What dangers can you encounter in the forest? Forest dangers. How to avoid encounters with wild dangerous animals

Good afternoon friends. Hunters and fishermen, wildlife photographers, mushroom and berry pickers, tourists, etc. Although, most likely, this article is not for you, but for those who are little familiar with the forest. For those who have spent their entire life in a stinking city, going to the forest for the first time and not knowing what to expect from it. For those who are familiar with the forest, but use it more as a consumer, without studying it and the inhabitants of the forest. For those who see the forest as a center of evil and danger.

Well, it's good to babble! Go!

The desire to write such an article and in this form arose a long time ago. Tired of answering numerous questions Silly questions all sorts of sheep of ignorant and little-knowledgeable people about the dangers of the forest. Every time I talk about my trips to the forest, and even overnight, and alone (are you an asshole after all?), I hear the same thing. Therefore, I will try to cite here the most common misconceptions regarding the forest, and I will try to clearly explain seemingly understandable things and refute some misconceptions.

Let's make a disclaimer right away - everything I write here applies to adults and healthy people. Much written here does not apply to the elderly and children - these are people with disabilities and health. But in general, this is more related to the issue of survival in the forest. Also, please note that I am writing here about central Russia - not about the jungle or the remote Siberian taiga (although much of what will be written here applies to it too). Let's continue our conversation about the dangers of the forest.

As a rule, only the last spectacled people who know little about it are afraid of the forest. If you know, even in theory, about the main dangers of the forest and how to deal with them, then the fear will go away by itself.

So why is the forest dangerous and should you be afraid of the forest at all?

1) Predators (bears, wolves, lynxes, etc.).

As a rule, those sucker newbies who find themselves in the forest for the first time are awestruck by stories about bears and wolves eating people. Just tell him such a tale - and now he’s already nervous, doesn’t go far from you, looks around. After such a tale, this dry man would never agree to spend the night in this forest alone. After all, this is certain death! As soon as dusk falls, hungry wolf eyes are already looking at you from under the tree, and somewhere behind the mane a bear who has been fasting for several days is growling. What should we do? Perhaps we should climb a tree in the forest, these smart guys will say again. Yeah, come on, come on, you’re our Tarzan, climb in! How long have you been climbing trees? At the same time, check your physical fitness. And also try sleeping there until the morning, sitting on a tree (only Katniss from The Hunger Games sleeps so confidently and well in trees). And then you will tell ignorant people like you how many predators roam the forest at night.

Okay, we were joking and that's enough. And now about the predators. No!!! There are predators in our forests that will just attack a person. I ask you to remember one thing - a healthy animal is always afraid (often panicky) of a person. A bear, as a rule, eats immediately and never attacks a person. If you don’t believe me, try looking for official statistics in the magazines “UFO”, “Miracles and Adventures”, on REN-TV, ministries of ecology or hunting management departments. Such cases, as a rule, are extremely rare and only a few occur over the course of several years. Those exceptions, when a bear still eats people alive together with a guan and attacks a person, as a rule come down to: the animal is mortally wounded while hunting, the she-bear protects the cubs, the clubfoot itself is put in a position where its life is in danger. In the other 99.9% of cases, the bear either leaves unnoticed or simply warns with a growl or its actions. If you know about this, then you will protect yourself from being eaten by a bear and being attacked.

It's the same with wolves. Wolf until useru panic!!!(please remember) is afraid of a person! A healthy wolf will never attack a person! Rare exceptions are an animal with rabies or a mortally wounded animal, or a wolf driven mad by hunger in winter. And even in winter, a wildly hungry wolf will not attack a person, if only in a pack, and if only against a weak person (a child, an old man, a sick person). Do you think I’m healing you here? Don’t believe me? Remember the ending of the Soviet movie “Sannikov Land”. Still don't believe me? Read the official (I repeat - official!!!) statistics in the magazines “UFO”, “Miracles and Adventures”, and on REN-TV official sources. How many people have been eaten by wolves in your area over the past ten years? Ah, not one hundred and fifty people! But rumors persist in villages and newspapers about eaten girls or teachers (I think I heard this story when I was five years old). It’s always better to trust a neighbor than some stranger Ivan Ivanovich from the authorities at the Ministry of Ecology. If you are still stubborn like a sheep and don’t believe it and stand your ground until the last, my advice to you is that it’s better not to go into the forest at all. They will definitely eat you there!

2) Overnight in the forest. (Are you tired of living?)

