Close encounters with other wildlife whilst birding

[Chris Monk]

I was wondering, while reading some of the recent birding trip accounts, have any Birdforum people had any close shaves with other wildlife whilst birding? Do you have to take special precautions in certain areas or habitats?

I often wonder what I'd do if I was lucky enough to go birding in, say, Africa and encountered a herd of Elephants or Buffalo. I have even had nightmares where I'm trapped in a house and elephants are trying to break in...I must have a vivid imagination or else give up eating strong cheese before bed!

We have South African neighbours who tell of Warthogs running through a holiday house they used to stay in.

[Nina P]

Precautions I used to take while birding, watch where I was putting my feet! I live in an area where the wildlife can so easily attack us. There is a beautiful area where the moorland has the most amazing wildlife, including SNAKES!
Don't get me wrong, I like snakes, but I also have the most healthy awareness of the fact that, at least I know they could be fatal for me, if not others. I can see many different creatures can be so amazing, to watch a stoat dancing in front of rabbits, stunning! The quartering of the owls over the fields edges, beautiful. The spiders stalking insects great to watch. Wasps collecting catterpillars = unbelieveable. a grass snake swallowing a frog = macarbre, but still spellbinding! All things are something to behold, but to avoid situations that may be harmfull to yourself sensible.

[Phalarope]

One of my more recent encounters with other-than-avian wildlife while (attempting) to bird was an expensive collision with a White-tailed Deer.

I was driving from one conservation area to another, about 30 miles away. A farm tractor pulling a large piece of equipment approached on a narrow road. I pulled over to let it pass, continued on my way a whole 200 yds. at the harrowing speed of 10 m.p.h., when out of the creekbed below the level of the road came a very large buck.

"Deer!" I said to myself and the steering wheel. That's all there was time for--no quick jerk of the wheel, no application of the brakes.

The deer was probably saying the equivalent of "CAR!" to himself as he tried to turn to avoid the vehicle. Alas, hooves and asphalt are not a good combination for traction. He skidded, went down, and struck the car with his back and flank, just in front of the driver (left front) door.

He left on foot (but I heard three shots later in the woodlot where he had run). The impact torqued several pieces on the front end. Car was undriveable. As I was 150 miles from home, the non-covered portion of the tow was $100. The damage to the car was $2,800.

I'm sure this was not the type of encounter you were thinking of, but it is one of the more likely to occur where I live and bird.

Oh, and the only problem I had with an elephant in South Africa was the one who decided to amble down the only road at a pace that one could only call "lackadaisical" for a distance of nearly 2 miles. Took forever, and more than 2 minutes close observation of an elephant's rear end ceases to be amusing.

Good birding!

Phalarope

[brianfm]

One of my fondest memorys is from Scotland when out one morning about 5.30am and walking through tall grass. My friend and I appeared to wake sleeping Roe Deer that jumped up at our feet and ran off. Just really getting into birding then but a memory that I shall always hang on to. Never been so close again.
I have had many close encounters with wildlife in Africa whilst birding. Can't fail to really. It actually becomes part and parcel of the day. Never had a real worrying experience. Did have a lost young Elephant approach my back whilst watching a Gymnogene being mobbed. Luckily i was in the van but it reminded me of how quickly even large Elephants can creep up on you. Also been within feet of a Rock Python. Not pleasant but managed to get a photo. Could go on and on I suppose. I do remember being a bit uptight about having Hyenas outside of my tent in Botswana. They ate my soap and drank my washing water. This seemed to pale into insignifigance when the Lions walked throught the camp. Thankfully I did not need to go to the loo that night or I think my water flask would have been put to a different useage that night. In any event the tree right outside of my tent was well watered for two or three nights as there was no way I was walking to the latrines some distance away. Great experience though.

[Dave B Smith]

We've been birding in the Canadian Rockies quite a bit this summer. One trip we went out on an early morning hike and were about a half mile into the woods when we saw fairly fresh bear tracks across the path. Since we were alone, we decided to head back towards the road and bird along the road. When we reached the parking lot, we found a Lazuli Bunting and were scoping it. While my wife was viewing it, I noticed a bear just 200 feet away! It never paid us any attention, but we made our way back to the car.

The next encounter was on a narrow path through thick woods when we heard a very heavy breathing / snorting coming close to us. A Wood Buffalo was coming down the trail right towards us. They are not usually agressive, but since this was during their "rutting" period, we turned around quickly and got out of there.

[Hanno]

As I started birding in Kenya, I ran into every animal you can imagine. The scariest for me are Hippos, much more dangerous then anything else out there. The are territorial, aagressive, and fast! The precautions I took were few (I was a young, invincible lad then), but I did know the animals and their behaviour, and, most importantly, I kept my eyes peeled.

Never worried about snakes much, even though there are plenty, they are harmless unless cornered (or accidentally stepped upon at night).

