Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Fight or Flight: Lion Attacks

Mountain lions, according to a recent article in Scientific American (www.ScientificAmerican.com), may be less likely to attack if you run away. This, of course, is contrary to popular expert opinion. The article reports a study done by Richard Coss, an expert on predator-prey relations, that involved 185 lion attacks between 1890 and 2000. Coss said 43% of people who stood still facing a lion were injured compared to 17% who were injured while fleeing. The study does admit, however, that those who fled had a slightly higher chance of being killed, although he reports that only 18 people actually ran. Half of those who ran escaped without injury. Coss did not study encounters with mountain lions or near-attacks from lions.

I'm confused. First, he does not define "attack" and "near-attack." Were the 185 people pounced on? Or did they just "feel" attacked? Second, he says the people stood still. That's not what you're supposed to do. You're supposed to shout and scream, show your teeth, stand tall, and, finally, counter-attack with sticks and stones (to less than claw range) if the lion charges.

Bottom line: Almost all experts remain convinced that cats chase things, and usually catch them. So, I won't run. And I won't just stand there. Besides, I'm really slow.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Big Bite Protection

Although snow threatens to fall on Lander today, there are places where the sun shines warmly and bears are starting to wake up. They wake up hungry. And even though humans remain way down on the list of choice items to break a bear's fast, numerous questions related to staying safe in bear country have flowed onto my screen in the past week. Here are several:

If food has spilled on a sleeping bag, could the smell attract a bear? Answer: Yep. Don't eat in or near your bag, wash it when food has spilled on it, and don't even sleep near the clothes you cooked and dined in.

Can you outrun a bear by running downhill? Answer: Nope. They are more clumsy and slower going downhill than up, but they are still a lot faster than a human, even a really scared human.

Does the odor of DEET attract bears? Answer: Nobody knows for sure. No bear has ever been seen showing interest in DEET products. DEET does not smell like food, so the chances of it drawing a bear to you are slim.

Will bear spray repel snakes? No snake repellent has ever been licensed as a product, but people report bear spray drives snakes, even venomous snakes, away. If you feel threatened, shoot for the snake's face. For more info: www.peacemakerpepperspray.com.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

A Pain in the Tooth

My wife Kat had been complaining of pain in her mouth for about two weeks while I, the questionably considerate husband, kept repeating absurdities that all resembled "Hey, suck it up." Then, several mornings ago, she woke me to display a red right cheek obviously swollen from about an inch below her eye to the line of her jaw. She stated emphatically--and convincingly--that the pain was now intense. The dentist could see her the next day. She swallowed the strongest painkillers we had on hand, which helped a little, and applied cold packs to the cheek, which helped a bit more. She rinsed her mouth with warm, salty water. She kept complaining. Inspection revealed no discoloration of the gum near the pain site, even though I now suspected I would see it. The dentist diagnosed an abscessed tooth, prescribed an antibiotic, did a root canal to remove the diseased nerves and pulp, and filled the empty space. If this had occurred way back in the wilderness, there isn't really anything else you can do. However, the infection in an abscessed tooth can migrate and become, in the worst-case scenario, a threat to life. You need to recognize one, and evacuate the patient ASAP. (Early assessment could also, possibly, improve marital relations.)