What or who is dangerous in the forest. What dangers lie in wait in the forest. How to avoid meeting wild dangerous animals

The holiday season has come to an end, but the mushroom season, thanks to warm rainy weather, will last for a long time, forecasts promise. We decided to remind you of the dangers that you need to be prepared for so as not to spoil your pleasant walk through the autumn forest.

rabid animals

Most cases of rabies among wild animals are recorded in autumn and winter. Foxes, wolves, ferrets - all these animals familiar to our forests are often carriers of a dangerous rabies virus, which, when the first symptoms appear, leads to death in 100% of cases. As a rule, sick animals behave inappropriately and can come close to humans. Therefore, you should beware of wild animals, and if you could not avoid being bitten, then you should go to the nearest clinic for vaccination as soon as possible, which will protect against the spread of the virus in the body.

poisonous mushrooms and berries

There is a golden rule of a mushroom picker: if you don't know a mushroom, don't take it. Therefore, if there is any doubt, it is not worth the risk, since such a risk can cost a life. Especially common mistake novice mushroom pickers is eaten death cap, which is taken for russula. Eating this mushroom in 100% of cases leads to death from destruction of the liver. The same rule applies to berries, which, despite their attractive appearance, can be dangerous.

Mosquitoes and ticks

Mosquitoes and ticks become a little less in autumn than in summer, but at this time they are especially large and sting especially fiercely, so they can cause serious trouble to lovers of recreation on fresh air. There is only one way to deal with them: apply a repellent to open parts of the body, which will at least somehow scare off annoying insects, which from year to year are becoming less susceptible to chemical compounds. It is also worth wearing tight clothes and a hat for the duration of the hike.

In which case, do not panic: ticks themselves are completely harmless. If a tick has stuck to you only a few hours ago, then it does not pose a serious health hazard, and you can get rid of it in a couple of minutes with tweezers and a few drops of petroleum jelly. But remember that the danger is tick-borne encephalitis, which these insects often carry. Therefore, a tick that has bitten more than 12 hours ago should be removed and taken to the clinic for analysis.

Danger of getting lost

Chase after beautiful views autumn forest or the fascination with collecting numerous mushrooms can also be fraught with the danger of getting lost. Every year with the onset mushroom season police, rescuers and volunteers are looking for dozens and hundreds of people through the forests in all regions of Russia. Unfortunately, not everyone is found. So, if you suddenly get lost, first of all, calm down and do not panic. If you suspect that someone will start looking for you soon, it is best to stay where you are and periodically call for help or serve others. sound signals. If you went into the forest alone and you know that no one will miss you soon, listen to the noise and try to isolate the sounds of civilization from it: the sounds of moving vehicles, the barking of dogs - and move in their direction. It is best to walk along paths or along a stream or river.

You should also remember a very important rule that all guests of the forest, without exception, must adhere to: clean up after yourself. Leave the forest in the state it was in before you arrived. There is nothing more unpleasant than watching overwhelmed plastic bottles and plastic bags from polyana chips. Collect the garbage in a bag and take it with you, taking at the same time the garbage of those who rested before you.

Walk in the woods- it is always a joy from communicating with the world of wildlife, it causes a whole range of sensations and impressions, painted in spring-summer-autumn-winter colors. However, lovers of such trips must know: the forest is, first of all, the most complex complex of relationships between plants, animals, soils, sunlight and night darkness you, air and water.

man in the forest- a guest, and from the point of view of the forest inhabitants - an uninvited and uninvited guest, often not at all knowing the rules away behavior. Hence - accidents, emergencies, injuries, fears, legends and myths associated with both exaggeration and understatement of the danger that the forest is fraught with.

Animals living in the forest are 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 a man adapted to life in the forest. They have more advanced sense organs and are almost always the first to notice a person by smell and sound. Its smell for a wild animal is the strongest signal of danger.

2. One should not exaggerate the widespread opinion about the fearfulness of animals, especially large predators. For some of them, such as the bear and the tiger, a very common behavioral trait is curiosity, which can sometimes turn into unprovoked aggression.