[JeffMoh]

You have to be careful when birding in the Houston-Galveston area. It's wise to keep an eye out for alligators whenever you're near water, particularly along quiet bayous. (I've been wary ever since, on a trip to the Everglades, I was so busy watching a Cooper's Hawk that I literally nearly stepped on two 7-foot gators.) Snakes are a constant danger in the warmer weather: At Brazoria I've met rattlesnakes and cottonmouths on the main trails. Probably the worst of all, though, are chiggers: little bug(ger)s that jump on you in crowds, dig into your skin and lay eggs. My wife got chiggered quite badly on our first trip to see the warbler migration at Lafitte's Cove on Galveston.

[cuddy]

On a recent trip to Norfolk i was in desperate need of a loo so i called in at Hickling broad as its toilets stay open when the Center is closed.

Rushed through the door quickly took a seat, and looked up to see hissing sid sitting watching me, turns out it was a young grass snake dont know who got the biggest fright :eek!:

[d.steeley]

I visit Brandon Marsh near Coventry and occasionally meet muntjac deer on one of the main tracks. We usually stop and eye each other up before the deer meanders of into the undergrowth without the slightest sign of alarm. We've been as close as 20 feet recently.

Dave

[Tinca]

I visit Brandon Marsh near Coventry and occasionally meet muntjac deer on one of the main tracks. We usually stop and eye each other up before the deer meanders of into the undergrowth without the slightest sign of alarm. We've been as close as 20 feet recently.

Dave

Wonder if muntjac deer in an area reduce possible number of natives,ie.Roe?

Have been barked at(BOHH!)by Inquisitive/territorial roe buck in the dark when walking back quietly from a hide.He was 8-10 ft from me behind young scots pine and shot my heart into 180+ and my legs into overdrive!

[edrick owl]

I have only encountered Roe deer when out and about, as a tale to tell. I have seen them several times, but this once a buck came over towards me, and stopped around 15ft away.

Not too frightenning some may say, but I am disabled and have difficulty walking. This simple fact sprung to my mind as he stood his ground and started barking at me. When I did not move he came closer, and closer ........

I decided that if I was to swing the stick I had around (not to hit him), I would end up on the floor, so just stood my ground and stared back. It became one of natures minor stand-offs, but he eventually backed down, and ran off, crashing through the undergrowth.

Me, I just cooly walked to the sancturay of the nearest hide, and poured myself half a cup of coffee (I spilt the other half shaking)!

Regards,

[lvn600]

I had a staredown with a coyote not long ago. He (or she) watched me from across a field for a good 3 minutes. I stepped on a snake once. I've had horses and bulls run toward me in farmer's fields. I always keep a distance from any animal that is bigger than me. I've had deer pop up from a snooze 2 feet away and scare the daylights out of me. I was in a forest park picnic area at dusk one time when over a dozen large raccoons came towards us to raid the garbage cans. I find some dogs to be threatening when they run towards you, especially if they are one of the breeds with a bad reputation. Unfortunately many dog owners think their dogs are harmless and couldn't possibly ever bite anyone.

[prairiemerlin]

I've had many encounters with animals, but only one was really dangerous. The dangerous one was while several other birders and I were birding, at the end of the day; we had just seen a group of three Short-eared Owls. As we were going 40 mph down a large road, a deer suddenly bolted into the road (perhaps fifty feet away). Fortunately the driver had the sense to blare the horn and the animal ran back into the field.

Just a few weeks ago while camping in the UP, as we were laying in our tents, we heard a spectatular chorus of wolves nearby. It was awesome.

[d.steeley]

"I visit Brandon Marsh near Coventry and occasionally meet muntjac deer on one of the main tracks. We usually stop and eye each other up before the deer meanders of into the undergrowth without the slightest sign of alarm. We've been as close as 20 feet recently."

Hi Tinca, I haven't seen any other type of deer around Brandon Marsh or surrounding area. Would be interesting to hear if anyone has.

Dave

[Tinca]

"I visit Brandon Marsh near Coventry and occasionally meet muntjac deer on one of the main tracks. We usually stop and eye each other up before the deer meanders of into the undergrowth without the slightest sign of alarm. We've been as close as 20 feet recently."

Hi Tinca, I haven't seen any other type of deer around Brandon Marsh or surrounding area. Would be interesting to hear if anyone has.

Dave
Hello Dave,
I would be surprised if there werent any roe in your area.I live within a few miles of the woburn estate where the water deer etc. originally escaped from way back when the landed gentry collected animals from abroad.There are roe in my area,but maybe not as many as there could be.
In my very amateur but fairly long experience roe are much more shy and wary than the little asian species,i think they need more of a buffer zone between us and them.Try looking in and around scrub land if you have any,clear felled areas with birch going mad seems to be a favourite habitat,especially with deep cover nearby.

Shane

[Karl J]

Frequenting country lanes on a daily basis i don't do too bad when it comes to other wildlife - squirrels, stoats etc and quite often there are deer about - either Chinese Water deer or Muntjac deer. Only once was i lucky enough to see some Fallow Deer, which were feeding at the edge of a woodland

Out birding and i did come across a hornet nest in the hide at rush hills last year and there's a regularly colony of seals along our coast which are always a pleasure to see ... also Harbour Porpoises occasionally, which i don't know much about