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Humans aren’t the only creatures who emerge from their dens during the warm seasons. Critters abound, and homesteaders and all those who enjoy the great outdoors must recognize and avoid common wildlife threats.
Dangers come in multiple shapes and sizes. Here’s what you need to know to stay safe this summer.
Smaller Wildlife
Brute force isn’t the only thing that causes trouble. The smaller animals can sometimes wreak more havoc on your outdoor fun than pumas or grizzlies.
1. Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes sometimes carry diseases — like the Zika virus, West Nile, malaria and yellow fever — in their itchy bite. Take a twofold approach, covering your person and property:
– To protect yourself, wear bug repellent containing DEET or picaridin.
– To protect your gear, spray it with permethrin. Do not use this stuff around domestic house cats. Although it’s safe once dry, you should lock your pets away before you spray.
2. Ticks
Ticks carry Lyme disease, which can lead to long-term disability. Cover up, wearing boots and long pants tucked into your socks, especially in tall grass. Inspect your skin after coming in from the outdoors and look over Fido, too — use a comb to detect the hard-to-see bugs on long-haired dogs.
3. Spiders
Spiders can be beneficial because they kill other pests, although the bite of some species can spur unpleasant symptoms. Clear away areas of debris where they’re likely to hide and shake out your shoes and clothes before putting them on.
4. Africanized Bees
Carbon dioxide attracts aggressive Africanized bees, which is unfortunate, as seeing them can increase your respiratory rate. Your best bet is to stay calm, get indoors — not into water, as they can wait — and call a professional to relocate any problematic hives on your property humanely. Humans need these pollinators, but you must also protect yourself.
5. Garden Insects
Using natural pesticides like diatomaceous earth, neem oil, garlic or hot pepper spray takes care of insect pests while keeping crops free of sketchy chemicals.
6. Rabbits
You can deter rabbits by raising your garden bed and surrounding your plants with chicken wire.
7. Rodents
Rodents may not eat your radishes, but they can crawl up your plumbing’s vent stack, build a nest and make your toilets overflow with filth. They can also get into your attic and even walls, chewing electrical wires and insulation, causing headaches and possibly sparking a fire.
Prevention is the best cure. Turn your compost regularly to bury fresh scraps and bring in your birdfeeder and other pet food dishes. Secure your trash bin lids, which also helps deter the next animal on this list. Serious rodent infestations may require an exterminator.
8. Raccoon
Some folks set snares and deadfall traps to manage raccoons that wander onto their property. However, ask yourself if you really want a dead critter you can’t eat — and a wounded raccoon can do some serious damage.
Here, too, prevention is best. Keep that trash covered. You may need to invest in locking bins, but it’s a small price to pay to avoid heading out with a broom and shovel each morning.
9. Deer
Surprisingly enough, simple soap bars may do the trick for keeping deer out of your garden.
10. Peccaries
Peccaries or javelinas look like small boars — and they can get mean. Luckily, a 4-foot high fence can keep them off your property.
Larger Wildlife
It only takes one encounter with a bigger animal to recognize the importance of preparing yourself for any wildlife threat. Regardless of the animal, you should avoid running — it activates the prey drive.
Fortunately, most animals want to avoid you as much as you want to avoid them, so remain calm. Making yourself look big and intimidating is often enough. If you’re attacked, fight back and cover vulnerable areas like your head, neck and belly.
Recognizing the signs of five types of potentially dangerous critters can help you avoid encounters in the first place. Carrying bear spray, a firearm or both can increase your sense of security when you venture into the wilds alone. Here’s how to defend against larger, more predatory dangers.
11. Feral Hogs
Feral hogs clear vegetation to create beds. They also make muddy wallows and root for food. You may spy game trails through thick vegetation with hoof tracks.
12. Big Cats
As the saying goes, by the time you see a big cat, they’ve already spotted you. However, signs one is nearby include scratch marks on trees and posts. Imagine a domestic cat raking its nails on furniture. You’ll also find tracks and the occasional hairball — pumas get them, too.
13. Coyotes
Coyotes rarely attack human beings but have snatched countless family pets. They can also jump fences — bad news for small dogs in your yard.
Keep an eye on your four-legged friends when outdoors and cover or remove all possible food sources. Special fence rollers designed to keep your cat in your yard may also keep predators out.
14. Bear
Bears are elusive, and the best defense is to avoid surprising them. Keep an eye out for claw marks and tree rubbings.
Bear spray may be your best bet against attack — yes, even if you’re handy with the 10-millimeter. Are you sure you can hit the right spot with 500+ pounds of angry carnivore charging you? Pepper spray requires far less aim.
15. Wolves
Spotting a wolf in the wild is often more spiritual than scary — they rarely attack humans. They’re also elusive, leaving few signs other than tracks, fur and scat. If you should encounter one, avoid maintaining eye contact, as they consider it a challenge.
Mitigating Wildlife Threats
Warmer weather brings everyone out to play, humans and animals alike. Stay safer this summer by recognizing and avoiding the 15 wildlife threats outlined here, and enjoy your time in the outdoors.
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