I hear this statement very often. “It’s scary as hell to spend the night in the forest, it’s very dangerous to shit yourself, it’s better not to. As a rule, if you ask a person: “Why,” he will answer meaningfully “ Well, you never know, anything can happen". No specifics. Friends, open the news summary for the past 24 hours - “stuff” happens every day in the city - people are killed, girls are raped, children disappear, people are crushed by cars, people burn, are maimed, injured, etc. In the forest, there is no “anything” that can happen to you in the city. I’m not healing, I’m telling you honestly - spending the night in the forest is many times safer than in the city. I would even say - completely safe! If you’re not fucking afraid of the forest, stay safe overnight, nothing will happen to you. Main enemy a person spending the night in the forest is a bear, his mother is cold. So the main thing here is to dress warmly. That's all. And you can safely send such people who talk such nonsense about spending the night in the forest to hell and put them in their place. But nothing is remembered so much for a lifetime as spending the night alone in the forest, for example, around .

3) You can get lost in the forest and die.

Yes, it’s probably really possible. It already looks a little like the truth. But at the beginning of the article we made a disclaimer. As a rule, people who get lost and die in the forest are old people and children, as we have already said, people with disabilities and health. It very rarely happens that healthy and strong people get lost and die in the forest. Rarely! Although they get lost quite often. After all, only the last loshara can get lost in three pines, even those who are on first terms with the forest. But here in central Russia, as a rule, the forest does not stretch as far in any one direction as, for example, in Siberian taiga. Even if you rush like a saiga and walk at a speed of 3-4 km/hour, in 2-3 days you will reach some populated area. And this is through a continuous forest, without coordinating their actions. And in our forests there are always paths, forest roads, etc. Another thing is that here problems such as thirst, hunger and cold come to the fore. But, again, I don’t believe that an adult and healthy strong person cannot cope with these problems in one or two nights in the forest. In spring, summer and autumn you can find berries and water in the forest, and you can escape the cold by at least moving around. But in general, about... In the meantime, let's continue to talk about why the forest is dangerous.

4) Snakes, ticks and other creeping and flying things.

First about snakes. Let's remember that in the central part of Russia there is only one species of poisonous snakes - common viper. All other snakes are non-venomous. copperhead not poisonous, remember, we’re already tired of repeating this to stubborn sheep, even if there’s a stake on your head, so be it!!! The legless spindle lizard is often mistaken for the poisonous copperhead. It happens that snakes are confused with a viper. The only thing to be afraid of is the viper. But! Let's remember the important things! Snake never!!! does not attack first, does not bite just like that. Why? It's simple. The viper needs venom for hunting, and the accumulation of a new portion of venom after a bite takes a long time and takes a lot of energy from the snake. Therefore, the snake does not want to squander it left and right. Now let's remember the second one important point. The venom of a viper that knocks down a bull weighing half a ton is not fatal! You can easily look at the statistics and see that the number of deaths from viper bites is negligible. But you shouldn’t piss on a bare wire and tempt fate. Who knows, maybe you are allergic to a snake bite? There is no need to tease the snake - it is better to wet it immediately and let it crawl away calmly. In general, the common viper is listed in the Red Book in many areas, and do not be complete assholes, barbarians and monsters. If the animal doesn’t bother you, don’t bother it either! If you go into the forest to pick mushrooms, berries, hunt for cuddles and sex, or go for a walk, just put on some rubber boots and that’s it! This will solve all your problems.

Now about ticks. Yes, we have a lot of this crap in our Lately Where the hell do they come from? Contrary to popular belief, there are not many ticks in a continuous forest. And really - what should they do there? And more often they are found on paths, forest edges, field and country roads, parks - in a word, where more people and animals. Another story - ticks fly and jump, yeah, Spider-Man, jump on people from trees. To begin with, at least read about them on Wikipedia and look at photos of ticks, so as not to look like a complete stupid asshole. Firstly, ticks belong to the class of arachnids (spiders don’t have wings, right?). Secondly, why would a tick spend so much energy and climb a tree in order to jump on top of a person and, he missed, a horse with varying degrees of success. It is easier for a tick to sit near the path, waiting for prey. When you pass by, it clings to your clothes and looks for a way out onto your skin. Everything is simple here - it is better to use thick clothing or treat clothes with poop repellent before going into the forest. It's a good idea to check yourself often if you know there are a lot of ticks in the area. If you do “catch” a tick, cut it out immediately with the meat, carefully remove it and submit it for testing for syphilis, borreliosis or encephalitis. And although the likelihood of infection is very low, it is better to play it safe and sleep well. Better yet, get vaccinated in advance and be calm.

By the way, about insects. Do not disturb wasp or bee hives. If you find one, it’s better to run headlong and avoid it. It’s calmer for both you and the insects. And no one bothers them, and you will not be lucky enough to take the sting out of your ass and be bitten.

