How to Not Get Seriously Injured/Killed

Many people perceive the likelihood of an animal attack in the wilderness as much higher than it actually is. In the Adirondacks, it is important to watch out for mammals like the black bear, eastern coyote, and bobcat, as well as some reptiles. There are easy ways to avoid attracting these animals, and it is important to remember the proper way to react to any encounters.

Image of the black bear (Galanty).

While most black bears in the Adirondacks are relatively small—they are not much bigger than a large dog—they are still potentially harmful. In order to avoid attracting bears, do not feed them, make sure your campsite is clean and free of garbage, do not dispose of any cooking grease in the woods, and do not try to compost meat or sweets. If you do encounter a bear, do not approach it. Instead, slowly back away and distance yourself from the animal. If it continues to follow you, then change your direction and act aggressively in order to intimidate it. Do not run or make direct eye contact (“Dangerous Animals...”). Even though the Adirondacks have about 4,000 bears, which is the third largest population in the United States, the chance of being injured or killed by a bear is very low. Between 1960 and 2000, only eight people were injured by bears in New York. Since then, there have only been two more serious encounters (Galanty).

Image of the eastern coyote ("Dangerous Animals...").

Image of a bobcat ("Dangerous Animals...").

Eastern coyotes look like small German Shepards, and they are actually quite fearful of humans. In order to avoid attracting the animal, do not feed them or leave food in easily accessible places. If you do encounter a coyote, be aggressive by standing tall and holding your arms out to look large, and then make loud noises, wave your arms, or throw objects like sticks and stones. Attacks usually occur when coyotes lose their fear of humans, which happens when they associate them with an easy food source (“Dangerous Animals…”). Just like coyotes, bobcats rarely attack humans, and if they do, they are usually sick or rabid. They are about twice the size of a domestic cat, and you can avoid attracting the animal by not feeding them or leaving food in easily accessible places. If you do encounter one, keep as much distance between yourself and the bobcat as possible, slowly back away, and act aggressively by making loud noises. Do not turn your back to the animal or run away (“Dangerous Animals…”).

Encounters with wild animals are going to become more frequent as humans invade and develop the wilderness, but they are still not as common as movies and other forms of entertainment portray. In an encounter, the most important thing to remember is to remain calm and make slow movements. If people were more educated about animal attacks, then they would understand that there is not much reason to fear them, and they would know how to avoid and handle them if necessary.

Works Cited

“Dangerous Animals in the Adirondacks.” Adirondack.net. Adirondack.net, n.d. Web. 13 April 2015.

Galanty, Max. “Animals Could Attack in the Adirondacks.” All Points North. All Points North, Winter 2007. Web. 13 April 2015.