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

4. In the animal world, in contrast to human society, the concepts of "alien" and "enemy", "unknown" and "dangerous" often coincide, so it is at least naive to count on a friendly attitude on the part of forest dwellers.

5. Animals, to a greater extent than people, try to avoid danger: mobile animals go as far as possible from a person, inactive animals use various ways passive or active protection. forest animals- unsurpassed masters of disguise, they know how to use all sorts 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 dramatically.

7. Any species, even a widespread species, prefers certain habitats, and here the probability of an accidental meeting 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 idea about the habits of animals and birds, plus be attentive and careful during forest walks.

Animal emergencies in the forest can be divided into two groups: an active attack, potentially dangerous beast and accidents resulting from the careless (or illiterate) treatment of an animal, which in a normal situation is quite neutral towards a person.

In the main zone of settlement in Russia and Ukraine, situations of the first type are most often associated with large predatory and ungulate animals - a bear, a wolf, a tiger, a lynx, a leopard, an elk, a wild boar, a deer. Attacks that are not provoked by a person are quite rare. For example, a tiger attacks people for no reason in about 4% of all cases. Usually, the beast attacks: in self-defense, while hunting, being caught near prey, when a person carelessly invades its territory, during the mating season (the so-called rut; animals during this period are especially aggressive), protecting offspring, with 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 of the sudden encounters with this animal end in its swift flight. Nevertheless, cases of unprovoked attacks on a person in the European part of Russia are noted almost every year. Unexpectedly, "go out to the bear", as a rule, pickers of mushrooms, berries and tourists. Sometimes a 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 the beast literally besieged the hunting lodge - sometimes for almost a week! - and did not let people out of there. Cases of aggression of a bear disturbed in a winter den are quite common. However, such “dates” are easy to avoid, knowing the favorite bearish places in given forest(the bears are quite conservative in choosing the territory for the den) and avoid them as far as possible. A significant danger is fraught with a meeting with a wolf, although this predator will almost always prefer to hide than attack. The well-known Canadian naturalist Farley Mowat remarkably described such a sudden meeting. “... We faced 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 unsettling thoughts. The amber eyes of a seasoned tundra wolf stared straight at me; apparently, he was heavier than me and, no doubt, had a much better command of unarmed combat techniques.

For several seconds neither of us moved, we continued to hypnotize each other with our eyes. The wolf broke the spell first. With a jump that would have done honor even to Russian dancers, he soared into the air and took to his heels ... "

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

Perhaps the most serious danger is a sudden encounter with a wolf or a fox that is sick with rabies. Here the attack is almost guaranteed, and it is almost impossible to avoid it. A sick animal can be recognized by its "dazedness", angry eyes, sharply aggressive behavior, immediate, literally on the move, attack. The animal sometimes seems to spit; there is often foam in the corners of the mouth. These animals are dangerous even when they are already dying and, snarling, cannot move. In no case should you approach them - they may have time to bite, and then a long treatment will be necessary.

Animals with rabies are not found everywhere, and before going to the forest it would be useful to get information from the SES about the foci of the disease. In case of a bite, you should immediately consult a doctor, because only the 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 stray in packs, often large. Animals are very aggressive, secretive and cunning (learned from humans). Meeting with a flock is extremely dangerous in the same cases as with other predators. If such dogs fell on you, we advise you to use a peculiar method of protection. Since many of these animals still remember communication with a person, a sharp and imperative shout “no!” often helps.

Wild ungulates common for Russian and Ukain forests- moose, wild boars, deer, roe deer - are much more shy and cautious than predators, and, as a rule, leave a person. However, during the mating season, these animals are characterized by increased excitability and aggressiveness and can pose a significant danger. There are cases when an elk kept a tree “under siege” for hours, on which an unlucky tourist or hunter escaped from an angry elk.

