The 3 Reasons Animals Attack
No one wants to be eaten alive by a random creature alone in the wild, nonetheless even receive a bite from an angry raccoon.
Animal attacks happen all of the time, ranging in severity. In extreme cases, people are eaten alive. In most cases, a few bites or scratches are received.
What most people don’t know is that there are 3 primary reasons that animals attack. If you understand these 3 reasons, then you can take care of yourself when dealing with wildlife or going for a hike deep in nature.
Here are the 3 reasons that animals attack (and what to do about it).
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The 3 Reasons Animals Attack
#1: Food
Nature is a cruel, unforgiving place. Many animals must feed on other living animals in order to stay alive and reproduce.
When times are especially tough, animals that don’t typically hunt humans may turn their eye our way.
These types of attacks aren’t the most common, but if they do happen, the animal comes in vicious, fast, and shows no mercy- they want you as food!
People typically attacked for reasons involving food are smaller or elderly, exhibiting clear signs of vulnerability that attracts the predator.
Some studies have even suggested that when an animal eats a human, it develops a taste for human blood and prefers humans.
While this might sound something absurd like out of a Hollywood film, there’s actually some validity to it.
Human blood is much more salty than that of deer, and many creatures (ie. leopards in Africa/Asia) that have had a taste of human blood have been observed to suddenly hunt more humans.
At any rate, these types of attacks are rare.
When out in the wild, don’t leave open food containers that could attract wild creatures. If you do, and you see a wild creature approach, don’t fight or defend. Just leave and let them have the food you left out so you don’t get eaten too.
In the event that you are attacked for this reason, it’s best to fight back- viciously. There are no rules in nature, kick between the legs and gouge the eyes of the animal. No predator likes to eat prey that fights back!
Again, these types of attacks are quite rare. Being in a group of humans greatly reduces the chance of such an attack occurring.
#2: Fear/Defense
The most common type of animal attack involves the animal being afraid- whether it be defending their young, attacking at a perceived threat, or feeling like their territory is being encroached upon.
Recent studies involving wild animal attacks have suggested that over half of all animal attacks on humans involve reckless behavior on the human’s part.
For example, in Yellowstone National Park too many people are engaging in risky behavior in order to secure a selfie with a wild creature, such as a wolf pack or bear.
Animals have no clue you just want a photo… Approaching a creature will certainly scare them!
If a wild creature has babies, then they will be extremely aggressive, fearing that their young will be attacked.
For example, female bears with cubs will be ultra-aggressive if you approach them. They are afraid that you will eat her cubs (this happens in nature, other predators love hunting cubs).
The most important thing to realize while being out in nature is that you may be approaching another creature’s territory.
In most cases, when dealing with wild animals that appear aggressive, you should calmly move out of the way.
Don’t run, or you’ll trigger their attack instinct. Don’t attack or get too aggressive (though if you’re being attacked that might be the best case).
The best thing you can do is research the types of wild creatures in your area, or where you’re hiking, and understand how to deal with each common type of wild animal individually.
For example, some animals respond well to intimidation, whereas others will become more aggressive!
Overall the vast majority of animal attacks involve fear on the animal’s part; they are afraid you will attack them, their young, or you are approaching their territory and scaring them!
This is quite common when we deal with wildlife/pest infestation in people’s homes for example.
Wild creatures that have taken up residence in your attic or home will NOT want to leave, and if they are young, be especially aggressive when it comes to handling the problem.
#3: Crazy Creature
Finally, the third most common type of wild animal attack involves a “crazed” animal. Rabies comes to mind with this, but it can involve any type of disease/problem to make an otherwise calm animal quite aggressive.
Rabies for example affects the central nervous system, causing aggression and delusions. In humans, strange symptoms have been observed such as the fear of water (hydrophobia!).
Have you ever been hungry, tired, and thirsty and snapped at a friend?
The same can happen with wild animals, but they’re not snapping with their words but with their jaws.
An animal that is hungry, tired, thirsty, sick, or in pain will be more likely to attack humans out of fear or unnatural aggression, just like we humans can be rude to each other for no apparent reason (to the receiving individual) in similar circumstances.
The best way to deal with this type of scenario is to AVOID the problem altogether. Like a psycho, you can’t reason with a creature that’s aggressive due to circumstances out of your control.
What If You’re Attacked?
As always, our advice if you are even bit or scratched is to go to the hospital and seek expert medical opinion.
Rabies has a 99% lethality rate if not immediately treated, so take care of yourself in the event you’re bit!
Wildlife & Pest Infestation
Our team of professionals across America are ready to help you, if you suspect that you have a wildlife or pest infestation problem.
Wild creatures can damage your home with time, so we also restore any damage they might cause and set up preventative measures so it doesn’t happen again.
If you think you have a wildlife or pest infestation, let the experts handle it:
Call us: 855-WILDLIFE
Or
Visit www.wildlifexteam.com.
We’ll be sure to consult with you and help you out!
Thanks & be safe,
-Wildlife x Team International