Surviving Encounters with Dangerous Wild Animals (Part 1)
09-17-2015
Author: Blog Editor in Outdoor Adventures 101
By Brigham Madden-Cox
Handling Spider Bites
Don’t worry, that phantom tingling that you’re feeling right now isn’t actually a bug. Now that you’re done checking, let’s talk about what might be the most dangerous animal in North America: the black widow spider. No, not Scarlett Johansson. I’m talking about the spider with the second strongest venom in the world.
So you’ve been bitten. First in spider bite treatment:
Simple Tips for Avoiding a Rattlesnake Bite
If you’re bit:
Some Information About Wolves
Photo: Rattlesnake
Photo Credit: Richard (Rick) Sanderson Photography
While we may not be home to the most dangerous animals on the planet, North America is none too shabby when it comes to creatures that could easily kill a human being. Hence why this post, the latest in Outdoor Adventures 101, is entirely focused on making sure that all of you MobileRVing folk know exactly what to do when faced with the top candidates for the North American “List of Deadly Animals.” If you hike and camp in the wild, bookmark this page as a future reference.
Handling Spider Bites
Don’t worry, that phantom tingling that you’re feeling right now isn’t actually a bug. Now that you’re done checking, let’s talk about what might be the most dangerous animal in North America: the black widow spider. No, not Scarlett Johansson. I’m talking about the spider with the second strongest venom in the world.
So you’ve been bitten. First in spider bite treatment:
- Stay calm
- Apply some ice to the bite for ten minutes
- remove for ten, apply, remove and so on and so forth
- Call the National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) as soon as you can, then get to a hospital. Let them know that you have a black widow spider bite (you’ll know by the red underbelly of the spider), and follow their directions as soon as possible.
Simple Tips for Avoiding a Rattlesnake Bite
Bad news: snakes bite 5-8,000 Americans every year. Good news? On average, only five die due to the prevalence of antivenins in hospitals.
Because they are the most common and the most aggressive snakes in the US, I’m only going to focus on rattlesnakes and how to treat a rattlesnake bite. To start, here’s some information about how to avoid getting bit:
Because they are the most common and the most aggressive snakes in the US, I’m only going to focus on rattlesnakes and how to treat a rattlesnake bite. To start, here’s some information about how to avoid getting bit:
- If you hear a rattle, locate the snake and get at least six feet away from it. Rattlesnakes can be anywhere between 18 and 72 inches long and will extend the full length of their bodies to bite.
- Carry a walking stick to check bushes for snakes and/or to confuse snakes if they strike.
- Vaccinate your dogs and keep them close! Dogs get bit more often and can easily agitate snakes into biting you.
- Do NOT try to kill a rattlesnake unless you have a shotgun and some good aim. This summer it took my grandfather two shots of buckshot from only six feet away to put a rattler down. Sticks, shovels, knives, etc. are just not gonna cut it.
- If you come across a dead snake or kill one, do NOT touch it unless it is completely necessary. Snake venom is tricky and can get into your system through cuts or sores.
If you’re bit:
- Stay as calm as you can to prevent the venom from pumping through your system faster.
- Call for help immediately.
- Clean the wound and keep it below heart level.
- Don’t suck out the venom unless you are far, far away from help (it’ll make it worse).
- Compress, but do not constrict, the bitten limb about three inches above the wound, between the bite and your heart.
For more information on rattlesnake bites, the National Geographic has very useful articles and videos on prevention and treatment for rattlesnake bites.
Some Information About Wolves
When it comes to wolves or coyotes it is important to know that you should almost never run or fight back. Wolves travel in packs, sometimes as large as 40, and will not hesitate to struggle to take you down. How to survive a wolf attack will vary by situation, but generally you will want to avoid eye contact, be as submissive as possible, and wait it out. If you do run, throw any food that you have in order to distract them.
Want to know how to handle yourself during an encounter with a bear or during a mountain lion attack? Well, keep up with MobileRVing because these dangerous wild animals are next on my list! Expect a post about them and a certain apex predator sometime next week.
- Surviving Encounters with Dangerous Wild Animals (Part ll)
- All You Need to Know About Wild Camping with a Motorhome (Part 1)
- You Gonna Eat That? - Foraging Basics for Edible Plants & Berries
Photo: Rattlesnake
Photo Credit: Richard (Rick) Sanderson Photography
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