WOLF AND WHITETAIL
The subject of animal danger is complex, and we sometimes misunderstand nature's signals. The howl of the wolf has for centuries made humankind cringe with fear. It's ironic that no human fatalities have ever been recorded in North America from a wolf. Yet the gentle looking deer, like this graceful Whitetail, account for over 100 human deaths each year. There are a variety of reasons why animals are dangerous to humans and to other animals as well. I'm Marty Stouffer. Join me, let's separate fact from phobia as we explore "DANGEROUS ENCOUNTERS".
OPEN MONTAGE
Territorial markings like these grizzly claw scratches are a sign to all those who trespass that they do so at some risk. I should have been more attentive to the warnings. When we are careless or unheeding, we can be more than surprised. And there is only one animal that can hope to survive a fight with a grizzly bear - another grizzly.
This battle is fought over a female. Sometimes it is over territory. But whatever the reason, they are not struggling to the death. Their combat is fought according to ritualized rules that all bears understand. When one gets the upper hand, the other surrenders. Animals are dangerous to humans in large part, because we don't understand their rules. Sometimes we think we've trained them to obey our rules. As this news video clearly shows, it's a dangerous and foolhardy assumption.
SLIDES OF GRIZZLY ATTACK VICTIM
Grizzly attacks on humans are rare, but these medical photos show the power they wield.
GRIZZLY ATTACKS AUTOMOBILE
Even experiences handlers like these scientists tagging a tranquilized wild grizzly can be surprised by their ferocity. These naturalist escape without a scratch. Some are not so lucky.
SLIDES OF LOUIS KIS ATTACK
In Montana, a game warden is relocating a nuisance bear to the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area when the bear turns on him. The bear is killed with a pistol shot from the warden's gun. The warden fares better, suffering a broken leg, cuts, and bruises.
SLIDE OF WARDEN WITH INJURED LEG
Some days as a game warden are harder than others.
TRANSITION TO ALASKA
BLACK BEAR CHARGES CAMERAMAN
It is common to equate dangerous animals with the male of the species. But when a mother of any animal, human or otherwise thinks she is protecting her young - look out. It is autumn in Alaska. Winter is fast approaching and the Black bears are preparing for hibernation. With poor vision, the bear must rely on its keen sense of smell to detect distant objects. This mother bear has just caught the scent of two wildlife watchers, one with a camera recording the scene, and one with a rifle for protection. Because her cubs are nearby, she is particularly watchful.
Cameraman: She's behind the tree. I got her.
Hunter: Stay with her. Here she comes.
Cameraman: Follow her. She's coming at us a little, though.
Hunter: She's charging, man.
Cameraman: Get your gun ready.
Hunter: I've got it ready. I won't shoot unless she gets too close.
Cameraman: O.K.. Don't shoot. I want to film her as long as we can. Here she comes.
Hunter: She's coming fast!
Cameraman: Shoot! Shoot!
Hunter: That scared her. Scared her.
Cameraman: Well, I'm still filming her. I don't know what you're doing.
Hunter: I was about to run. I think she's gonna turn around. I hope she doesn't come again.
Cameraman: If she keeps coming, I'll leave the camera running. We're out of here. Where are the cubs?
Hunter: Behind the trees, I think.
Cameraman: O.K.. I'll film her as long as I can if she charges again.
Hunter: She's running away, I think. I hope she's going away. Man,
that was too close.
Cameraman: You stay right on her.
Hunter: That was too close.
Cameraman: That is great footage. I can't believe it. Whose idea was that?
Hunter: Your idea.
She charges to protect her young because of the perceived threat - whether real or not. A similar perceived threat is played out with another species of dangerous animal in Anchorage. During a harsh Alaskan winter, with its deep snow, many animals starve. So some of them wander into town, like this Moose and her calf, to find food. What happens next on this home video looks like a calculated attack.
MOOSE ATTACK MAN
What seems to be random violence is anything but. These Moose had been harassed for hours by students throwing snowballs. The female became so agitated that a man innocently walking by was stomped to death. We are supposed to be the intelligent species but sometimes we forget to act like it and innocent bystanders pay the price.