How to avoid an unwanted meeting with wild beast? Perhaps, the best way- Minimize the risk of collision. Refrain from traveling to areas where predator encounters are common; do not appear in the favorite habitats of dangerous animals. If you still went 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, crushed grass and undergrowth, peeled bark on trees, droppings, feeding places, and sometimes the remains of prey. Wolves, the first to smell a person, make specific sounds (snorting, howling, sonorous barking), warning other members of the pack, and especially young animals. Boars during the rut or feeding behave so noisily that it is not so difficult to notice them. Animal paths, impassable, overgrown with bushes and littered areas of the forest, windbreaks should be avoided. In such places, there is a high probability of meeting an animal, and besides, it is extremely inconvenient to retreat here. Going into the forest (best not alone), be sure to tell about where you are going to go and when you plan to return.

But what if an unpleasant date still happened? First of all, don't lose your presence of mind! Try not to panic. Experienced hunters it is believed that the animal feels when a person is afraid of him, your fear will only spur aggression, i.e., the instinct of an attack on a weaker opponent may work in the animal. No sudden movements and piercing screams - at least at the first moment, until you are sure that you can really scare the beast in this way, and not attract the beast. However, sometimes the scream actually confuses the animal and even turns it into a stampede. Stories are told about how a man, spreading his arms, ran screaming towards a bear, and he retreated in fear. However, not everyone is capable of such actions!

When meeting a bear or a tiger, you should not turn your back on the beast: he will regard such a pose as proof of your weakness. From danger, a person naturally tries to run away, but in this case, running away 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 in forest conditions is extremely difficult. It is almost impossible to run away from a bear or a tiger; besides, in all predators, the flight of the prey only warms up the desire to pursue it. Experts, as the best way out of the situation, are advised to freeze in place, and then as calmly as possible, backing away, retreat and, only having retired 10-15 meters, also slowly, sideways retreat. At these moments it is very important not to provoke a predator to aggressive behavior excessive courage or, on the contrary, cowardice, not to aggravate the situation, which at the very beginning is rather neutral than openly dangerous. The experience of unexpected encounters with a tiger shows that in about 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. A tiger can simply stand still and look in the direction of a stranger, and then retire 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 stares at the animal) can be perceived as rivalry and will only spur aggression.

Retreating, you need to carefully monitor the facial expressions of the animal in order to predict its intentions. A bear, for example, has a good "indicator" of a relatively calm state - ears standing upright. If the ears are pressed to the head, the hair on the back of the neck stands on end, the beast shows its teeth, trembles, 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, under which the situation will still remain quite neutral and the beast will most likely not dare to attack first, but will only frighten. If the distance is less than critical, then the predator may feel cornered and go ahead, i.e., rush at the person. Therefore, suddenly finding yourself, for example, directly in front of a bear, move a few meters to the side, keeping a critical distance.

While in the forest, it is sometimes worth making your presence known (by voice or in another way), as if warning the animals and giving them the opportunity to leave. In general, if a person is not on the hunt, the most correct thing for him is to go noisily, speak loudly or hum. But here exclusively dangerous predator, a connecting rod bear, the sounds of a human voice can, on the contrary, attract.

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

To avoid direct contact with a predator, all methods are good, since an unprepared person has very few chances to emerge victorious in a fight with a tiger, wolf or bear. Meanwhile, experts note that hand-to-hand combat with brown bear more often ends in serious injuries than death on the spot, the beast 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, up to blows to a sensitive nose and bites!), That the beast retreated.

Nevertheless, let us remind you once again: there are no rules of conduct that would guarantee an unarmed person absolute safety when meeting with a large predator. Most importantly, try to avoid encountering wild animals.

Other type emergencies- 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 the person himself is primarily to blame for them.

From this point of view, many forest animals can be considered as potentially dangerous. First of all, it is an extensive and diverse group of poisonous animals.