5) Other hazards.

How else can a forest be dangerous? What do people who usually warn about the many dangers of the forest include here? I don’t even know what can be included in a meaningful phrase “ But you never know...". As a rule, this is simply 3.14here the inventions of illiterate and dark people. Let us not be like those who fear the forest like fire and invent all sorts of nonsense about it. Better yet, let's talk about the real dangers that can warn a person in the forest.

The main enemies of man in the forest are cold, hunger and dehydration. Therefore, we remember a simple thing - even if you go for an ordinary walk, do not be lazy to take with you a backpack filled with all sorts of crap, matches/lighter and something filling (bread, lard, a chocolate bar). Don't forget about booze and water. I don't think a box of matches or a bar of chocolate will take up much space - they can fit in your pocket. But if you accidentally get lost, you can make a fire at night and keep warm, and you can treat a bear to eat with a bar of chocolate for several days. You can also get caught in the forest during a thunderstorm or hurricane. Don't be scared - it's better to wait out a thunderstorm or hurricane by climbing the tallest tree in the forest and lying on the ground (not under old or tall trees) so that it doesn’t crash on you. When walking through the forest, it is better to avoid encountering windbreaks, rubble and chapygi with a bear, so as not to get injured. If you suddenly find yourself in a forest fire, you should leave as quickly as possible in the direction of the wind, taking advantage of all sorts of natural barriers to fire - hills, rivers, lakes, etc. When walking through swamps, you should remember that you can be eaten by a dashing one-eyed creature or a merman; we do not have quicksand or swamps. But there are peat bogs where you can fall through. Therefore, it is not recommended to cross the ford; it is better to fly over peat bogs. Moss swamps (in the final stage of their development) can usually be crossed by fording, bypassing the wettest areas and the “wet” areas. You should also be more careful near rivers or at the borders of forests and fields - where there are thickets of nettles or hogweed, so as not to get burned by these plants. Well, you shouldn’t eat anything in the forest, eat unfamiliar plants and berries, so as not to get poisoned.

By the way, if you are traveling to an unfamiliar forest, be sure to install yourself at least a simple navigator (I wrote about navigators and), or buy yourself at least a cheap UAZ compass. After all, everyone has a smartphone, it’s worth installing a basic program and just breaking it in and not being afraid of getting lost. By the way, a very good thing is a GPS tracker. It remembers a dozen and a half points and shows you the directions back to last point. You can also print satellite map area - if you get lost and get lost, it may also be useful to you.

Let's sum it up...

Well, that’s all for today, wow, I’m tired of writing, friends! Feel free to go into the forest and don’t listen to those asshole people who tell you all sorts of scary things about the forest! Don't be afraid of the forest. Spend more time outside the city, drink, relax, breathe fresh air and enjoy unity with nature. In the meantime, I decided to launch a new section on my blog. There I will write all sorts of things about the forest - a reminder to those who are lost, I will talk about spending the night and behavior in the forest, about the gifts of the forest and much more. Check out my blog, repost, comment! I wish you health and all the best.

P.S. I offer my deepest apologies if I offended anyone with this article. I had no intention of insulting anyone or making fun of people. I tried to write with humor (well, excuse me, damn it, I’m joking as much as I can) in order to more clearly convey the essence of my thoughts. Let's not be serious. Have a good mood everyone!

Autumn is mushroom time, the time for hiking through the forests, drying mushrooms and “spinning.” In this article we will try to figure out how to make a trip to the dacha and a trip to the forest safe.

Beginning with early spring The way of life of many city dwellers is beginning to move closer to nature. Let's remember this time when the sun was just starting to warm up: walks and games with children on fresh air for many, they were systematically replaced by organizing country life, cleaning personal plot, garden cultivation and planting seedlings. By mid-June country life was already finally getting better, the beds were planted and were producing the first harvests of greens and radishes. More and more often, villagers were seen along suburban highways, diligently laying out their simple goods - fragrant wild strawberries and the first mushrooms. Just at this time, urban connoisseurs of the gifts of the forest also flocked en masse to the lands, where they were often in danger. In autumn, trips to the forest become more frequent: the desire for winter mushroom reserves is combined with the need to obtain natural antidepressants through communication with nature, because the autumn blues do not take long to arrive.

Dangers in the forest

The first trouble that any summer resident outside the city faces is ticks. Taiga tick (Ixodes persulcatus) and dog tick (Ixodes ricinus) – carriers mortal danger enemies of man. The habitat of the first of them is Siberian forests and forests Far East. The dog tick is a resident of predominantly the European part of Russia, Central and Northern Europe. The main way to protect yourself from ticks is to take a responsible approach to choosing clothing for the forest. Do not neglect the repellent.

