How To: Survive Animal Attacks

How To Survive Animal Attacks

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From 1991 to 2001, an average of 177 fatalities occurred per year in the U.S. from venomous and non-venomous animals. Although some of these tragedies were unavoidable, many of them could have been prevented had the victims known how to protect themselves in the wild. Get a leg up on crusty old Mother Nature by learning how to survive animal attacks with the simple tips below. When you’ve mastered these, please visit our articles on how to defend yourself against a dog and how to fight a bear.

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Shark attack

Cougar attack

Wild dog attack

If lions are the king of the jungle, then sharks are surely the sultans of the sea. These bloodthirsty underwater predators are equipped with razor-sharp teeth, remarkably powerful tails and an unquenchable appetite for flesh. Luckily, it’s easy to hear these freaky fish approaching, since they’re one of the few animals that have their very own theme song . Should you encounter a shark while swimming or scuba diving, get into a defensive position by backing yourself up against a reef, rock or any solid obstruction that will reduce the animal’s angles of attack. If you are with a partner, go back to back to provide yourselves with 360 degrees of protection. Should the shark attack, your best line of defense is to claw at the animal’s gills and eyes. Delivering a quick succession of sharp strikes will confuse the shark, making it believe there are multiple attackers. Once the shark has swum away you’ll be free to return to shore where you can sell your story to the highest bidder.One of the most unpredictable animals in the wild (and in many yuppie bars), cougars are sleek, muscular killing machines capable of running at speeds of 35 miles per hour and jumping as high as 18 feet from a sitting position. Should you see a cougar in the wild, try to stay perfectly still since even the most minute of movements may cause these powerful predators to attack. If a cougar does indeed pounce upon you, your best — and perhaps only — hope is to fight back. Many outdoorsmen have managed to fend off cougars by retaliating with rocks, sticks, fishing poles, and even their bare fists. Another method, albeit a far more dangerous one, is to try to control the animal by placing your hand behind its lower canine teeth on the lower half of its jaw. Simply pull down as hard as you can and try to choke the animal until help arrives. If you exert enough force it’s possible the cougar will retreat back into the wild to lick its wounds.Years of watching Disney films and Saturday morning cartoons may have convinced you that your typical wild dog is an amiable, wise-cracking animal. Sadly, this common misconception couldn’t be further from the truth. Wild mutts, such as wolves, coyotes and foxes, are dangerous and sometimes even rabid animals that don’t take lightly to humans encroaching on their territory. Should you stumble upon a wild dog, maintain eye contact with the animal while backing away slowly. Remain upright, and make yourself appear bigger and more imposing by picking up sticks or branches and waving them about. If a wild dog lunges at you, remain standing while kicking the animal repeatedly in the face around the eyes and snout. If you have a stick, deliver full, powerful blows to the animal’s face and ribs until it finally relents. It may be a dog-eat-dog world, but there’s no need for you to become puppy chow if you’re willing to put up a fight

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