At certain circumstances danger is represented by arachnids and insects, especially those biting and stinging - beetles, ants, wasps, mosquitoes, flies, butterflies. These small mobile animals, almost imperceptible in dense grass or bushes, are able to penetrate the eyes, nose, mouth, ears, which can lead to serious injuries, especially in children. Halts and overnight stays on a hike should be done away from places of accumulation of social insects; We also advise you to carefully check the clothes. Explain to young children that it is strictly forbidden to take insects in your hands, and even more so in your mouth, since even the most “kind” beetle will always have means of protection - spines, “jaws”, an unpleasant smell, caustic substances, etc.

Despite large-scale preventive measures, there is a threat of infection with serious diseases, which can be carried by forest insects. First of all, flies should be mentioned here. They carry pathogenic microorganisms (causative agents of dysentery, cholera, typhoid fever, diphtheria) on their lanks and proboscis. These insects are especially dangerous near forest dumps. A person is “owed” to ticks by such serious diseases as tick-borne encephalitis and piroplasmosis. No less dangerous are fleas (they carry plague and tularemia) and blood-sucking mosquitoes, which not only cause pain with bites, but also carry a number of pathogens. Perhaps the simplest and most accessible method of preventing the bites of these animals is a thorough examination of exposed 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 been significantly reduced.

Small and medium in size predatory mammals related to the mustelid family (badger, ermine, weasel, pine marten, black polecat, European mink, otter), are harmless only at first glance. Remember that mustelids are, although relatively small in size, but still the most real and very energetic predators capable of active and aggressive defense; when protecting the young, they are able to seriously bite. There are cases when a badger, disturbed in its hole, severely bit the hunting dogs and the hunters themselves, which they would never do first when they accidentally met a person. Some animals (for example, weasel, polecat, ermine) are not devoid of curiosity and willingly visit settlements, and in the forest they can approach the campsite of tourists, especially at night.

It is not superfluous to recall once more about such an “iron” rule of behavior in the forest as a ban on destroying animal shelters - burrows, nests, etc. A person who violates this rule not only behaves unworthily towards our smaller brothers, but also exposes to grave danger own health and life, as in the face of loss own house or the death of offspring, the most peace-loving creature "goes wild".

In conditions of limited visibility, especially at night, any animal, even a harmless one, can be very frightening, especially a child, with a loud cry, a sudden sharp movement, or simply appearance(For example, Not Poisonous snakes). People sometimes had heart attacks from fright, when not only such a large bird like capercaillie, but even hazel grouse. The sharp and noisy rise of birds is nothing but active protection, designed to bring the predator into a state of shock for a moment. In the forest, with relative isolation, fright 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 “terrible”.

Study the habits of wild animals, then the fear of them will recede, and the forest dwellers will favorably accept you into their "company".

The forest, of course, is beautiful, but this wild nature, and there are dangers here. 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 it is possible to eat this or that berry or doubts about picked mushrooms, then it is better not to eat them. Berries and mushrooms can be poisonous.

Ticks. In our forests Krasnodar Territory there are ticks too. Before heading into the forest, smear yourself with special ointments, sprays against these creatures. There are clothes sprays. And it is best to make sure that there are no bare skin on your body. Legs and hands should be in clothes, do not be naked. Getting a tick out of the groin area is not a very pleasant thing 🙂

Storm. When a thunderstorm overtakes tourists in the forest, it is not comfortable. Firstly, you can get wet, be sure to take raincoats with you. And secondly, a thunderstorm is accompanied by lightning, which happily beat against the trees. The best shelter from a thunderstorm is rocks, but by no means oak, or separately standing trees. According to statistics, lightning "loves" oak.