Our pets also need protection - treatment with drops against ticks when leaving the city is mandatory for both dogs and cats. One of the most serious diseases, often leading to the death of an animal, is piroplasmosis.

Ticks are carried by birds and animals and can be found on trees and bushes. There are especially many of them in the grass. Owners of summer cottages located near forest plantations need to keep the area clean and regularly mow the grass.

How to prepare for a hike in the forest

Watch out for snakes!

In damp areas near swamps and streams you can often find vipers basking in the sun. However, if you notice a motley inhabitant of the forest, you should not approach it even for a very good photograph. You need to get around it as carefully as possible, without provoking or frightening. Aggressive poisonous snake warns a potential offender with a characteristic hissing and crackling sound. In this case, you should leave this area of ​​the forest as quickly as possible. Some irresponsible people try to kill the snake. It is precisely such senseless actions that most often lead to severe injuries. Forest experts understand that adequate behavior and strong high boots or rubber boots can easily protect against an accidental bite.

What to do if you get lost in the forest

People lost in the forest do not dare admit to themselves that the most main danger comes from the forest guest himself. Poor awareness of correct behavior in nature, unfamiliarity with the area and lack of navigation skills most often lead to tragic consequences. When going for a walk in the forest, people often overestimate their strength and health. Rescuers from the Ministry of Emergency Situations, together with activists from volunteer organizations, spend days searching for such “lost victims.” Unfortunately, it is not always possible to save a person. Most often, pensioners and people with poor health find themselves in such situations. But vigilance and composure can save lives.
Before going out into nature, it is necessary to inform relatives or neighbors about your approximate route of movement and the expected time of return, so that in the event of an emergency, people can raise the alarm in time and guide rescuers. It is important to take a charged mobile phone, having prepared in advance a list of duty numbers of local intelligence agencies. Many modern phones come with a navigation system, which can be very useful. It is dangerous to take a mobile phone that requires charging into the forest; do not be lazy to charge it in time until the battery is full. For forest visitors middle zone Where it is not recommended to take water from open sources for drinking, be sure to have a bottle of clean still water with you. A small chocolate bar or a hematogen familiar to everyone from childhood will not burden your load, they will give you strength and help you cheer up at the first signs of fatigue. As well as a small knife and pocket lighter
A basic first aid kit consists of the obligatory painkillers, antihistamines, heart medications, as well as plaster, bandages and potassium permanganate, and then supplemented with medications, focusing on individual needs. If you take a couple of tablets of each drug and seal it tightly, such a travel first aid kit will take up very little space.

If you find yourself lost, it is important to remember a few simple rules:

1. Stop the surging panic. Alas, no one is immune from such cases. But fear and panic can delay your stay in the forest belt for hours, or maybe even days. This condition makes it impossible for the mind to think rationally.
2. Proceed carefully and slowly. Under no circumstances should you run in all directions at once. This will lead to more wandering and injury. Save your strength.
3. Stand in one place and calmly think about everything. You need to decide whether they will look for you, where you were seen in last time. If you don’t know that your friends will go looking for you, it’s better to stay where you are, because... it will be closest to the area where you were seen. Signal "Oy" with your voice. If you have a mobile phone, turn it off first to save battery. Think about it. who you can call to find you. If there is no connection or you are sure that no one will look for you, call emergency service 112. Tell them that you are lost and provide approximate directions. Speak clearly and concisely, describe what you see around you.
4. Take a break from dressing yourself warmer. Light a fire if it's cold. In general, fire is one of the most important means of salvation and a signal about your location.
5. If you are sure that no one will look for you and you do not have a phone at your disposal, make a clear plan of action, trying not to change directions. Remember important rules orientation: trees are covered with moss on the north side; the south before noon can be found to the right of the sun, after noon - to the left. As you move, leave nicks and other marks.

If you follow these simple rules, you can avoid dangerous consequences forest walk. Mostly city dwellers who have turned away from the bustle of the city and are rediscovering wild world(and also for those who have thought about safety in advance!), pleasant fatigue awaits you after a forest hike, bringing with it a healthy, sound sleep.

Walk in the woods- it is always a joy to communicate with the world of living nature; it evokes a whole range of sensations and impressions, painted in spring-summer-autumn-winter colors. However, lovers of such travel must know: a forest is, first of all, a complex complex of relationships between plants, animals, soils, sunlight and night darkness, air and water.

