Dangerous Animals in North America
Animal: Grizzly Bear
Location: United States & Canada
Size: 400-800 lbs
Speed: 35 mph
Food Source: Moose, deer, sheep, elk, fish, & sometimes humans
Defense Tactics: Keep campsites clean and hang your food up in trees, out of their reach. Try not to startle or surprise them and
always keep a good distance away. Should you encounter one, never make eye-contact, for they may take that as a challenge.
Stand tall, speak softly, and slowly back away. If the bear decides to charge you, stand your ground because often times it
will be a bluff. Don't try and run from a bear because they will easily catch and dispose of you. Lastly, if the bear does
start attacking you, either play dead and protect your neck, or punch him in the nose, one of the bear's few sensitive spots.
There are also bear-repellants you can buy for protection.
Fatalities: 5-10 per year
Animal: American Black Bear
Location: United States & Canada
Size: 250-550 lbs
Speed: 25-30 mph
Food Source: Insects, honey, mules, deer, salmon, & occasionally bird eggs
Defense Tactics: Same as defense for Grizzly bears, although their encounters with humans are largely based on hunger, so be sure to
keep that food locked up!
Fatalities: Few, although they attack humans more than Grizzly bears
Animal: Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Location: United States & Mexico
Size: 4-6 feet long
Speed: 8 mph
Food Source: Prairie dogs, rats, gophers, mice, squirrels, rabbits, birds, and lizards
Defense Tactics: Watch where you are walking and be attentive. If your hear a rattling sound, that means there's a rattlesnake
nearby and it is ready to strike. Carry a stick with you and and aim it at the rattlesnake, that way if he strikes at
anything it will probably be the stick. Keep in mind snakes can extend their bite up to 2/3 their length and are too quick
to dodge. Should you ever have to handle one, make sure to hold it by its neck, not tail, so it cannot bite you.
Fatalities: 5-15 per year & over 8,000 snakebites
Animal: Coral Snake
Location:
Size:
Speed: 8 mph
Food Source: Prairie dogs, rats, gophers, mice, squirrels, rabbits, birds, and lizards
Defense Tactics: Watch where you are walking and be attentive. If your hear a rattling sound, that means there's a rattlesnake
nearby and it is ready to strike. Carry a stick with you and and aim it at the rattlesnake, that way if he strikes at
anything it will probably be the stick. Keep in mind snakes can extend their bite up to 2/3 their length and are too quick
to dodge. Should you ever have to handle one, make sure to hold it by its neck, not tail, so it cannot bite you.
Fatalities: 5-15 per year & over 8,000 snakebites
Animal: Mountain Lion
Location: Western United States, Canada, Mexico, and S. America
Size: 100-200 lbs
Speed: 45 mph
Food Source: Deer, elk, moose, hares, porcupines, & small rodents
Defense Tactics: Stand tall, shout loudly, stare at them intensely, and throw rocks at them if you feel threated by a mountain
lion. Do not corner, confront them, flee, or play dead because it may stimulate their instinct to chase and attack you.
Fatalities: 0-5 per year
Animal: Coyote
Location: Western United States, Canada, Mexico, and S. America
Size: 100-200 lbs
Speed: 45 mph
Food Source: Deer, elk, moose, hares, porcupines, & small rodents
Defense Tactics: Stand tall, shout loudly, stare at them intensely, and throw rocks at them if you feel threated by a mountain
lion. Do not corner, confront them, flee, or play dead because it may stimulate their instinct to chase and attack you.
Fatalities: 0-5 per year
Animal: American Alligator
Location: Southeastern United States [Florida]
Size: 200 - 1,200 lbs, 8-15 feet long
Speed: 20 mph on land, even faster in water
Food Source: Fish, turtles, raccoons,snakes, birds, deer, sheep, frogs, and other amphibians
Defense Tactics: The best defense against these creatures is to keep a good distance. Most often they do not view humans as
prey, but if they feel threatened or if they mistake your foot for a fish, beware. If an alligator latches on to you
and begins the 'death roll', you are pretty much out of luck. Your best bet is to jab it's eyes as hard as you can,
since that is their most sensitive spot. Don't swim where alligators are suspected to be (bogs and rivers in Florida).
Fatalities: 0-5 per year
Animal: American Crocodile
Location:
Size:
Speed: 20 mph on land, even faster in water
Food Source: Fish, turtles, raccoons,snakes, birds, deer, sheep, frogs, and other amphibians
Defense Tactics: The best defense against these creatures is to keep a good distance. Most often they do not view humans as
prey, but if they feel threatened or if they mistake your foot for a fish, beware. If an alligator latches on to you
and begins the 'death roll', you are pretty much out of luck. Your best bet is to jab it's eyes as hard as you can,
since that is their most sensitive spot. Don't swim where alligators are suspected to be (bogs and rivers in Florida).
Fatalities: 0-5 per year
Animal: Great White Shark
Location: Predominantly the Pacific Ocean. Also found in the Atlantic & Indian Ocean.
Size: 12-20 feet long, 2,000 - 4,000 lbs
Speed: 25 mph
Food Source: Fish, dolphins, smaller sharks, porpoises, seals, sea lions, turtles, penguins, and otters
Defense Tactics: Stay calm, keep an eye on him, attack its gills or eyes (sensitive areas), and carry a wasp knife
with you. Avoid wearing bright colors because it attracts them, and if you are bleeding, exit the water immediately
because they can smell blood from miles away.
Fatalities: 5-15 per year, 50-70 reported attacks
Animal: American Bison
Location: United States & Canada
Size:
Speed:
Food Source: Grass, legumes, cactus, acorns, fruit, corn, and occasionally birds
Defense Tactics: Try not to scare them and run away if allowed. They have powerful legs and may start rampantly kicking you,
in which case you should try and curl up into the fetal position until it leaves. Deer are also easily frightened by loud noises,
so if you have something you could make lots of noise with, that could help scare it off.
Fatalities: Few, although indirectly (car crashes, etc.) they cause 100+ per year
Animal: White-Tailed Deer
Location: United States & Canada
Size: 100-300 lbs
Speed: 30 mph
Food Source: Grass, legumes, cactus, acorns, fruit, corn, and occasionally birds
Defense Tactics: Try not to scare them and run away if allowed. They have powerful legs and may start rampantly kicking you,
in which case you should try and curl up into the fetal position until it leaves. Deer are also easily frightened by loud noises,
so if you have something you could make lots of noise with, that could help scare it off.
Fatalities: Few, although indirectly (car crashes, etc.) they cause 100+ per year