MARTY RIDES PAST ELK BULLS IN WYOMING
80,000 Elk live in Wyoming forests and I approach these 1000 pound bulls with caution. But this is not their mating season and I am not encroaching on their territory, so they don't seem the least bit aggressive. My horse, Buck, does not share my confidence. It's not unusual to see the bulls away from the cows. They lead separate lives much of the year. As unconcerned as these bulls are about my presence, the story is quite different with a herd of female elk and their young in Yellowstone Park.
ELK COW CHARGES DAVID HUIE
My crew member David Huie, is about to learn an important lesson about the motherly instinct. In an attempt to get back to where we were filming, David takes a shortcut. He's been around long enough to know better. If you think that a grizzly bear can be mean, you've never come across a mother elk defending her calf. The cow sounds a warning to the other elk and to David by grinding her teeth. David barely pulls off a bluff. As fair warning for all of you who think these docile looking elk are friendly and approachable, they are not. Don't ever approach wild animals this way - especially a mother and her young. It's a mistake many people make in Yellowstone. The animals seem tame and gentle. But looks can be deceiving.
BISON TOSSES MAN
As these home videos show, even the awesome Bison seems docile enough to pet. But these are not predictable creatures, they are wild animals in a domesticated setting. Some visitors are tempted to get just a little closer to these marvelous beasts. But when you see one paw the ground, like this bison behind the tree, - beware!
This tourist was fortunate, he escaped with only a gash in the leg. But he can confirm that even though wildlife looks harmless, it is still wild.
FEEDING THE ANIMALS
One factor in making wild animals dangerous to humans is the friendly and caring act of feeding them. People love to feed wild animals. It gets them close to these fascinating creatures. But today the sheer volume of people who do this, has taught the animals that we are a wonderfully easy source of food. Usually animals must work hard to survive. When we make it easier for them, this closeness comes at a cost for both the wild animal and for us. As these animals cease to fear human contact, they become more and more destructive and potentially dangerous.
BLACK BEARS FED AT CABIN
At this cabin, a well-meaning occupant regularly feeds the Black bears which inhabit the area. These are big bears with big appetites. And once they have eaten the easy food and are still hungry, their keen sense of smell leads them right to the source, inside the cabin.
BLACK BEARS TEARS UP WINDOWS AND DOOR
The bears finally give up and go looking elsewhere.
BEES
Not all dangerous animals are large, some of the most deadly are small. The very sound of bees can send people ducking for cover. This bear's thick fur coat protects it from stings, except around its eyes and on its nose. It's ironic that this Black bear poses less of a threat to humans than the bees it is enduring. Bees kill about 50 people a year, the second deadliest killer among animals. Except for allergic reaction, it is not the single bee sting that makes these insects so dangerous, it is the sheer number of stings they will inflict. Except for intrusions like these, Honeybees are usually not very aggressive or tenacious. That may be changing.
KILLER BEES/MAP
Enter the Africanized Bee - the Killer Bee.
In recent years, the Killer Bee has migrated from South America into Texas, and unless stopped, will continue to swarm into other states as well. These Africanized Bees are called killers because they are ten times more aggressive than the ordinary Honeybee. Their vicious swarms can result in thousands of stings.
UNDERWATER MENACE
Along the rocky coast of the Pacific, sea meets land in a rush of timeless beauty. And under the sea, a whole new world. But great danger also lurks here, sometimes not where you'd suspect. The fragile looking jellyfish injures large numbers of divers each year. The Killer Whale, on the other hand, for all its size and power, is for the most part harmless to humans. It usually dines on these playful pinepeds. Elsewhere in the shallows, a creature lurks that makes divers and swimmers more than a bit cautious; the shark. Even its name conjures up dark images. Sharks are unpredictable creatures. If a shark is not hungry, it may completely ignore potential prey. Or, it may take a bite just to see if it is hungry.