Man in the forest- a guest, and from the point of view of forest inhabitants - an uninvited and uninvited guest, often completely unaware of the rules of behavior “on a visit”. Hence - accidents, emergencies, injuries, fears, legends and myths associated with both exaggeration and understatement of the danger that the forest conceals.

Animals living in the forest pose a danger to humans. They are very diverse, but it is still possible to formulate several general patterns in their behavior:

1. Animals, especially birds and mammals, are significantly better than man adapted to life in the forest. They have more advanced sensory organs and are almost always the first to notice a person by smell and sound. Its smell is a strong danger signal for a wild animal.

2. The popular opinion about the timidity of animals, especially large predators, should not be exaggerated too much. For some of them, such as bears and tigers, a very common behavior trait is curiosity, which can sometimes turn into unprovoked aggression.

3. Not people, but animals are in the forest on their own territory, so they regard the appearance of a person as a typical “border violation”, “invasion” with all the ensuing consequences.

4. In the animal world, unlike human society, the concepts of “stranger” and “enemy”, “unknown” and “dangerous” often coincide, so it is at least naive to count on a friendly attitude on the part of forest inhabitants.

5. Animals, to a greater extent than people, try to avoid danger: mobile animals go as far as possible from humans, sedentary animals use various methods of passive or active protection. Forest animals- unsurpassed masters of camouflage, they know how to use all kinds of shelters.

6. The behavior of many animals (especially large ungulates and carnivores) changes significantly during certain periods of their life cycle(reproduction, migration, etc.). Animals become much more aggressive, and the danger to humans increases sharply.

7. Any species, even a widespread one, prefers certain habitats, and here the probability of a chance encounter with animals of this species is higher.

Remember two fairly simple and accessible rules that will help you avoid many troubles. It is necessary to have an understanding of the habits of animals and birds, plus be attentive and careful during forest walks.

Forest emergencies involving animals can be divided into two groups: active attacks potentially dangerous beast and accidents that occur as a result of careless (or illiterate) handling of an animal, which in a normal situation treats a person quite neutrally.

In the main settlement zone of Russia and Ukraine, situations of the first type are most often associated with large predatory and ungulate animals - bear, wolf, tiger, lynx, leopard, elk, wild boar, deer. Unprovoked attacks are quite rare. For example, a tiger lunges at people for no reason in about 4% of all cases. Usually the animal attacks: for the purpose of self-defense, during a hunt, when caught near prey, when a person carelessly invades its territory, during the mating season (the so-called rut; animals are especially aggressive during this period), protecting offspring, during persistent pursuit under -wound or just when chance meeting with a person, with sudden close eye-to-eye contact.

According to many experts, the most unpredictable large forest predator in terms of behavior is the brown bear. Most sudden encounters with this animal end in its rapid flight. Nevertheless, cases of unprovoked attacks on people in the European part of Russia are recorded almost every year. Suddenly, mushroom and berry pickers and tourists, as a rule, “look out for the bear.” Sometimes the bear shows aggression and may even chase a person, but then quickly stops the pursuit and runs away. However, much more serious incidents are also known, when an animal literally besieged a hunting lodge - sometimes for almost a week! - and did not let people out of there. Cases of aggression from a bear disturbed in its winter den are quite common. However, such “dates” can be easily avoided if you know the bear’s favorite places in this forest(bears are quite conservative in choosing a territory for a den) and avoid them further. A meeting with a wolf is fraught with significant danger, although this predator will almost always prefer to hide than to attack. The famous Canadian naturalist Farley Mowat wonderfully described such a sudden meeting. “...We collided nose to nose. We were separated by some two meters... We silently stared at each other. I don’t know what was going on in his massive skull, but my head was filled with a swarm of disturbing thoughts. The amber eyes of a seasoned tundra wolf gazed directly at me; Apparently, he was heavier than me and, undoubtedly, had a much better command of unarmed fighting techniques.

For several seconds neither of us moved, we continued to hypnotize each other with our gaze. The wolf was the first to break the spell. With a leap that would have done honor even to Russian dancers, he soared into the air and took off running..."

IN last years experts note that people encounter wolves in the forest zone more often than before. Fans of forest walks, and especially long routes, should be careful.

Perhaps the most serious danger is a sudden meeting with a wolf or fox that has rabies. Here an attack is almost guaranteed, and it is almost impossible to avoid it. A sick animal can be recognized by its “stupor”, angry eyes, sharply aggressive behavior, and immediate, literally on the spot, attack. The beast sometimes seems to sputter with saliva; There is often foam in the corners of the mouth. These animals are dangerous even when they are already dying and, snarling, cannot move. Under no circumstances should you approach them - they may bite, and then you will have to undergo long-term treatment.

