with a cougar that does not run away, stay calm, stand your ground and don't back down! Back away slowly if possible and safe to do so. Pick up children, but DO NOT BEND DOWN, DO NOT TURN YOUR BACK, OR DO NOT RUN. Running triggers an innate predatory response in cougars which could lead to an attack.
5. Raise your voice and speak firmly. Raise your arms to make yourself look larger, clap your hands, and throw something you might have in your hands, like a water bottle. Again, do not bend over to pick up a stone off the ground. This action may trigger a pounce response in a cougar.
6. If in the very unusual event that a lion attacks you, fight back. People have successfully fought off lions with rocks and sticks. Try to remain standing and get up if you fall to the ground.

Surviving a Bison encounter

Sourced by Alexander Turcan

3. Bison

If you encounter a bison, here are some tips from Canada’s National Park Service:

1. If you encounter bison along the roadway, drive slowly and they will eventually move. Do not honk, become impatient, or proceed too quickly. Bison attacks on vehicles are rare, but can happen. Bison may spook if you get out of your vehicle. Therefore, remain inside or stay very close.

1. If you are on foot or horseback: Never startle bison. Always let them know you are there. Never try to chase or scare bison away. It is best to just cautiously walk away. Always try to stay a minimum of 100 meters (approximately the size of a football field) from the bison.

1. Please take extra caution as bison may be more aggressive:
• During the rutting season (mid July-mid August) as bulls can become more aggressive. 
• After bison cows have calved. Moms may be a little over-protective during this time. 
• When cycling near bison, as cyclists often startle unknowing herds. 
• When hiking with pets. Dogs may provoke a bison attack and should be kept on a leash.
• On hot spring days – when bison have heavy winter coats.

1. Use extreme caution if they display any of the following signs
• Shaking the head. 
• Pawing. 
• Short charges or running toward you. 
• Loud snorting. 
• Raising the tail.

Surviving a Deer Encounter

Sourced by Alexander Turcan

Elk/Deer

The dangerous times are in the spring, when elks are protective of their calves, and the fall mating season, known as the rut. Sometimes the bulls can be very aggressive. During the rut, elks are in big groups. You want to make sure you’re not in between the aggressive bull elk and the focus of his attention.

Here are some tips from The Payson Roundup, a small paper that covers Rim Country in central Arizona, an area that has had its fair share of elk invasions.

1. Always keep a safe distance and if driving, stay in your car.
2. Never approach a baby calf; they are not abandoned even if the cow is not in sight. The cow is close by or very likely has gone to water and will return. The maternal instinct could produce an aggressive behavior, if something might come between her and her calf, so play it safe.
3. Elks travel in the reduced light of early morning or late afternoon – so, if you want to avoid an elk, don’t go out during dawn or dusk.

If you are charged by a deer or elk:

• Do not turn your back on the animal, as they almost always charge from behind.
• Facing the animal, raise your arms and your jacket, to make yourself appear larger. Swing the jacket around to make yourself appear formidable.
• If you have a dog with you, turn it loose and that might distract the deer or elk.
• Climb a tree.
• If you are knocked down, curl up in a fetal position to protect your head, neck and organs. You might be thumped a few times, and then, likely, the animal will leave.
• If the animal has antlers, you might sustain serious injuries, so do your best to put trees or boulders between you and the animal.

Surviving a Bear Encounter

Tips for Surviving Wild Animal Encounters: Bear

Motto: “You may need to show the animal you’re not worth the effort to eat.”

Sourced by Alexander Turcan

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2013/08/22/tips-for-surviving-wild-animal-encounter/

Every expedition in the wild nature has to do with wild animals.  

Every animal responds differently to human interaction, but a general rule of thumb for any wildlife encounter is be prepared and look for signs. If the animal is reacting to you, you’re too close. All wildlife will give you a sign. Some species will put their ears back. Some will scrape their paws. Some will give verbal cues.

1. Bear

These are two species that you should never run from: black bear or mountain lion. You should make yourself big, as much as you can. Whether it’s taking your jacket and putting it over your head, or picking up sticks or just waving your arms, you need to fight back.