Of all sharks, the most deadly to humans as well as to seals, is the Great White. Over 20 feet long, its powerful jaws are studded with rows of razor-sharp teeth, there is no more menacing creature in the World. The largest flesh eating fish in the sea, it rivals the Killer Whale as the number one eater of Seals. But the Great White shark is often a man eater by mistake. To the shark, a seal is a meal. And from a shark's eye view, a person on a shorty surfboard looks a lot like a seal.
A blood stained surfboard is found off the coast of California. Sometime later, the mutilated body of a 24 year old surfer clad in this wet suit, is washed ashore -- one more victim of this awesome underwater predator.
COUGAR STALKS MULE DEER AND BIGHORN SHEEP
Far from the hunters of the sea is one of North America's largest land predators, the Mountain Lion or Cougar. Its preferred food is larger hoofed animals like these Bighorn Sheep. Cougars regularly hunt these majestic animals, stalking, then ambushing their prey. An elegant stride and lightning fast speed have made it the most efficient hunter.
COUGAR KILL SEQUENCE
The swift, healthy ones often escape. The sick or lame are usually singled out for pursuit. This cat does not kill for sport, but for food. And what it cannot consume right away, it buries for later. Development of wild lands has made its food increasingly scarce and has forced the Cougar closer to the animal it fears most -- the human.
COUGAR ATTACKS CROSS-COUNTRY SKIER
Whether just in search of a meal or trying to protect its shrinking territory, some Cougars have boldly dragged dogs from porches and recently have even attacked joggers and skiers -- mauling and sometimes killing them. This lucky man might have gotten more than a scratch, because recently, there has been a marked increase in Cougar attacks and killings of humans. We all need to be cautious in Cougar country.
BLACK WIDOW/SPIDERS
Although the sight and sometimes the very thought of spiders scare many people, most spiders seem more dangerous to humans than they are. But a few species do live up to the spiders' reputation. Drop for drop, the venom from this Black Widow is more powerful than the Rattlesnake's and accounts for most of the medically treated spider bites. But with some awareness of their nesting spots such as under lumber piles, we can avoid the shy creatures. Despite their beneficial role of controlling the insect population, we just can't seem to befriend the beast. Maybe it's the furry legs and belly, or the multiple eyes, but there is something about these arachnids that makes us shiver -- like the lightning speed of this Wolf Spider.
SWAMP
The Wolf Spider's aquatic relative, the Diving Spider, has strong jaws for gripping and eight eyes for seeing prey in almost any direction it has adapted the land spiders' hunting techniques to its watery habitat. It waits patiently at the water's edge to spot prey below. It injects the Minnow with poison and then pulls it up on shore for a seafood dinner.
MOSQUITO
One of the deadliest of all creatures is also one of the smallest and oldest. 100 to 200 million years ago, this creature emerged from stagnant waters and began to kill. It has managed to kill more people than all the wars in history. It is the Mosquito. It kills by picking up deadly diseases from one mammal's blood and inadvertently injecting it into another. The Mosquito tracks us down by sensing the carbon dioxide from our breath. Then, using two tiny saws, it breaks past the skin surface to the life -giving blood below.
SWAT OF ARM
MARTY IN SWAMP
I don't have to look for Mosquitoes, they always seem to find me. But not so for the larger creatures.
This traditional swamp boat is called a piroque (pronounced "pea-row"). It's the best way to navigate here, and to quietly approach animals like this Alligator Snapping Turtle. It's named for the alligator-like ridges on its back. But it's the real Alligator I'm looking for. There is no question of this ancient creature's danger. It attacks a dozen people a year in the United States, but only when agitated or very hungry. I don't plan to be a meal, so I keep my distance.
The American Alligator is the largest of our reptiles. Its various sized teeth are only for seizing and holding prey, not for chewing.
A group of hungry gators considers this Nutria as a possible meal. This large aquatic rodent is common in the marshes of Louisiana and spreading rapidly. But not if these gators have anything to say about it.
EERIE NIGHT IN SWAMP
When night falls in the swamp, it's all the more hushed and haunting. Some men brave the dark, even with the danger lurking out there. Raw liver is attractive to a hungry Catfish. But Catfish are not the only creatures lured by this bait. They keep their distance, humans are still to be feared. Fortunately, most Alligator attacks are not fatal and can usually be avoided -- unless the gators are very hungry!
