Dangerous Animal Encounters – Section 5: Test

Dave Scott

January 11, 2017

Test your knowledge from the Dangerous Animal Encounters course.

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Accurate risk assessments are vital because
1. Crisis prevention is always better than crisis reaction.
2. Sometimes are fear does not accurately represent real risk
3. An unwarranted quick fear response can actually be more dangerous than the perceived threat itself
4. All of the above
Understanding animal behavior is important because
1. If we truly understand animals they will know that we are their friend and therefore won’t hurt us
2. Understanding animal behavior is vital to preventing and/or deescalating dangerous encounters
3. Understanding an animal’s behavior isn’t possible because they are so primitive
4. Understanding animal behavior isn’t important to reducing the risk of a dangerous animal encounter
What classifies an animal as dangerous?
1. All animals are potentially dangerous
2. Animals are not dangerous
3. Any animal that is capable of directly inflicting serious harm to a human
4. Any animal that is willing to engage in conflict with a human
Aggressive actions by animals happen for the following reasons
1. Self-defense, Territorial or spatial dispute, Predation, and Delirium
2. Predation, Anger, Self-defense, Territorial of spatial dispute
3. Aggressive actions by animals are always in self-defense
4. None of the above
When facing a potentially dangerous animal it is vital that we try and see things from that animal’s perspective because
1. The animal will in turn understand us better and will disengage
2. It is important to understand the animal’s motivations in order to determine the appropriate response
3. It is not important for a human to see things from the animal’s perspective
4. Both A and B
Animals use body language
1. Solely for breeding purposes
2. Often as their primary means of communication within and across species
3. To detect threat, stress, fear, alarm, strength, confidence, awareness, health, and other things
4. Both B and C
Most predators have eyes in the front of their skull because
1. This maximizes field of view
2. It helps them see further
3. It helps them to have better depth perception
4. None of the above
Prey animals most often have eyes on the side of their skulls because
1. This maximizes their field of view
2. It helps them see further
3. It helps them have better depth perception
4. None of the above
When a predatory animal is intently staring at another animal it is giving off the flowing signal
1. I intend to eat you
2. I am dominant and ready to fight you to prove it
3. There is no signal it is just curious
4. Both A and B could be correct
It is NEVER a good idea to stare a predator directly in the eyes
1. True
2. False
An animal that looks away when directly confronted is demonstrating what type of behavior
1. Aggressive
2. Submissive
3. Predatory
4. None of the above
Which of the following body positions is most aggressive?
1. Body turned 45 degrees to one side
2. Back turned
3. Shoulders squared
4. None of the above
It is almost never advised to show your back to a dangerous predator
1. True
2. False
There are instances in which you may need to project complete submission to a dangerous animal
1. True
2. False
NEVER under any circumstances show submissive behavior to a dangerous animal
1. True
2. False
Appearing larger than you actually are, i.e. raising your arms up or out to the sides, is a strategy that can be successfully used to deescalate a direct confrontation with some dangerous animals
1. True
2. False
Many animals often pretend to be tougher and more confident then they actually are, essentially trying to “bluff” their way out of a fight
1. True
2. False
A large majority of dangerous animal encounters in the wild happen when a human
1. Is stalked by a dangerous animal who intends to kill and eat them
2. Accidently sneaks up on an animal and startles it, or accidently encroaches into a defensible space, i.e. food cash etc.
3. Human actions are not responsible for dangerous animal encounters which tend to be random occurrences
4. None of the above
The act of unknowingly approaching a wild animal is often viewed by that animal as aggressive behavior
1. True
2. False
On average, how many people are killed in the United States each year by bears?
1. 400
2. 53
3. 2
4. 26
On average, how many people in the United States die in auto accidents each year?
1. 40,000
2. 3,453
3. 550
4. 150,000
A 150lb bear is much more powerful than a 200lb human. This is primarily due to
1. Increased muscle use and development
2. That a bear’s diet is higher in protein and fatty acids than a human’s
3. The above statement is false, a 150lb bear is not necessarily more powerful than a 200lb human
4. A bear’s scapula is oriented differently than a human’s, giving it much greater leverage when exerting force
Bears are omnivores, however, their diet consists primarily of vegetation and insects
1. True
2. False
Most non-habituated bears are scared of humans and avoid them if possible
1. True
2. False
One of the best ways to avoid a bear encounter is to
1. Make noise so bears can hear you coming, pay attention, and be particularly careful when the wind is in your face
2. Sneak around quietly in the woods in the hopes that a bear will not detect you
3. Carry a large intimidating stick
4. Always go into the woods armed with a .44 caliber pistol
If you encounter a black bear in the woods the best way to stay safe and deescalate the situation is to
1. Immediately charge the bear
2. Run
3. Speak loudly and forcefully at the bear, square up your shoulders, make eye contact, and raise up your arms to make yourself look larger
4. Adopt submissive behavior, turn your body 45 degrees, look slightly away but keep the bear in your peripheral vision, speak calmly to the bear and slowly back away
Predatory bear behavior on a human includes
1. Audible jaw clacking when confronted
2. Standing up on the hind legs
3. Charging
4. Following or stalking
Black bears will almost always aggressively and violently protect their cubs
1. True
2. False
Female brown bears are likely to violently and aggressively attack animals that are in close proximity to their cubs
1. True
2. False
