Sunday, September 19, 2010

Dangerous animals and more

Saturday's post about the spider had me thinking.  


After Mrs P from QIMP posted this post and this one some time ago which included a lot of deadly animals, and a number of comments from people living overseas about the scary creatures here in Australia, I googled poisonous/dangerous animals in North America.
Guess what I found!  And you lot worry about coming here, I'm pretty sure I'm never going to venture outside any metropolitan center in the U.S.A.  on the off chance I might meet one of these.


Grizzly Bear
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. 

Fatalities: 5-10 per year 

American Black Bear

Fatalities: Few, although they attack humans more than Grizzly bears This was intriguing - does that mean they would rather attack a human than a Grizzly bear or do they attack more humans than Grizzly bears do!!!!!!
Western Diamond Rattlesnake

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. Keep in mind snakes can extend their bite up to 2/3 their length and are too quick to dodge.
Fatalities: 5-15 per year & over 8,000 snakebites 
Not just one kind of rattlesnake too -
Eastern Diamond Rattlesnake
Timber Rattlesnake
Mojave Rattlesnake
Speckled Rattlesnake
Pygmy Rattlesnake
Massasauga
Sidewinder
Black-tailed Rattlesnake
Tiger Rattlesnake
Panamint Rattlesnake
Banded Rock Rattlesnake
Western Twin Spotted Rattlesnake
Red Diamond Rattlesnake
Prairie Rattlesnake
Grand Canyon Rattlesnake
Arizona Black Rattlesnake
Cottonmouth 
Copperhead - 4 types
Western coral Snake
Eastern Coral Snake
Texas Coral Snake
Fatalities: 5-15 per year & over 8,000 snakebites 

That's at least 24 different poisonous snakes!!!!!!!!!


Mountain Lion

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 
Coyote

Same as Mountain Lion
Fatalities: 0-5 per year

Alligator

Don't swim where alligators are suspected to be (bogs and rivers in Florida). 
Fatalities: 0-5 per year 

Great White Shark

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 

Bison

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.
Fatalities: Few, although indirectly (car crashes, etc.) they cause 100+ per year 
Deer
Deer had the same comments as Bison -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. What the? I'm not even safe from Bambi, great!
The Black Widow Spider
They inject an especially potent neurotoxin along with their bite. This type of poison blocks nerve impulses to the victim’s muscles, resulting in cramps, muscle, spasms, rigidity, and, in extreme cases, paralysis.
The Brown Recluse
They also enjoy bunking with humans, and have a nasty habit of crawling into clothing as well. Most victims are bitten while dressing or sleeping. In its own way, the brown recluse’s venom is much nastier than that of the the Black Widow. Recluse venom is a necrotic toxin: that is, instead of affecting a victim’s nervous system, it acts directly on the skin and musculature to kill the tissues immediately surrounding the bite. The dead tissues heal very slowly, if at all. 


Gila Monster


One of only two poisonous lizards in the world.


Scorpions
Tarantulas
Puss Moth Caterpillar
Hornets
Wasps
Horse Fly
TicksLyme Disease, 
Skunks
Poison Ivy


Have I missed anything?


6 comments:

  1. Not to mention the crazy humans!

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  2. Brilliant! We by all accounts have some snakes in England, but I don't know of anyone that has ever seen one. They are very shy!

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  3. I always dreamed of going to the US...and then I read this post. Do they really have that many creepy crawly, tear your head off your shoulders animals?

    Bugger it- I'm going to Cairns for a month instead.

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  4. LOL! I guess it's all a matter of what you're used to.

    Personally, I wouldn't go wandering in grizzly country either--at least not without someone who carries a big gun and knows how to use it.

    A lot of the people who have tangled with wild animals--and lost--lacked any kind of common sense.

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  5. Ohh this really made my day... I don't think any country is without something scary...
    I do like NZ cause they don't have 'snakes' I think they are my biggest worry...
    Have a great day & watch where you be stepping today... ha ha

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  6. Wonderful post!! My friend came across a Grizzly when camping in the US....very scary she said, No Kidding! Hey come with Shay to Cairns instead :-)

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