As the night wears on, the Alligators' hunger grows, making them more bold. Tired from a long night of fishing, the angler is less aware and less cautious than he should be. Had he seen what took his catch, he might have been better prepared for what was to come.
ALLIGATOR ATTACK
Alligators can be aggressive. But common sense and appropriate caution will greatly minimize the chances of such an attack.
SNAKES
Of all reptiles, snakes are the most feared and misunderstood. Snake dens, like this one in Canada look to many people like their worst nightmare come true. Reptiles are cold blooded creatures. Their body temperature depends completely on their surroundings. Many snakes can survive winter only by hibernating in caves where the temperature stays above freezing. As Springtime warms the rocks around limestone sinkholes in Manitoba, the Red-sided Garter Snakes that winter here emerge by the thousands, more snakes than can be seen at one time anywhere else in the World. Even though these garter snakes are not poisonous, our tendency is to destroy any snake. These reptiles have always had a bad name. Are they just scaly monsters, ugly at best, and dangerous at worst? Even the mention of the name SNAKE can paralyze some people. They cannot separate the creepy but beneficial, from the creepy and harmful.
RATTLESNAKES
One of the most dangerous North American reptiles is the deadly Rattlesnake. It accounts for over 10 human fatalities a year. Animals too, like this careless Peccary are well aware of the rattler's bite.
Rattlesnakes evolved during the Pleistocene era, the age of giant mammals, when horses, camels, and bison roamed the earth. The rattle evolved as an alarm bell which would drive away creatures that might have trampled the snake.
This wildlife watcher is engrossed in his hobby, observing the birds and plants of the Arizona desert. Rattlesnake bites resulting in injury or even death are sometimes the result of our lack of awareness. When striking a human, the Rattlesnake regulates the amount of poison it injects. This venom secretion evolved as a method of securing food. But in the case of humans, the bite is the snake's attempt at self defense.
A facial pit located behind the nostril, detects objects with a higher temperature than their surroundings. This adaptation helps snakes locate and strike at warm blooded prey. Unfortunately for this hiker, Diamond Back Rattlesnakes do not always warn their victims.
SNAKE STRIKE
Fortunately, rattlesnakes often strike without injecting any venom. Even if they do, most rattlesnake bite are not fatal, if treated promptly. The rattlesnake bite in this medical photograph is less than an hour old. But these other photos graphically illustrate what happens if venomous snakebites are left untreated too long.
CALIFORNIA KING/RATTLESNAKE
Focused on our own fears, we often forget that dangerous encounters are usually between animals themselves - and often in surprising ways.
Among the dry scrub of California, is the deadly Pacific rattlesnake. The sound of its rattle does not frighten its arch enemy, the California Banded King Snake. The predatory King snake seizes the rattler and begins constriction. The tenacious rattlesnake does not give up its life easily. Even after death, its reflexes can still be quite active. In fact, humans have been bitten hours after they thought they killed a rattlesnake. All snakes are carnivores, but few species have the skill or necessary antitoxin in their blood to attack and devour a rattlesnake. It's no wonder they were given the name King snake, although Coach Whips also dine on their poisonous kin. The King snake tugs and pulls at the lifeless coils, straightening the carcass for easier swallowing. King snakes have the unique ability to devour other snakes much longer than themselves. This King snake literally folds the rattlesnake in half within its stomach cavity. The bones, scales, and even rattles are completely digested.
GRASSHOPPER MOUSE
When it comes to animals that are dangerous to each other, one ferocious little creature comes to mind. Grasshopper mice are not known for their cuteness, but for their vicious disposition. This species breaks all the rules about rodents. It hunts, and howls like a tiny wolf. Hardly bigger than a house mouse, this predator stalks and kills insects, poisonous snakes, even deadly scorpions.