Animals with rabies are not found everywhere, and before going into the forest it would be useful to obtain information from the SES about outbreaks of the disease. In case of a bite, you should immediately consult a doctor, because only correct and, most importantly, timely treatment started and carried out guarantees a complete recovery.

In recent years, due to the emergence of numerous holiday villages, another serious problem- feral dogs that gather in packs, often large ones. Animals are very aggressive, secretive and cunning (learned from humans). A meeting with a flock is extremely dangerous in the same cases as with other predators. If you are attacked by such dogs, we advise you to use a unique method of protection. Since many of these animals still remember communicating with humans, a sharp and imperative shout of “no!” often helps.

Wild ungulates common to Russian and Ukrainian forests- moose, wild boar, deer, roe deer are much more timid and cautious than predators, and, as a rule, move away from humans. However, during the mating season, these animals are characterized by increased excitability and aggressiveness and can pose a significant danger. There are known cases when an elk kept a tree “under siege” for hours, on which an unlucky tourist or hunter was escaping from an angry elk.

How to avoid an unwanted meeting with wild beast? Perhaps, best way- reduce the likelihood of a collision to a minimum. Avoid traveling to areas where encountering a predator is common; do not appear in the favorite habitats of dangerous animals. If you do go on a hiking trip, be extremely careful and careful, especially at night. The presence of predators or dangerous ungulates can be indicated by a variety of signs: footprints on the soil, trampled grass and undergrowth, stripped bark on trees, droppings, feeding sites, and sometimes the remains of prey. Wolves, being the first to sense a person, make specific sounds (snorting, howling, loud barking), warning other members of the pack, and especially the young. During the rut or feeding, wild boars behave so noisily that it is not so difficult to notice them. You should avoid animal trails, difficult to pass, overgrown with bushes and littered forest areas, and windbreaks. In such places there is a high probability of encountering an animal, and it is also extremely inconvenient to retreat here. When going into the forest (preferably not alone), be sure to tell about where you are going to go and when you expect to return.

But what to do if an unpleasant date does happen? First of all, don’t lose your presence of mind! Try not to panic. Experienced hunters They believe that an animal feels when a person is afraid of it, your fear will only spur aggression, i.e. the animal’s instinct to attack a weaker enemy may be triggered. No sudden movements or shrill screams - at least at the first moment, until you are sure that you can really scare, and not attract, the animal in this way. However, sometimes the scream actually confuses the animal and even sends it into a stampede. Stories are told of how a man, with his arms outstretched, ran screaming towards a bear, who retreated in fear. However, not everyone is capable of such actions!

When meeting a bear or tiger, you should not turn your back to the animal: he will regard such a position as proof of your weakness. A person naturally tries to run away from danger, but in this case, flight is good only if you are absolutely sure that you will reach a safer place (for example, a hunting lodge, a tree, a car, etc.) faster than a predator, and to do this It is extremely difficult in forest conditions. It is almost impossible to escape from a bear or a tiger; Moreover, for all predators, the flight of the prey only fuels the desire to pursue it. Experts, as the best way out of the situation, advise freezing in place, and then, as calmly as possible, backing away, retreating and, only having moved 10-15 meters away, also slowly, sideways. At these moments it is very important not to provoke the predator to aggressive behavior excessive courage or, on the contrary, cowardice, do not aggravate the situation, which at the very beginning is more neutral than outright dangerous. The experience of unexpected encounters with a tiger shows that in approximately 80% of cases the animal does not show aggression at the first moment, behaves “cognitively”, does not leave the person, but does not approach him either. The tiger can simply stand still and look in the direction of the stranger, and then walk away with dignity.

Experienced people do not advise looking directly into the eyes of a predator for a long time, since such a look (and a person, numb with fear, usually looks intently at the animal) can be perceived as competition and will only spur aggression.

When retreating, you need to carefully monitor the animal’s facial expressions in order to predict its intentions. A bear, for example, has a good “indicator” of a relatively calm state—upright ears. If the ears are pressed to the head, the fur on the back of the neck stands on end, the animal bares its teeth, trembles, and hunches a little, it means that it is really angry and ready to attack.

When you are faced with large predator nose to nose, remember that there is a certain critical distance, at which the situation will still remain fairly neutral and the animal will most likely not dare to attack first, but will only scare you. If the distance is less than critical, then the predator may feel driven into a corner and go ahead, that is, rush at the person. Therefore, if you suddenly find yourself, for example, directly in front of a bear, move a few meters to the side, maintaining a critical distance.