The onset of darkness. Tourists are not recommended to move at night through the forest. It is difficult to navigate at night, there is no way to see a slope, a branch, a hole, etc. in time. Even if you have a lantern, 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 you can meet wild boars. Usually the boar behaves cautiously and avoids meeting people. If you see a boar with cubs in the forest, it is better to leave voluntarily. If you hurt the cubs, then the mother immediately rushes at the person, even if he is armed. When meeting with a wild boar, precautions must be taken: do not come close, even if it is a pig, because the mother may be somewhere nearby. Watch for footprints on the trail. If you see a wild boar, then do not touch it, do not beat it, but simply hide or climb a tree. Boars do not look up, so as soon as the boar has passed, it can move on. You should not run away, as the boar will easily catch up and with fangs can severely injure a person. But as they say, to meet a wild boar in our forests, you have to try hard.

snakes. In the forest you can meet already or common viper. Already- Not dangerous snake and is not poisonous. Already can be found in wet forest, in bushes, in the area of ​​rivers, lakes or swamps. The snakes can swim and climb trees. When threatened, they hiss.

common viper also lives in the forest. If disturbed, she will crawl away on her own. She is poisonous, she has a poisonous tooth. During a bite, the poison enters the wound. If a viper has bitten a person, then he should immediately be sent to a doctor. The enemy of the viper is the hedgehog, which loves to eat vipers.

If, nevertheless, the snake has bitten, then it is necessary to take a sharp knife and make a cross-shaped incision on each wound (there should be two of them). Then you need to suck out the poison, but in no case swallow it. Further, within 10 minutes after the bite, inject from 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 seek a doctor!

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

A walk through the forest is always a joy from communicating with the world of wildlife, it causes a whole range of sensations and impressions, painted in spring-summer-autumn-winter colors. However, lovers of such trips must know: the forest is, first of all, the most complex complex of relationships between plants, animals, soils, sunlight and night darkness, air and water.

A person in the forest is a guest, but from the point of view of the forest dwellers, an uninvited and uninvited guest, often not knowing the rules of behavior "at a party" at all. Hence - accidents, emergencies, injuries, fears, legends and myths associated with both exaggeration and understatement of the danger that the forest is fraught with.

Animals living in the forest are 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 much better adapted to life in the forest than humans. They have more advanced sense organs and are almost always the first to notice a person by smell and sound. Its smell for a wild animal is the strongest signal of danger.

2. One should not exaggerate the widespread opinion about the fearfulness of animals, especially large predators. For some of them, for example, the bear and the tiger, a very common behavioral trait is curiosity, which can sometimes turn into unprovoked aggression.

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

4. In the animal world, in contrast to human society, the concepts of "alien" and "enemy", "unknown" and "dangerous" often coincide, so it is at least naive to count on a friendly attitude on the part of forest dwellers.

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

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

7. Any species, even a widespread species, prefers certain habitats, and here the probability of an accidental meeting 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 idea about the habits of animals and birds, plus be attentive and careful during forest walks.

Forest emergencies related to animals can be divided into two groups: an active attack by a potentially dangerous animal and accidents resulting from careless (or illiterate) handling of an animal, which in a normal situation is quite neutral towards a person.

In the main zone of settlement in Russia, situations of the first type are most often associated with large predatory and ungulate animals - a bear, a wolf, a tiger, a lynx, a leopard, an elk, a wild boar, and a deer. Attacks that are not provoked by a person are quite rare. For example, a tiger attacks people for no reason in about 4% of all cases. Usually, the animal attacks: in self-defense, during hunting, being caught near prey, when a person carelessly invades its territory, during the mating season (the so-called rut; animals during this period are especially aggressive), protecting offspring, with persistent pursuit of a wounded animal or just by chance meeting a person, by 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 of the sudden encounters with this animal end in its swift flight. Nevertheless, cases of unprovoked attacks on a person in the European part of Russia are noted almost every year. Unexpectedly, "go out to the bear", as a rule, pickers of mushrooms, berries and tourists. Sometimes a 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 the beast literally besieged the hunting lodge - sometimes for almost a week! - and did not let people out of there. Cases of aggression of a bear disturbed in a winter den are quite common. However, it is easy to avoid such "dates" if you know the bears' favorite places in a given forest (bears are quite conservative in choosing a territory for a den) and avoid them as far as possible. A significant danger is fraught with a meeting with a wolf, although this predator will almost always prefer to hide than attack. The well-known Canadian naturalist Farley Mowat remarkably described such a sudden meeting. “... We faced 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 unsettling thoughts. The amber eyes of a seasoned tundra wolf stared straight at me; apparently, he was heavier than me and, no doubt, had a much better command of unarmed combat techniques.

