The Complete Outdoorsman's Handbook - A Guide To Outdoor Living And Wilderness Survival(1)

The fact that bears can be dangerous should not deter anyone from venturing into bear country. If you exhibit a trace of caution and common sense, you will be in no danger. Walking across the average city street presents greater danger than hiking in bear country.

OTHER WILD LIFE Deer, elk, caribou, moose, wild sheep, mountain goats, bison, cougars, and wolves present no danger.

They are all very fearful of man. Cougars and wolves have been known to follow people, but this seems to be largely due to curiosity. Actual attacks are rare. There are only two or three cougar attacks on record. Similarly, there are very few wolf attacks on record and there is a strong probability that the attacking wolves were rabid. Bull moose during the rutting season have been known to chase people, to attack horses, and even to attack automobiles and trains. But such incidents are very rare. Bull moose in rut sometimes do unusual things, but I can recall doing unusual things when I was amorously chasing some young maiden.

RABIES The incidence of rabies has increased dramatically in recent years. This may be a cyclic sort of phenomenon or because the numbers of small carnivorous animals have increased and there is a larger pool for the virus. The reason why we have more coyotes, foxes, skunks, and raccoons is twofold: first, our farmers and agriculture departments have become more enlightened and no longer hire poisoners to kill these creatures and, second, few men earn a living as fur trappers any more. There are easier and more comfortable ways to earn one's daily bacon and beans.

A rabid animal is a dangerous one. The most common symptom of rabies is unusual behavior; for example, a fox running toward you rather than away from you or acting sick and stupid. If you encounter such an animal, stay away from it. Keep your kids and dogs away from it. If you have a firearm, shoot the animal, but not through the head. You don't want to damage the brain. A veterinarian will need a section from the brain to determine if the animal was rabid or just acting strangely without any apparent motive.

If anyone is bitten by a wild animal, he should see a doctor immediately. It is even more important then to kill the animal that did the biting, so that it can be diagnosed for rabies. If the doctor cannot learn whether the animal was rabid, he will have to assume that it was and begin a series of anti-rabies injections. If your dogs go with you on outdoor rambles, they should be vaccinated against rabies and receive proper boosters regularly.

DEQUILLING A DOG For some reason, many dogs don't like porcupines. Maybe it is because the slow, dull-witted porky seems helpless. When a dog rushes in to attack he, of course, gets an unpleasant surprise. Embedded quills are dangerous if not removed soon. They will work into the dog, causing pain, infection, and