Donald,
I've found elk during the rut to be the most dangerous... Wolverines are
supposed to be terrifying, but good luck trying to find one.
If the bear mace you are talking about is a capsicum spray, my understanding
is that this will actually provoke dogs. I've spent a lot of professional
time on wild dog issues, and know a lot of people that have to deal with
aggressive dogs routinely (good luck to them!). Most of these are council
animal control officers. For safety they carry something called a
'whack-bite' stick. It's a telescoping billy club, essentially. I think
they are classified as weapons, and are not available to the general public.
Council officers also carry citronella spray which is apparently very
effective on dogs. I've certainly found citronella very effective on my
marauding Jack Russell Terrier. Merely uncorking sends the do into a frenzy
trying to get away. The council officers I know swear by the stuff.
Some other general advice. Don't run when confronted. Try to look
confident, look towards the animal, but not straight in the eyes (it's a
challenge to it). Back away slowly and carefully. (Sound's easy, doesn't
it?). Seriously though, if you run, it will induce a chase response in the
dogs- they will be chasing prey. This is what happened to those
unfortunate children killed by wild dogs on Fraser Island a few years ago.
Advice on how to deal with wild dog behaviour is best accepted only from
those with significant experience. All manner of folk tales about how to
deal with dogs abounds. Most of it wrong and possibly hazardous to follow.
And remember, bird in pairs. That way you don't have to be able to outrun
the dog, just the other guy.
S.
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Donald G. Kimball
Sent: 24 January 2011 16:11
To:
Subject: feral dogs and birding
Okay folks I wont go on and on about this one but being attacked while
birding is definitely an unnerving situation. I have dealt with adult moose
and black bears while doing wildlife research on birds in Canada but so far
only a nasty farm dog that got called off. By the way moose are much more
dangerous overall but fortunately I went unscathed with the moose adventure.
Okay now to my point. I am not sure about Aussie law but in Canada if I am
in heavy heavy bear country I prefer to use bear mace which is totally legal
here. The kind that actually will turn grizzlies around like a scalded hog.
One jolt of that and even the most determined pack of mutts will be rolling
and screaming in the dirt while others will be be yelping and panicking to
leave the area. A bit pricey but great for peace of mind. Hopefully this
will be helpful to some of my great mates in Aus.
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