For several seconds neither of us moved, we continued to hypnotize each other with our eyes. The wolf broke the spell first. With a jump that would have done honor even to Russian dancers, he soared into the air and took to his heels ... "

In recent years, experts have noted that people encounter wolves in the forest zone more often than before. Fans of forest walks, and especially long-distance routes, should be careful.

Perhaps the most serious danger is a sudden encounter with a wolf or a fox that is sick with rabies. Here the attack is almost guaranteed, and it is almost impossible to avoid it. A sick animal can be recognized by its "dazedness", angry eyes, sharply aggressive behavior, immediate, literally on the move, attack. The animal sometimes seems to spit; there is often foam in the corners of the mouth. These animals are dangerous even when they are already dying and, snarling, cannot move. In no case should you approach them - they may have time to bite, and then a long-term treatment will be necessary.

Animals with rabies are not found everywhere, and before going to the forest it would be useful to get information from the SES about the foci of the disease. In case of a bite, you should immediately consult a doctor, because only the 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 has arisen - feral dogs that huddle in packs, often large ones. Animals are very aggressive, secretive and cunning (learned from humans). Meeting with a flock is extremely dangerous in the same cases as with other predators. If such dogs fell on you, we advise you to use a peculiar method of protection. Since many of these animals still remember communication with a person, a sharp and imperative shout “no!” often helps.

Wild ungulates common in Russian forests - elk, wild boar, deer, roe deer - are much more shy and cautious than predators, and, as a rule, leave people. However, during the mating season, these animals are characterized by increased excitability and aggressiveness and can pose a significant danger. There are cases when an elk kept a tree “under siege” for hours, on which an unlucky tourist or hunter escaped from an angry elk.

How to avoid an unwanted meeting with a wild beast? Perhaps the best way is to minimize the chance of a collision. Refrain from traveling to areas where predator encounters are common; do not appear in the favorite habitats of dangerous animals. If you still went 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, crushed grass and undergrowth, peeled bark on trees, droppings, feeding places, and sometimes the remains of prey. Wolves, the first to smell a person, make specific sounds (snorting, howling, sonorous barking), warning other members of the pack, and especially young animals. Boars during the rut or feeding behave so noisily that it is not so difficult to notice them. Animal paths, impassable, overgrown with bushes and littered areas of the forest, windbreaks should be avoided. In such places, there is a high probability of meeting an animal, and besides, it is extremely inconvenient to retreat here. Going into the forest (best not alone), be sure to tell about where you are going to go and when you plan to return.

But what if an unpleasant date still happened? First of all - do not lose your presence of mind! Try not to panic. Experienced hunters believe that the beast feels when a person is afraid of him, your fear will only spur aggression, i.e. an animal's instinct to attack a weaker opponent may work. No sudden movements and piercing screams - at least at the first moment, until you are sure that you can really scare the animal in this way, and not attract the beast. However, sometimes the scream actually confuses the animal and even turns it into a stampede. Stories are told about how a man, spreading his arms, ran screaming towards a bear, and he retreated in fear. However, not everyone is capable of such actions!

When meeting a bear or a tiger, you should not turn your back on the beast: he will regard such a pose as proof of your weakness. A person naturally tries to run away from danger, but in this case, running away 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 in forest conditions is extremely difficult. or a tiger, it is almost impossible to escape; besides, in all predators, the flight of the prey only warms up the desire to pursue it. Experts, as the best way out of the situation, are advised to freeze in place, and then, as calmly as possible, backing away, retreat and, only having retired 10-15 meters, also slowly, sideways retreat. At these moments, it is very important not to provoke the predator to aggressive behavior by excessive courage or, on the contrary, cowardice, not to aggravate the situation, which at the very beginning is rather neutral than frankly dangerous. The experience of unexpected encounters with a tiger shows that in about 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. A tiger can simply stand still and look in the direction of a stranger, and then retire 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 stares at the animal) can be perceived as rivalry and will only spur aggression.