Grasshopper mice are not only carnivores but cannibals. This stranger is lucky to escape with its life. The hungry mouse spies a Tarantula and a Scorpion. The toxins secreted by a Tarantula's fangs are no more fatal than a bee sting, but the short bristles on its abdomen which it combs off and throws, are extremely irritating to its enemies. Even so, the Tarantula is no match for the deadly Scorpion.
The struggle between these arachnids draws the attention of two Grasshopper mice. The sting of a scorpion can be fatal, even to humans, so how do these mice stand a chance? At first it looks like an easy victory for the scorpion. But the Grasshopper mouse is also known as Scorpion mouse, and this pair is not about to shirk their reputation. The first instinct is to go for the head. Another method is to attack the tail and bite off the stinger. One final, furious struggle and -- the howl of victory is followed by a well earned feast.
Even though it is most natural for one species to be aggressive toward another, we humans have always thought ourselves immune from these belligerences.
PILOT WHALE
Far to the West, in the vast Pacific Ocean, pods of Pilot whales roam the sea. Many experienced divers have made hundreds of dives around these enormous mammals without incident. They are usually very shy. But this time, off the coast of Hawaii, an experienced diver and an experienced cameraman are about to have a unique encounter. Instead of ignoring the diver as usual, this Pilot whale seems curious, and allows the diver to approach and even pet it -- the first time ever, in the wild.
Perhaps she should have been alert to the odd behavior when the whale looks her straight in the eye. Suddenly, the whale lunges. It follows and grabs her by the leg, dragging her deeper and deeper. This remarkable footage reveals her struggle. Finally, she breaks free, leaving one of her swim fins on its way to the bottom of the ocean. No one can be sure, but it looked like the whale was just being playful. Pilot whales are, after all, carnivores. If it had wanted a meal, it could have snapped her leg like a match stick and devour it. Yet she only suffered a few cuts. How was the whale to know that its playmate needed to breathe a lot more often than it did?
POLAR BEARS
The frozen reaches of the North are home to a carnivore that has always been associated with danger -- the Polar Bear. This 10 foot, ton and a half beast has broken into houses looking for food and even eaten family dogs. But what it likes most are seals and walrus. The bears will drift on ice floes hundreds of miles just to make one a meal. But there is no denying that when they are being playful, like when this group encountered a tundra buggy, they are just plain cute.
As cute as they are, they are also enormously powerful. Even though playfulness of family quarrels are not usually harmful to each other, if that swipe of the paw or nip at the jaw is aimed at a human -- that's another story. There have been several close human encounters with a Polar bear named "Binky", here at the Anchorage, Alaska Zoo. I feel sorry for animals like "Binky". The loneliness and boredom he must feel sometimes leads to these incidents where the bear is only being playful, but simply doesn't know its own strength. Like this attack on an Australian tourist who gets too close to the cage while taking pictures.
ZOO/POLAR BEAR ATTACK HOME VIDEO
This tourist suffered serious injury. But this was not the only mauling for "Binky". One young man wandered near the cage at night, after zoo hours.
INTERVIEW WITH THE VICTIM
Whether the captive animal was protecting his territory or just wanting to play, the human was the intruder and must take responsibility for his carelessness. Animals like these don't have animosity. They act on instinct. And sometimes, their instinct is to just play.
CONCLUSION/MUSK OX/LEMMING
Whatever their instincts, wild animals like these Alaskan Musk Ox are quick and violent at times, and can be intimidating by their sheer size. This Arctic Lemming is more than 1000 times smaller than the ox and is in constant jeopardy from the massive hooves. Yet the Musk Ox means no harm to the Lemming, it is simply attending to its own agenda -- finding a few shards of grass in this frozen land.
We can learn a lot from encounters like these. Just because animals are wild and even deadly, doesn't mean they intend harm. Animals can be at once silly and magnificent, and at the same time, untouchably wild and touchingly tame. The concept of "wild" could be the most confusing of our animal ideas, and that could be a wild animal's greatest problem. It is up to us to find a way to accommodate their instincts so that we can all -- great and small -- occupy the same planet.
I'm Marty Stouffer. Until next time, enjoy our WILD AMERICA.