How to Survive a Bear Attack, Cougar Attack, or a Rattlesnake Bite

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

A Calm Mind
Your Wits
Bear Spray, or Pepper Spray
A Little Luck

Step 1

For a Black Bear Attack:
Background Information You Need to Know: Black Bears (Ursus americanus) can be distinguished from their larger cousin the Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos) by their more pointed ears, considerably smaller shoulder hump, and more pointed face. Black Bears are smaller, typically ranging from 100-300 pounds, with the males being larger than the females. As skittish but inquisitive animals, they usually do not attack humans when encountered. They are likely to be kept away by loud sounds and will oftentimes flee, provided that you back away from them and give them enough space so that they do not feel threatened by you.

IF YOU ENCOUNTER A BLACK BEAR:
* Give it Room to Escape
* Back off Slowly, Talking in calm-but-confident loud tones, Without Looking it Directly in the Eyes (this can provoke the bear)
* Check the Bear's Intent:
A. If the bear initially let out a sound that it was startled, and you realize that you have surprised the bear, your best bet is to back out of the area slowly (do not turn your back on it, and do not run...it's faster). It is likely confused as to whether you are a threat, food, or neither.
B. If the bear is with cubs, it will likely only attack you out of the perceived need to defend its cubs. In this case, try to make yourself as little of a threat as possible. If it charges, hold your ground since bears like to bluff, and will oftentimes turn away from you at the last moment. Then continue your calm retreat from the area. If the bear does attack, and you are alone, your best bet is to go into the fetal position in a tightly tucked position, covering your neck with your hands. Note: Do NOT do this if the bear is not with cubs, because it might just take you as an easy snack!
C. If the Black Bear is without cubs and is approaching you with its head lowered, be prepared to fight. Black Bears, unlike grizzlies, sometimes attack people as a source of food. First, try to make yourself look as big as possible and yell to scare it away. If this does not work, seek some sort of advantage over the bear in a fight: Whether this is pepper spray, a knife, large rock, hiking pole, or simply high ground, USE it! Remember that Black Bears can climb trees better than you, so this is not a good escape. A good rule of thumb is that if you have at least 3 adults in your party you might, the key word here is might, have a good chance against the bear.
Step 2

For a Grizzly Bear Attack:
Background Information You Need to Know: Grizzly Bears (Ursus arctos) come in a variety of colors and can be distinguished from black bears by their round "teddy bear" ears, broad face, and large shoulder hump. They typically weigh from 200-850 pounds, with the males being larger than the females. These are large and confident animals that can easily bring fatal wounds with a single strong swipe. Your advantage is that Grizzly Bears cannot climb trees, due to the shape of their claws and their massive size. Also, take heart in the fact that Grizzly Bears are not known for targeting humans as a source of food (unlike black bears).

IF YOU ENCOUNTER A GRIZZLY BEAR:
* Give it Room to Escape
* Back off Slowly, Talking in calm-but-confident loud tones, Without Looking it Directly in the Eyes (this can provoke the bear)
* If you are Charged, Stand Your Ground and Yell, Raising your arms over your head to create the illusion of size. Remember that they bluff, often until near the very end of the charge. So stand steady.
* If the bear attacks, play dead. Roll up into a protective fetal position, keeping your hands tightly clasped behind your neck to protect it. Unlike Black Bears, grizzly bears will not continue to attack you for long in this position, because they do not consume humans (of course, it varies with the individual, but this is the typical situation). Once the Grizzly believes that you are dead, and no longer a problem, it will leave. Remember: Play Dead if you cannot back out of the situation, and are charged and attacked. Do NOT attempt to fight a grizzly bear. You WILL lose.
Step 3

For a Cougar Attack:
Background Information You Need to Know: Cougars (Puma concolor) are rarely encountered in the wilderness. Solitary animals, they have large ranges, and have the uncanny ability to remain out of sight. If you see a cougar, it means that it has been stalking you for some time. Cougars consider people to be a rather easy meal on the menu, and they will not think twice about stalking you and then attacking. Sometimes, people are mistaken for other prey as well, such as bicyclists being mistaken for deer. Do not mistake the cougars typical size of 90-180 pounds (males larger than females), as a sign of a fair fight. They have evolved to be very efficient hunters, and successfully take down prey much larger than you.

IF YOU ENCOUNTER A COUGAR:
* Know that it has been stalking you for some time before you ever saw it. It is thinking of you as food, so it is up to you to change its mind.
* Get Big! Raise your arms, your jacket, or your backpack over your head to appear larger. Wave your arms over your head to seem threatening. Note: If you are in a group, get together. Children are the most likely targets because of their size. Whatever you do, do NOT bend down to get something - the cougar would attack then.
* Yell at the Cougar. Say the loudest, deepest, meanest things that you can think of. If you cannot intimidate the cougar enough to scare it away, it will attack.
* If you are Attacked, fight for your life. Use anything and everything that you have in your arsenal, including a backpack, hiking stick, knife, nearby rock, etc. Go for the eyes, and don't let it get behind you where it can get the back of your neck!
Step 4

For a Rattlesnake Encounter:
Background Information You Need to Know:
DEALING WITH A RATTLSNAKE:
* First, do your best to avoid rattlesnakes altogether. They do not go out looking for you, so use common sense and watch where you put your feet when you step around fallen logs and brush. Be careful of where you put your hands if you are climbing. Take a long stick with you if you must walk through dense brush, so that you can test the area around you as you go. Wear protective boots and loose clothing.
* If you hear the distinctive sound of a rattle, or if you see a snake, get out of that area! You do not want to be anywhere within striking distance. Remember: Rattlesnakes only strike if they feel threatened, and your presence is a threat to them.
* If you do not see a rattlesnake and become the victim of a bite, do NOT panic. The more steady that you can keep your breathing, and the slower that you can keep your heart, the more time you will have. When you are in a safe area away from the snake, focus on taking slow, deep breaths.
* Take off all constrictive clothing. This includes, but is not limited to, watches, rings, bracelets, and particularly tight articles of clothing. The reason for this is that the venom will cause swelling, and any one of these could cause a dangerous constriction of blood flow.
* Immobilize the wound, if possible. Use a t-shirt as a sling, or use nearby materials to make a splint (do not tie too tightly ... you should be able to slip a finger under the tightest points. Adjust the ties for swelling if it occurs). Do not apply a tourniquet, since this can result in long-term damage to the area.
* Keep the area of the bite below heart-level. This will help to reduce blood flow to and from that area, which will help to stem the spread of poison.
* Get to a hospital immediately!! Make a call to a local emergency department (don't forget to get the numbers before your trip, if you are going into the wilderness). If you are in a group, find a safe and recognizable location to stay at, and have them seek help. This is because the less that you move, the less the poison will spread. The important thing is to get to a hospital ASAP. Note: Some bites from a rattlesnake do not contain venom. If you do not experience any symptoms (swelling, burning, discoloration, etc), you may be fortunate to have received one. However, you should still go to a hospital to be safe.

Comments

ceaber said

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on 3/9/2009 Thanks you all! I do plan on writing more, I've just been busy with student government and final exams and the like. There's a new quarter starting up now too, so I might have some free time to write again.