If you ever find yourself planning a trip to or a hike in the woods it is important that you be prepared. It is important to have some knowledge of the animals that live in the area that you are planning to visit. Not all creatures are cute and cuddly. Some of the cutest and cuddliest things out there are also downright deadly. So before you head out get to know the wildlife that you might encounter in the woods of the countryside you are visiting.

But do not let this deter you from going there, exploring and enjoying the beauty that can only be found in the woods is an uplifting experience. Armed with some essential knowledge you will be able to enjoy the beauty without coming into harm’s way or disturbing the wildlife. Remember this is their territory and you are the visitor, so knowing the habits and traits of your hosts will go a long way toward keeping you safe.

When one thinks of dangerous encounters with wild animals one normally thinks of running into a bear in the woods, or being bitten by a poisonous snake or spider. The unfortunate truth is that most injuries or fatalities are caused by vehicle accidents when colliding with wildlife on the way to or from the hiking or camping site. It is important that you use caution when travelling, as often where there is one animal there are likely to be others. Deer travel in herds and thus if you spot one deer crossing the road in front of you be aware that more are likely to follow.

The majority of dangerous wildlife encounters are as a result human error. The most common culprit is the feeding of wild animals. There are those who resort to feeding wildlife as a means of attracting them in order to photograph them. When humans feed wildlife the creatures slowly lose their natural fear and start to associate you with food. This causes a multitude of problems, for both people and the animals.

As wildlife lose their fear of humans, they begin to encroach more and more into populated areas in search of food. When animals get close to people they expect to get food, when they do not, they can turn aggressive. This can result in either injury to the animal or people. If wildlife attacks humans the rangers are required to kill the animal. So, for your safety and that of the wildlife, please remember not to feed any of them.

The following is a list of some of the more dangerous wildlife you might encounter during your outings:

Insects/Arachnids

Interestingly enough, these small annoying bugs pack quite a wallop. Among the most annoying insects we can encounter while enjoying a nice stroll through the woods or camping out, is the mosquito. Not only do they buzz incessantly in your ear, they suck your blood and leave an extremely annoying itchy bite behind. However, these very bites can be harbingers of a much nastier, and sometimes deadly, disease, the West Nile virus. The West Nile Fever is spreading rapidly across Europe and poses a serious health hazard. In addition to the virus, mosquitoes can carry malaria, chickungunya fever and even dengue fever. Mosquitoes are not the only threats; ticks which can carry Lyme disease as well as tick-borne encephalitis have been on the rise.

The threat from insects does not stop there. When hiking, be aware of your surroundings, if you encounter bees or wasps and have been bitten by one, leave the area quickly, without trying to swat at them. Remove the stinger by scraping it off with your fingernail, knife or a similar object. Do not pinch the stinger to remove it (which happens when using tweezers), as this will introduce more venom into the body. If bitten by several bees or wasps get to a health care facility quickly. Unfortunately, bee stings are responsible for several deaths as a result of allergic reactions to bites.

Spiders (arachnids) are another one of those creepy crawlies that can present a serious health hazard when visiting the woods. There are close to 200 different types of spiders in Europe; however only a few of them are poisonous and there are no native poisonous spiders in the UK. In North America both the black widow and brown recluse spiders are poisonous. While their bites can be rather painful and unpleasant, they are not normally fatal. They can, however, present a serious threat (even death) to small children and the elderly. When travelling, it is important that you bring insect repellent and be prepared to handle insect or arachnid bites.

Bears

If you are planning to hike throughout areas in Canada, North America or parts of Europe the first creature that probably pops into your mind as being the most dangerous is the bear. This is a safe assumption to make as the bear population has been steadily increasing thanks to conservation efforts. While there are no bears currently in the UK, there are plans underway to reintroduce bears and other wildlife that roamed the area thousands of years ago. Interestingly enough, as terrifying as coming across a bear is the chances of actually encountering a bear face-to-face are highly unlikely. Unfortunately the majority of bear attacks are the result of human error.

When walking in the woods it is important that you make plenty of noise; this alerts the bears of your presence and increases the chances that they will choose a different path. In addition, this will also prevent you from inadvertently surprising them. There are those who see bears as cute and cuddly, especially bear cubs. If cubs are spotted, be sure you stay far away as the mother bear is likely to be close at hand. Mother bears will ferociously protect their cubs at all cost. Never ask your friends and/or children to pose for pictures close to cubs or adult bears.

If you are hiking and/or camping, be sure not to wear any toiletries with perfume as these attract bears. When you prepare food be sure to keep your cooking fire and cooking area at least 100 metres from your sleeping site. It is also a good idea to not wear the same clothes you cooked in when you return to your camp site. Food should be stored at least 4 metres high in airtight and bear proof containers. Remember, bears have a great sense of smell and will go through your tent and you to get to food.

Large Cats

Like bears, large cats are attracted to food and will injure you to get to it. It is important to note that attacks from lynx, cougars and bobcats are very rare. When they do occur they are usually directed towards children or people who are travelling alone (such as bike riders). Since children are approximately the size of prey, they are easily targeted. It is important that you always keep your children close. If you have dogs, be sure to always keep them on their leash as they often antagonise wildlife.

If you do encounter one of these large cats place yourself between the cat and your children and do not run. Stand your ground, face the cat (do not make eye contact, this is perceived as a threat) and attempt to make yourself look as big as you can. If you have a jacket on, open it and spread your arms apart. This helps to make you look much larger. Also if you can, make a lot of noise and wave your arms or a stick about until the cat retreats.

Deer Family (Cervidae Family)

Deer are members of the Cervidae family which include elk, deer, caribou (reindeer) and moose. Like all wildlife, they can become food aggressive when fed by people. However, the majority of injuries and fatalities are caused by vehicle accidents.

During rutting season, the bulls can act aggressively towards people. The mating season takes place from September through October. After calves are born, between late spring and summer, give females and their calves a wide berth. Females are extremely protective of their young and will attack anything they perceive as a threat. The best way to view any of the members of the Cervidae family is from a distance; this will not only keep you and your group safe, but will allow you to observe them in their natural habitat.

Snakes

There are approximately 50 poisonous snakes in the world, the majority of which live in Africa and Asia. The good news is that only one of these exists in the UK, and there are only five in all of Europe; the dangerous snakes in Europe are adders. There are approximately eleven poisonous snakes in the Americas, including four types of rattlesnake, two types of vipers, Fer-de-Lance, cooperhead, cottonmouth, bushmaster, and the coral snake. The timber rattlesnake, prairie rattlesnake and Massasagua rattlesnake are all found in Canada.

If you are bitten by a poisonous snake it is important that you have as close a description of the snake as possible should you require antivenom. Most snake bites coincide with times of the year when people are outside, hiking, and camping (May through October). The most important thing to remember is not to apply a tourniquet or attempt to cut and suction out the venom, this actually causes more problems then it solves. The best first aid solution is to use a venom extractor (negative suction device which you can purchase wherever first aid supplies are sold) and get help as quickly as possible.

Wolves

While wolves are often times seen as vicious killers, there have been no reports of wolves attacking people since the early 20th century. Reports of wolves attacking people in Europe were associated mostly with rabid wolves and only a few were as a result of predatory attacks. No predatory attacks were reported in North America.

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