Wildlife threatens you in four ways: large predators, venomous animals, disease carriers such as rats, mosquitoes and ticks, and feral livestock or dogs. Disease carriers have historically killed more people than all predators combined, and feral dog packs are the most underestimated animal danger. Keep food sealed and away from where you sleep, keep distance from any animal that does not retreat, and treat animal bites as medical problems, not just injuries.
Part of Threat Assessment
Wild and feral animals threaten through bites, attacks and the diseases they carry, and they approach settlements more boldly once people withdraw. Predators, venomous species, disease carriers and feral livestock each call for a different precaution.
Animals Get Bolder Once People Withdraw
The parent article notes that animals which were shy of human settlement become bolder within weeks of infrastructure collapsing. Food waste, unattended livestock and empty buildings all draw them in. Plan on animals approaching closer than they used to, and on your food and waste being the reason they come.
Sort the Animal Threats Into Four Types
- Large carnivores — bears, wolves, mountain lions and packs of feral dogs. Feral dogs are named in the parent article as the most underestimated, because they lose fear of humans faster than wild predators and hunt together.
- Venomous animals — snakes, spiders and scorpions. Without antivenom, a bite that was once routinely treatable can become potentially fatal.
- Disease carriers — rats, mosquitoes and ticks. Dull, easy to ignore, and historically the largest killers of the four.
- Feral livestock — bulls, pigs and horses that have gone feral can be territorial and aggressive.
What You Need
- A regional species list — which large predators and venomous animals are native within about 20 km of you; the parent article uses that radius.
- Closed containers — metal or hard plastic with lids, for food and waste.
- Lighting and noise — a way to make your presence obvious at night so animals are not surprised.
Method: Reduce What Attracts Them
Step 1: Locate food away from sleep Store food and scented items at a distance from where you sleep, off the ground and sealed. Animals that learn your camp holds food come back.
Step 2: Dispose of waste away from camp Bury or remove food waste and human waste away from where you live. Waste also tells animals, and people, how many of you there are.
Step 3: Remove standing water Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Drain or cover containers that collect rain, near where you sleep.
Step 4: Check for signs each day Tracks, droppings, and howling or barking at night near your area. If you find signs of a feral dog pack, secure your shelter and food before dark.
Step 5: Check yourself After walking through grass or brush, check your skin and clothing for ticks.
When an Animal Does Not Retreat
The aim is to leave without being followed or provoked. Stay calm, do not run from a predator that is not already charging, keep something between you and it, and back away slowly while watching it. Do not approach to get a better look. Move away from the animal’s food, young or territory. Avoiding the encounter is the objective; anything beyond that is a last resort that this page does not teach.
Common Mistakes
- Feeding scraps to animals near camp — it teaches them to return and to expect food from you.
- Ignoring the dull animals — rats and mosquitoes are easy to dismiss, yet disease carriers sit at the top of the list historically.
- Treating any bite as minor — snake, dog, bat and tick exposures can need medical attention. Wash the wound and follow First Aid.
Bites and scratches from wild or feral animals
Any bite that breaks the skin can carry infection, and some animals carry diseases transmitted through bites. Clean the wound thoroughly, keep it clean, and watch for spreading redness, swelling, fever or pus. Do not handle a dead or strangely behaving animal with bare hands.
What’s Next
- Learn next: Predator Identification — tell the predators apart by tracks, droppings and behaviour
- Combine with: Animal Behavior Signals — using animal behaviour as early warning