How effective is bear spray at getting an aggressive bear to disengage?
1. 94%
2. 85%
3. 77%
4. Bear spray is not generally effective at thwarting bears
If you encounter a brown bear in the woods and it does not immediately retreat your actions should include
1. Immediately charge the bear
2. Run
3. Speak loudly and forcefully at the bear, square up your shoulders, make eye contact, and raise up your arms to make yourself look larger
4. Adopt submissive behavior, turn your body 45 degrees, make yourself look as large as possible, look slightly away but keep the bear in your peripheral vision, speak calmly to the bear and slowly back away
The presence of an aggressive dog will help deter a bear attack
1. True
2. False
Brown bears are very good tree climbers so climbing a big tree would never be a good means of escape
1. True
2. False
If you are attacked by a black bear your primary response should be
1. Fight back hard and attempt to strike the nose of the bear
2. Scream forcefully
3. Play dead
4. Attempt to choke the bear unconscious
If you are attacked by a brown bear your initial response should be
1. Fight back hard and attempt to strike the nose
2. Scream forcefully
3. Stab the bear with your knife
4. Lie still on your stomach with your legs spread apart protecting your neck with your hands
Over 25 people are killed by cougars every year in North America
1. True
2. False
Cougars are extremely secretive animals and are very rarely seen in the wild
1. True
2. False
Bear spray is an effective defense against an aggressive cougar
1. True
2. False
Unlike with bears, humans do not often accidently stumble upon a cougar that is unaware of their presence
1. True
2. False
An attack by a cougar should be considered
1. Territorial aggression
2. Light hearted play
3. Predatory
4. None of the above
If you are attacked by a cougar you should
1. Attempt to run because cougars can only run 12-13 mph
2. Fight back with as much aggression and force as you can muster
3. Lay as still as possible as to not encourage the cougar to escalate its attack
4. Immediately roll into the fetal position
Bobcats pose no significant danger to humans
1. True
2. False
On average, how many people are killed by domestic dogs in the United States each year
1. 20-35
2. 10-15
3. 140-160
4. 1-2
Domestic dogs pose a much greater threat to humans than any other wild animal in North America because
1. Of their close proximity to humans and their sheer numbers
2. Because domestic dogs are habituated to humans and some of them no longer fear us as many wild animals do
3. The above statement is untrue
4. Both A and B
Domestic dogs pose a greater risk to children than to adults
1. True
2. False
When confronted by an aggressive domestic dog you should immediately
1. Show submissive body language
2. Immediately approach the dog speaking to it in a calm voice and reach out your hand to let it sniff you
3. Ignore the dog
4. Scream NO in an aggressive voce as you take a step toward the dog
If you are attacked by a domestic dog you should
1. Widen your stance and brace yourself so the dog will hopefully not knock you over
2. Extend an object like a backpack for the dog to bite or if you have non-dominant arm to draw the dog’s bite
3. Fight back hard kicking at the dogs belly and punch it on the nose as hard as you can
4. All of the above
If you are concerned about a domestic dog attacking you it is a good idea to carry pepper spray as it is a very effective defense against dog attacks
1. True
2. False
Wild wolf attacks on humans are extremely rare
1. True
2. False
Since 1930 there have only been _______ reports of wild wolves killing humans
1. 10
2. 8
3. 2
4. 0
A wolf attack should be treated similarly to a domestic dog attack
1. True
2. False
Coyotes have succeeded to grow in population even after major efforts to eradicate them because
1. They are smaller than wolves and it is easier for them to go undetected
2. They are very adaptable and can live successfully in pretty much any environment in North America including inner cities
3. Coyotes have become immune to poisons that have been used in eradication attempts
The four types of venomous snake that are native to North America are
1. Rattlesnake, King Snake, Coral Snake, Copperhead
2. Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Coral Snake, Copperhead
3. Rat Snake, Python, Rattlesnake, Copperhead
4. Cottonmouth, Copperhead, Rattlesnake, Hognosed Snake
Most snake species in North America are harmless
1. True
2. False
The best way to avoid a venomous snake bite is to simply pay attention so you see the snake when it is still outside of striking distance
1. True
2. False
Snakes are warm blooded
1. True
2. False
All of the snakes in North America can only strike 1/3 to 1/2 of their body length and only when coiled or given a point of leverage
1. True
2. False
Snakes are most active
1. When the weather is hot (over 95 degrees F)
2. When the weather is cold (under 70 degrees F)
3. Snakes are active during all types of weather
4. When temperatures are moderate (between 70 and 95 degrees F)
Alligators are most active during the daylight hours when they can see their prey better
1. True
2. False
Children are much more susceptible to alligator attach than adults because of their smaller size
1. True
2. False
Moose are very dangerous to humans and should not be approached in the wild especially a cow with a calf
1. True
2. False
If you are attacked by a moose or elk you should
1. Act submissive and attempt to run
2. Fight back aggressively
3. Scream NO at the top of your lungs and walk toward the moose
4. Moose are friendly and would never attack a human
Ticks by far pose the greatest risk to humans in North America than any other animal due to diseases that they transmit
1. True
2. False
Good defenses to help prevent tick bites and tick-borne illnesses include
1. Use of Deet bugspray religiously when outside in nature during the spring, summer, and fall
2. Wear long pants
3. Check your body for ticks often and thoroughly especially if you live in Eastern areas of the United States and South Eastern Canada
4. All of the above
The United States Centers for Disease Control reports that a tick must be imbedded in your skin for around 36 hours before it can transmit disease
1. True
2. False