While in the forest, it is sometimes worth making your presence known (by voice or other means), as if warning the animals and giving them the opportunity to leave. In general, if a person is not hunting, the most correct thing for him is to walk noisily, talk loudly or hum. But that's exceptional dangerous predator, a connecting rod bear, the sounds of a human voice can, on the contrary, attract.

Experienced hunters also talk about more “exotic” methods of behavior at critical moments of an encounter with a predator. This, for example, is “persuading” an animal: a person began to talk affectionately about something and a calm intonation softened the aggressive tension of the animal. In some cases, objects thrown aside helped - a backpack, a hat, a sweater, food; they distracted the predator's attention and gave them time to retreat. Another way to reduce the aggression of an animal is to pretend to be dead, as some small animals do. It is recommended to fall on your side, curl up into a ball if possible, reducing the surface of your body, and hide your head. It is likely that the animal will sniff you, touch you, or even move you for a long time - you need to be prepared for this and be patient.

To avoid direct contact with a predator, all methods are good, since an unprepared person has very little chance of emerging victorious in a fight with a tiger, wolf or bear. Meanwhile, experts note that hand-to-hand combat with a brown bear more often ends in serious injuries than death on the spot; the animal is more likely to “remember” but not kill. There were cases when hunters, having fallen into the arms of a bear, acted so decisively and courageously (any means were used, including blows to the sensitive nose and bites!) that the animal retreated.

And yet, let us remind you once again: there are no rules of behavior that would guarantee absolute safety for an unarmed person when meeting a large predator. The most important thing is to try to avoid encounters with wild animals.

Other type emergency situations- careless handling of forest inhabitants that are quite harmless at first glance. Unfortunately, such emergencies happen much more often than attacks by large animals, and people themselves are primarily to blame for them.

From this point of view, many forest animals can be considered potentially dangerous. First of all, this is a vast and diverse group of poisonous animals.

At certain circumstances The danger comes from arachnids and insects, especially biting and stinging ones - beetles, ants, wasps, mosquitoes, flies, butterflies. These small, mobile animals, almost invisible in dense grass or bushes, can penetrate the eyes, nose, mouth, ears, which can lead to serious injuries, especially in children. Rests and overnight stays during the hike should be done away from places where social insects gather; We also advise you to carefully check your clothing. Explain to young children that it is strictly forbidden to pick up insects, much less in the mouth, since even the “kindest” beetle will always have means of defense - spines, “jaws,” an unpleasant odor, caustic substances, etc.

Despite large-scale preventive measures, there is a threat of infection with serious diseases, the carriers of which can be forest insects. Here we should mention first of all flies. They carry pathogens (causative agents of dysentery, cholera, typhoid fever, diphtheria) on their tongues and proboscis. These insects pose a particular danger near forest waste dumps. People “owe” such serious diseases as tick-borne encephalitis and piroplasmosis to ticks. No less dangerous are fleas (they carry plague and tularemia) and blood-sucking mosquitoes, which not only cause pain with their bites, but also carry a number of pathogens. Perhaps the simplest and most accessible method of protection against bites of these animals is a thorough examination of open areas of the body immediately after each visit to the forest, as well as the use of a wide arsenal modern means, repelling insects. And of course - preventive vaccinations, thanks to which the frequency and severity of diseases has significantly decreased.

Small and medium in size carnivorous mammals belonging to the mustelid family (badger, ermine, weasel, pine marten, black polecat, European mink, otter), are harmless only at first glance. Remember that mustelids, although relatively small in size, are still the most real and very energetic predators, capable of active and aggressive defense; When protecting young animals, they are able to bite seriously. There are known cases when a badger, disturbed in its hole, severely bit hunting dogs and the hunters themselves, which the first one would never do in a chance meeting with a person. Some animals (for example, weasel, ferret, ermine) are not without curiosity and willingly visit settlements, and in the forest they can approach the tourist site, especially at night.

It’s worth reminding once again about such an “iron” rule of behavior in the forest, such as the prohibition of destroying animal shelters - holes, nests, etc. A person who violates this rule not only behaves unworthily in relation to our smaller brothers, but also exposes him to serious danger own health and life, since in the face of loss own home or the death of the offspring, the most peace-loving creature goes wild.

In conditions of limited visibility, especially at night, any animal, even a harmless one, can greatly frighten, especially a child, with a loud cry, a sudden sharp movement, or simply appearance(For example, non-venomous snakes). People sometimes had heart attacks out of fright when not only such a thing suddenly took off right from under their feet. large bird, like a capercaillie, but even a hazel grouse. The sharp and noisy take-off of birds is nothing more than active protection, designed to put the predator into a state of shock for a moment. In the forest, with relative isolation, fear is much more difficult to bear and sometimes leads to severe stress, psychological trauma. Here you always need to be internally prepared for fear, for the fact that you can hear or see something “scary”.