Retreating, you need to carefully monitor the facial expressions of the animal in order to predict its intentions. A bear, for example, has a good "indicator" of a relatively calm state - ears standing upright. If the ears are pressed to the head, the hair on the back of the neck stands on end, the beast bares its teeth, trembles, hunches a little, which means that it is really angry and ready to attack.

When you are faced with a large predator nose to nose, remember that there is some critical distance, under which the situation will still remain quite neutral and the beast will most likely not dare to attack first, but will only frighten. If the distance is less than critical, then the predator may feel cornered and go ahead, i.e. rush at the person. Therefore, suddenly finding yourself, for example, directly in front of a bear, move a few meters to the side, keeping a critical distance.

While in the forest, it is sometimes worth making your presence known (by voice or in another way), 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 go noisily, speak loudly or hum. But on the contrary, the sounds of a human voice can attract an exceptionally dangerous predator, a connecting rod bear.

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

To avoid direct contact with a predator, all methods are good, since an unprepared person has very few chances to emerge victorious in a fight with a tiger, wolf or bear. Meanwhile, experts note that hand-to-hand combat with a brown bear often ends in serious injuries than death on the spot, the beast 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, up to blows to a sensitive nose and bites!), That the beast retreated.

Nevertheless, let us remind you once again: there are no rules of conduct that would guarantee an unarmed person absolute safety when meeting with a large predator. Most importantly, try to avoid meeting wild animals.

Another type of emergencies is the careless handling of seemingly harmless forest dwellers. Unfortunately, such emergencies happen much more often than attacks by large animals, and the person himself is primarily to blame for them.

From this point of view, many forest animals can be considered as potentially dangerous. First of all, it is an extensive and diverse group of poisonous animals.

Under certain circumstances, the danger is represented by arachnids and insects, especially biting and stinging - beetles, ants, wasps, mosquitoes, flies, butterflies. These small mobile animals, almost imperceptible in dense grass or bushes, are able to penetrate the eyes, nose, mouth, ears, which can lead to serious injuries, especially in children. Halts and overnight stays on a hike should be done away from places of accumulation of social insects; We also advise you to carefully check the clothes. Explain to young children that it is strictly forbidden to take insects in your hands, and even more so in your mouth, since even the most “kind” beetle will always have means of protection - spines, “jaws”, an unpleasant smell, caustic substances, etc.

Despite large-scale preventive measures, there is a threat of infection with serious diseases, which can be carried by forest insects. First of all, flies should be mentioned here. They carry pathogenic microorganisms (causative agents of dysentery, cholera, typhoid fever, diphtheria) on their lanks and proboscis. These insects are especially dangerous near forest dumps. A person is “owed” to ticks by such serious diseases as tick-borne encephalitis and piroplasmosis. No less dangerous are fleas (they carry plague and tularemia) and blood-sucking mosquitoes, which not only cause pain with bites, but also carry a number of pathogens. Perhaps the simplest and most affordable method of preventing the bites of these animals is a thorough examination of exposed areas of the body immediately after each visit to the forest, as well as the use of a wide arsenal of modern insect repellents. And of course - preventive vaccinations, thanks to which the frequency and severity of diseases has significantly decreased.

Small and medium-sized predatory 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 are, although relatively small in size, but still the most real and very energetic predators capable of active and aggressive defense; when protecting the young, they are able to seriously bite. There are cases when a badger, disturbed in its hole, severely bit the hunting dogs and the hunters themselves, which they would never do first when they accidentally met a person. Some animals (for example, weasel, polecat, ermine) are not devoid of curiosity and willingly visit settlements, and in the forest they can approach the campsite of tourists, especially at night.

It is not out of place to recall once again such an “iron” rule of behavior in the forest as a ban on destroying animal shelters - burrows, nests, etc. A person who violates this rule not only behaves unworthily towards our smaller brothers, but also exposes his own health and life to serious danger, because in the face of the loss of his own home or the death of offspring, the most peaceful creature “brings into a rage”.

