What to do when encountering wild predators?
Uzbekistan’s fauna includes various animals, each of which has unique characteristics and habits. Therefore, when encountering wild predators, it is important to remember that safety should always come first. Today we will look at what to do when encountering wild animals in order to avoid danger and protect yourself and others.
Bear
Information
Bears rarely attack humans and only in the following cases:
- when hungry
- when they do not realize they are interacting with a human
- when trying to protect their offspring, food, or personal territory
Bears rarely attack a group of more than two people.
They can run fast, swim, and climb trees.
What should you do?
- Do not panic, slowly move backward without turning your back to the bear
- Raise your hands above your head to appear larger
- Make noise, speak loudly, and whistle
- Throw a backpack or bag between you and the bear to distract its attention
- Avoid direct eye contact
- Do not attempt to feed the bear
Wolf
Information
- A wolf can swim well, but it is unlikely to swim after a human. If there is no river or lake nearby, climb a tree, hide in a car, or another safe place
- If a wolf senses fear, it will not go away
- Wolves are skittish animals, so speaking loudly and throwing stones will scare it away
- Signs of rabid wolves: dull fur, cloudy eyes, lowered head, excessive drooling, separation from the pack, wandering alone
What should you do?
- Do not turn your back or run
- Avoid direct eye contact
- Show confidence and do not show fear
- Raise your hands above your head to appear bigger
- Throw stones or scare it away with a stick
Fox
- Foxes rarely attack humans and prefer to avoid danger
- If a fox is not harmed, there is no risk of attack
- If a fox approaches a person on its own, it may be a sign of illness
- If a person is bitten by a fox, they should immediately seek medical help and get vaccinated against rabies
Wild Boar
- Wild boars usually hide immediately when they see people, but an injured boar may attack
- Boars have poorer vision and hearing than humans, so if you see a boar and it does not notice you, calmly walk away
- If a boar is about to attack, try to climb a tree at least 1.5–2 meters high
- Do not try to scare a boar, as it may become more aggressive
- Boars dislike whistles, loud noises, and shouting
Snake
Snakes can be found not only in nature but also in populated areas. Not everyone can tell whether a snake is venomous or nonvenomous, so unfortunately, many people try to kill snakes.
- When encountering a snake, avoid aggressive or sudden movements
- Slowly step aside and let the snake crawl away
- A snake will only bite when it is protecting itself
Bees, Wasps and Other Insects
Insects are not as dangerous as wild animals, but caution should still be exercised when dealing with them.
- Bees and wasps do not like the smell of perfume, sweat, garlic, or alcohol. These smells may provoke them to attack. Moreover, bees dislike black and bright-colored clothing.
- Do not make sudden movements when you see insects
- If bees attack as a swarm, you must run away quickly