Study the habits of wild animals, then the fear of them will recede, and the forest inhabitants will graciously accept you into their “company”.

On hot days it is nice to take a walk through the forest. Feel the cool pine air in your lungs and plunge headlong into your dreams. But besides pleasant moments, forest glades also hide unpleasant surprises.


Wild animals
No one wants to be scared or even bitten by wild wolves and foxes. Of course, not all animals are evil and want to eat you, but it’s better to be on your guard.


Snakes
Even the smallest crawling creatures can be dangerous, if not to life, then to human health. If this does happen, then do not delay going to the hospital.


Poisonous plants and fruits
Even as children, we were taught not to eat unfamiliar berries, and we did the right thing. In addition to headaches, you may be caught off guard by problems with the digestive tract and nervous system.

Inedible mushrooms
Usually no one eats mushrooms of unknown origin right in the forest. Dangers can lurk at home when eating ready-made dishes with mushrooms. But under no circumstances eat mushrooms that you are not sure about; consult with specialists.


Nightfall
In unfamiliar areas, you can fall into a hole or trap. So no need to go out at late hours.


Storm
It is especially dangerous to walk at night during a thunderstorm. After all, you can not only get caught in a downpour and get sick, but also when struck by lightning, you can get a fatal electric shock or be injured by a falling tree.

The forest, of course, is beautiful, but this wild nature, and here there are possible dangers. You are visiting, so you need to familiarize yourself with the threats that may be in the forest.

Inedible mushrooms and berries. If you do not understand whether this or that berry can be eaten or you have doubts about picked mushrooms, then it is better not to eat them. Berries and mushrooms can be poisonous.

Ticks. In our forests Krasnodar region There are also ticks. Before you go into the forest, apply special ointments and sprays against these creatures. There are sprays for clothes. The best thing to do is to make sure that there are no bare areas of skin on your body. Legs and arms must be covered, do not expose yourself. Removing a tick from the groin area is not a very pleasant thing :)

Storm. When a thunderstorm catches tourists in the forest, it is not comfortable. Firstly, you can get wet, so be sure to take raincoats with you. And secondly, a thunderstorm is accompanied by lightning, which happily strikes the trees. The best shelter from a thunderstorm is rocks, but in no case oak or isolated trees. According to statistics, lightning “loves” oak.

The onset of darkness. It is not recommended for tourists to move through the forest at night. It is difficult to navigate at night; there is no way to see a slope, branch, hole, etc. in time. Even if you have a flashlight, it is better to pitch a tent and continue the hike early in the morning.

Wild animals. It’s good if you meet a harmless raccoon or hedgehog in the forest, but in the forest it’s possible to meet wild boars. Usually the boar behaves cautiously and avoids meeting people. If you see a wild boar with cubs in the forest, it is better to leave voluntarily. If you hurt the cubs, the mother will immediately rush at the person, even if he is armed. When meeting a wild boar, you must take precautions: do not come close, even if it is a pig, because the mother may be somewhere nearby. Watch for tracks on the trail. If you see a wild boar, don’t touch it, don’t hit it, just hide or climb a tree. Boars do not look up, so as soon as a boar has passed, it can move on. You should not run away, as the boar will easily catch up and can seriously injure a person with its fangs. But as they say, to meet a wild boar in our forests you have to try hard.

Snakes. In the forest you may encounter a grass snake or a common viper. Already- Not dangerous snake, and it is not poisonous. The snake can be found in wet forest, in bushes, near rivers, lakes or swamps. Snakes can swim and climb trees. When in danger they hiss.

Common viper also lives in the forest. If you disturb her, she will crawl away on her own. She is poisonous, she has a poisonous tooth. During the bite, the venom enters the wound. If a viper bites a person, then he should be immediately sent to a doctor. The enemy of the viper is the hedgehog, which loves to feast on vipers.

If, after all, the snake has bitten, then you need to take a sharp knife and make a cross-shaped cut on each wound (there should be two of them). Then you need to suck out the poison, but under no circumstances swallow it. Then, within 10 minutes after the bite, inject 1-3 ampoules of prednisolone into the wound area. After the injection, cover the wound with gauze. The bite site should be at rest so that the remaining poison does not spread throughout the body. And then urgently look for a doctor!

But I can reassure everyone, how many times have I been in the forest, in the Caucasus mountains, I haven’t seen snakes at all, so meeting them tends to zero.