Other Survival Tips

Sourced by Alexander Turcan

Other tips:

• Do not take food into a tent. 
• Do not sleep in the same clothes you cooked dinner in. In fact, don’t even take those clothes into the tent with you. 
• Remove pet food from the area. Pet food attracts bears directly and can draw the small wildlife that is prey for cougars. 
• Never feed wild animals, such as deer, raccoons or squirrels, that can attract cougars.
• Avoid direct eye contact, because that is considered an act of aggression.

METHODS AND TOOLS

Following are some techniques and tools that can be used to help you avert and/or survive an attack by a wild animal. Not all techniques work for all animals, so apply the appropriate ones for the animal in question. In every case, keeping your distance works best. After that, use what you have at hand.

• Keep your distance
• Handgun, rifle, shotgun
• Knife
• Club
• Walking staff
• Primitive spear
• Pepper spray
• Play dead
• Make yourself big and loud
• Slowly back away
• Avoid eye contact
• Climb a tree
• Get inside a car or building
• Gouge your fingers in the animal’s eyes
• Fight for your life with all due violence
• Jump in the water and swim away from the animal
• Throw rocks, sticks, etc.
• Bang pots and pans to scare animals away
• Use a bear wire to keep food and garbage out of camp

Surviving a Shark encounter

Shark

Not exactly for the Lions Expedition in the Pyrenees, but interesting and useful anyway.  

Here are some shark encounter survival tips from Discovery’s Alexander Davies:

1. Don’t panic. If you find yourself face to face with a shark, you’re going to need your wits about you to get away with your life. So keep calm; remember that while sharks are deadly animals, they’re not invincible. Thrashing and flailing is more likely to gain its attention than to drive it away.
2. Play dead. If you see a shark approaching, this is a last ditch effort to stave off an attack. A shark is more likely to go after a lively target than an immobile one. But once Jaws goes in for the kill, it’s time to fight — he’ll be as happy to eat you dead as alive. From here on out, you’ll have to fight if you want to survive.
3. Fight back. Once a shark takes hold, the only way you’re getting out alive is to prove that it’s not worth the effort to eat you — because you’re going to cause it pain. Look for a weapon: You’ll probably have to improvise. But any blunt object — a camera, nearby floating wood — will make you a more formidable opponent. Often repeated advice has it that a good punch to a shark’s snout will send it packing. In fact, the nose is just one of several weak points to aim for. A shark’s head is mostly cartilage, so the gills and eyes are also vulnerable.
4. Fight smart. Unless you’re Rocky Balboa, you’re not going to knock out a shark with a single punch. Not only will a huge swing slow down in the water due to drag, it’s unlikely to hit a rapidly moving target. Stick with short, direct jabs, so you increase your chances of landing a few in quick succession.
5. Play defense. Open water, where a shark can come at you from any angle, is the worst position place you can be. Get anything you can to back up against, ideally a reef or a jetty. If there are two of you, line up back to back, so you’ll always have eyes on an approaching attack. Don’t worry about limiting your escape routes – you won’t out swim a shark, better to improve your chances of sending him away.
6. Call for backup. Call out to nearby boats, swimmers and anyone on shore for help. Even if they can’t reach you right away, they’ll know you’re in trouble, and will be there to help, if you suffer some injuries, but escape the worst fate. Who knows, maybe a group of sympathetic dolphins will help you out – they’re fierce animals in their own right.
7. Fight to the end. Giving up won’t make a shark less interested in eating you, so fight as long as you can. If the animal has a hold on you, he’s unlikely to let go. You have to show him you’re not worth the effort to eat.

Surviving a Wolf encounter

Wolf/Coyote

Wolf and coyote attacks on humans are becoming more common. These animals are cunning and will stalk their prey, sneaking in from behind to nip and rip at leg muscles to disable their victim. Once you’re down, the pack will swarm you.

If you are facing an attack by wolves or coyotes:

• Don’t run, because that might trigger an attack. You can’t outrun these animals, as they can hit speed above 30 mph.

• Yell at the animal to make it back off.

• These animals often run in packs and engage in coordinated attacks. If you’re surrounded and you’re alone, it is time to start shooting to kill, or you’ll end up on the dinner plate. These are carnivores and you are carne.

• Do not lose your footing. Once you go down, the pack will rush in and rip you apart.

• If you are surrounded and are in a group, position yourselves back to back, facing the animals. Use clubs, knives, sharpened sticks (spears), rocks, or anything else you can grab to fend off the attack.

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.