Here’s a list of bear attack survival tips from Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources:

1. If you see a bear that is far away or doesn't see you – turn around and go back, or circle far around. Don't disturb it.
2. If you see a bear that is close or it does see you – STAY CALM. Attacks are rare. Bears may approach or stand on their hind legs to get a better look at you. These are curious, not aggressive, bears. BE HUMAN. Stand tall, wave your arms, and speak in a loud and low voice. DO NOT RUN! Stand your ground or back away slowly and diagonally. If the bear follows, STOP.
3. If a bear is charging – almost all charges are "bluff charges". DO NOT RUN! Olympic sprinters cannot outrun a bear and running may trigger an instinctive reaction to "chase". Do not try to climb a tree unless it is literally right next to you and you can quickly get at least 30 feet up. STAND YOUR GROUND. Wave your arms and speak in a loud low voice. Many times charging bears have come within a few feet of a person and then veered off at the last second.
4. If a bear approaches your campsite aggressively – chase it away. Make noise with pots and pans, throw rocks, and, if needed, hit the bear. Do not let the bear get any food.
5. If you have surprised a bear and are contacted or attacked and making noise or struggling has not discouraged an attack – play dead. Curl up in a ball with your hands laced behind your neck. The fetal position protects your vital organs. Lie still and be silent. Surprised bears usually stop attacking once you are no longer a threat (i.e. "dead").
6. If you have been stalked by a bear, a bear is approaching your campsite, or an attack is continuing long after you have ceased struggling, fight back! Predatory bears are often young bears that can be successfully intimidated or chased away. Use a stick, rocks or your hands and feet.

FORGET HARMONICA WHEN POLAR BEARS ARE AROUND!

Survival Tips from Experienced Survivor Les Stroud

Sourced by Alexander Turcan

http://prepare4survival.wordpress.com/2014/03/13/30-survival-tips-from-les-stroud/

1. In cold or freezing conditions, the worst thing you can do is let yourself get sweaty. If you get sweaty, you should let the sweat dry.
2. Use a lens from a camcorder to start a fire (as if it is a Magnifying Glass).
3. Always carry a good multi-tool (e.g. Swiss Army Explorer Plus).
4. Break wood between two trees to keep from hurting yourself.
5. Wipe mud over your skin to protect against mosquitoes.
6. If you catch lean food eat as much of the animal as possible, except the entrails. Certain wild animals have extremely low levels of body fat, which may lead to death by rabbit starvation.
7. To start a fire with a lighter that has no fluid, use a piece of tissue formed into a cone at one end with a ball of sock lint stuffed into the cone to catch the spark that comes off the lighter. This only works if the socks are manufactured from 100% cotton. 
8. Don’t play the harmonica when polar bears are possibly around because they are attracted to strange noises.
   
9. Use corn chips to hold a flame in a manner similar to a candle wick.
10. Boil water by placing heated rocks in it. This is done when a water container cannot be held directly over a fire.
11. Heat rocks over fire and place them around the body as heating packs while sleeping or resting.
12. Use cow dung to keep a fire smoldering while away. This prevents the need to light another fire from scratch.
13. Determine the time until sunset by measuring the distance between the sun and horizon, wherein each width of your hand equals one hour.
14. Use moss from the north side of a tree to gain bearings without a compass.
15. Too much coconut milk causes diarrhea.
16. The Five “W’s” of Survival:
1. Weather: Temperature of the area, know what kind of shelter you need.
2. Wood: How much wood is around for both fire and shelter.
3. Wigglies: spiders, scorpions, snakes, anything that can bite you or poison you.
4. Widowmakers: rocks, trees, large animals, anything that can fall on you or attack you.
5. Water: Where will you get water, how will you obtain it.
17. Use a potato peeler on thin branches to create very curly wood shavings. These are great for getting very small flames turned into big ones.
18. Always check your boots for “Wigglies.”
19. To create smoke signal, burn damp wood chips over fire.
20. Before sleep – pee, so your body isn’t trying to keep warm the water inside you.
21. Eating something before sleep helps insides get warmer.