In conditions of limited visibility, especially at night, any animal, even a harmless one, can be very frightening, especially a child, with a loud cry, a sudden sharp movement, or simply by its appearance (for example, non-venomous snakes). People sometimes had heart attacks from fright, when not only such a large bird as a capercaillie, but even a hazel grouse suddenly took off right from under their feet. The sharp and noisy takeoff of birds is nothing more than an active defense, designed to bring 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 “terrible”.

Study the habits of wild animals, then the fear of them will recede, and the forest dwellers will favorably accept you into their "company".

Summer is the time for picnics in nature and trips for mushrooms and berries. For a city child, a trip to the forest is both a holiday and an outlandish unknown. But such a campaign is fraught with not only a series interesting discoveries but also many unexpected dangers. And it does not matter that you are going to the forest, where predatory animals and snakes have not been seen. Unpleasant surprises can lie in wait for a baby even in a forest park.

Branches. Crazy from the abundance of space, the baby flies forward without understanding the road, and can stumble upon branches sticking out in all directions. If you only warn him about it once, he will definitely forget and, at best, get ripped off, but I don’t want to talk about the worst. Therefore, constantly remind him of this trouble.
Take wet wipes, cotton wool and hydrogen peroxide with you to the forest so that you can disinfect abrasions and cuts if they could not be avoided.

Pits. By themselves, they are not dangerous, but if you run around without looking under your feet, you can fall painfully. Warn the child that running in the forest is not allowed (and, of course, do not forget to remind him of this once again).

Inedible mushrooms and berries. Strictly speaking, everything that a child can find in the forest is inedible. Even if it is an ordinary strawberry. Before the baby puts it in his mouth, an adult needs to confirm the origin of this berry, and rinsing it with water will be useful. Keep in mind that children can call strawberries any berries, including wolf berries. So don't take their word for it. Fairly warn the baby that there are many in the forest poisonous plants, berries and mushrooms, and therefore, no matter how beautiful the fly agaric and the bush sprinkled with purple berries are, tearing and tasting anything is strictly prohibited.
Remember both your own safety and the example that you set for the children: if you doubt some kind of mushroom or berry, feel free to throw them out of the basket. And there is no need to convene a “council of experienced mushroom pickers” and lick the mushroom on the cut. The banal truth is ingenious: health is more expensive.

Insects (mosquitoes, ticks and Co.). When going to the forest, generously smear the child with mosquito repellent, put on cool, but closed clothes (t-shirts and shorts will not work), sneakers instead of sandals, and be sure to wear a hat. It is better for girls to collect their hair in a ponytail or pigtail and hide it under clothes. Explain to your child that ticks live on the branches of trees and shrubs, so if he shakes or tears these branches, the ticks will be on him. For the same reason, thickets of tall grass should be avoided.
When you return home, do not forget to inspect the body and clothes of the child, comb his hair. If a tick is still found, smear the bite with oil or a greasy cream and wait until it falls off on its own. If this does not happen, do not tear it off yourself, as this can only come out halfway, but contact the clinic.
In general, visiting a doctor is the most the best option in such a situation, as the child may need to be vaccinated.

Danger of getting lost. Well, what can I say? In no case do not lose sight of the child, because children, even in two pines, may well be lost. But if you get lost with your child in a really deep forest - do not panic. Try to get to the road, power line or water (river, stream) and use them to get to locality. If this fails - place yourself in the parking lot, kindle a fire, use food and water sparingly and wait for rescue.
It’s bleak, but you have to be ready for anything, so when going to the forest even for a short time, dress warmer and take a knife, matches, a supply of water and some provisions with you.

Do not be afraid of the forest and scare a child with it, but we must not forget about the dangers that may lie in wait for you on such a vacation. Knowing certain rules of behavior in the forest, all these troubles can be completely avoided and you can get not problems from a walk, but such a rare and useful pleasure for an urban person.