When we meet some animals on a picnic or in the woods, we either get scared or become happy as children. But we usually don’t know what to do in each case.
The Info Times wants to give you some tips on what to do with wild animals and how to behave sσ as not to harm them or yourself.
10. Meeting a moose in the woods
A moose is one of the largest animals you might meet in the woods. They are actually quite timid and run away first, but during the fall they can be dangerous. In Siberia, they even say that a moose is scarier than a bear.
You shouldn’t:
Approach moose calves.
Make any abrupt actions.
You should:
Go away if you hear a moose roaring – even that is enough to get scared.
Slowly leave a moose’s pathway – it can’t move back.
Hide behind a tree – they have very bad eyesight.
Turn on loud music because they are afraid of loud noises.
If a moose runs after you, scale a tree.
9. Meeting a moose or a boar on the road while driving
You shouldn’t:
Press the car horn or blink the lights because the animal can attack you.
Try to drive around the moose.
You should:
Be on the watch when traveling during the fall.
Slowly stop if the animal appears on the road.
In case of urgency, try to drive slowly around the animal.
If you hit the animal with your car:
Don’t approach the animal, even if it seems dead. It can harm you.
Don’t try to take it away with you. This can cause criminal liability.
The right actions are defined by the legislation of your country. It is most likely that you will have to call the traffic police.
8. Meeting a hedgehog
You shouldn’t:
Give it any milk (yes, you’ve read correctly). In reality, hedgehogs have milk indigestion.
Touch a hedgehog barehanded – you might catch a whole variety of infections.
Take a hedgehog home if it is not wounded. It’s not a pet.
You should:
Call the animal rescue service if the hedgehog is not OK. In this case, you may take the animal with you.
7. If you are attacked by an angry boar
Actually, this does not happen often as an average boar will run away first upon seeing you. However, sometimes tuskers attack.
You shouldn’t:
Run away. The animal will catch up to you.
Be sure of your weapon. Boars have very thick skin, and a weapon attack will only make them angrier.
You should:
Hide behind a tree – the animal will lose sight of you.
Climb up a tree.
Make loud noises.
6. If there is a bat in your apartment
You shouldn’t:
Panic. Don’t be superstitious. The animal is more likely to be lost. It’s not here to drink your blood.
Touch it barehanded.
Throw a sleeping bat out of the window.
You should:
Take away all your pets.
Put on some thick gloves.
Wait until the animal is on a surface, and then carefully take it.
You can also cover it with a box and shove something under it.
If the bat is awake, go outside the house and let it fly out.
If the bat is asleep, wait until it wakes up. For this time, just cover it with a box with
airholes.
5. If a coyote, a fox, or a jackal noticed you
You shouldn’t:
Run away. The animal might trace you.
Approach the animal and try to play with it.
You should:
Slowly stand back.
Shout.
Stretch out your arms or clothes to give the impression that you have increased in size.
Throw a stone in the direction of the animal (not exactly at it) or give the impression that you are going to throw it.
4. If a nestling has fallen out of its nest
In 99% of cases, you should leave a nestling as it is and not try to save it. The bird is just trying to learn how to fly, and its parents are usually somewhere nearby.
You should save a nestling if:
It has visible damage.
It is a swift or pigeon nestling.
It is blind and featherless.
You might also call the animal rescue service because it is really difficult to raise a nestling yourself.
3. If a dolphin is near you while you are swimming in the sea
People think that these animals are truly kind, letting you ride their backs or saving you from drowning. Well, you shouldn’t humanize dolphins. Even when being friendly, they can do harm to you. They bite and can also painfully push you. Don’t believe us? Then watch this video!
You shouldn’t:
Flounce near a dolphin.
Firmly believe that a dolphin can do absolutely no harm to you.
You should:
Swim away from dolphins.
Interact with these animals only if you have an opportunity to leave the water at any moment.
2. If a dolphin has been washed ashore
You shouldn’t:
Carry it back to the sea because it will surely die. If the animal is on the shore, it is likely to be sick or injured.
Leave the animal alone because it will be attacked by gulls or dogs.
You should:
Speak to rescuers or the coast guard and wait for help near the dolphin.
Protect the animal from the Sun. It will become hot very quickly, even in winter.
Cover it with a wet towel or algae.
Water the animal from time to time. Watch out – water can get into the breathing hole. Avoid it.
1. Meeting a shark in the open sea
Actually, situations where you meet a shark that is going to attack you do not happen very often. But such an “acquaintance” is still dangerous.
You shouldn’t:
Panic. Sharks feel your fear and get even angrier due to the prey drive.
Try to swim away. A shark is on its territory, and it moves very quickly – it’s going to catch you.
You should:
Stay still. Try to leave the pathway of the animal by slowly swimming away. It will lose its interest in you.
Defend yourself. If a shark attacks, punch it on the nose with all your might, and try to leave the water. The shark is going to be lead astray for a while.
If the animal is going to bite you, try to injure its eyes or gills. These are the weakest parts of a shark’s body.
Anyway, defend yourself and try to leave the water quickly by all means.
One more thing:
Attention! Any warm-blooded animal might be a carrier of rabies. This is a lethal disease that can’t be cured. The disease is transmitted through a bite or spit. However sweet an animal seems, you’d better not touch it.
Don’t let your pets play with wild animals.
If you see an injured animal, call the animal rescue service. Professionals will help better than you.
Don’t feed wild animals. They get used to it and lose the ability to find food themselves. Besides, they are going to beg for food from people who know nothing about their habits. “Insolent” animals might scare or injure them.
Never touch young animals. Their parents will be aggressive.
We don’t want to say that animals threaten you and you should always avoid them. You should just remember that they are not our toys or friends; they are not good or bad, but they are wild and unpredictable. Sσ we, as reasonable beings, must always use our brain when meeting a wild animal.
