Ten Most Threatening Animals on Southern Utah Trails

When asked about the most ten most threatening animals on Southern Utah trails, I jokingly said humans; well, we humans can at times be dangerous, though very rarely.  But dismissing some paranoia, the vast majority of hikers have just a few goals in mind:  exercise, spiritual rejuvenation, adventure, and getting back safely—not hurting or robbing other hikers.

With this in mind, this article presents ten of the most threatening animals on Southern Utah trails.  Hikers prepare by donning suitable clothing, boots or good sneakers, sunscreen, water, and snacks; but do they take the time to read about potential hazards of the wildlife they may encounter, and what to do when a threatening critter presents itself?

Top Ten Threatening Animals

1. One of the most dangerous animals to join you on your hike is dogs. You never know the disposition of a dog, whether it will sniff, lick or bite your friendly hand or is mean enough to attack you.  If you come upon an aggressive dog, act assertive, not afraid.  Don’t make eye contact, be nonchalant, and throw out something to eat or chew on if you can.  Do not run away; it’s better to ignore it as if you don’t care one bit about the dog.

2. Rattlesnakes are predators, but their prey (rodents) is much smaller than you, so if you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you. Keep eye and ear alert for them.  If you encounter a rattlesnake, walk away from it, go around it, and do not threaten it.

3. Another of the most threatening animals on Southern Utah trails is the Coyote. This wild, scruffy-looking canine preys on small animals, so you don’t want to run away from it as if persuading the coyote that you’re one of its dinner entrees.  Get large and loud around a coyote that is in close proximity, throw things, and scare it away.

4. The Mountain Lion is common enough in Southern Utah to present the occasional problem. Again, don’t make it think you are one of its prey by running away.  Get big by holding something over your head, and slowly move away. In the rare circumstance that the cougar attacks you, use your knife and fight like hell.

5. Black bears are fairly common in Southern Utah, but if they hear you coming, they’ll usually run off. Some hikers will wear a little noise maker, which alerts animals of something strange nearby.  Being an animal yourself, you need to be alert to sounds of critters, so leave the headphones in the car.  Remember not to run away and climb a tree.  Bears climb trees just fine.

6. Elk and deer are normally afraid of or have no interest in humans, but if they feel threatened, they can attack, especially if their baby is nearby.

7. Geese and Swans are known to attack and bite sometimes, so give them their space.

8. Raccoons are normally quite harmless, but they occasionally carry rabies, so stay away from a raccoon; you don’t want to get bitten.

9. The encounter with a skunk should be self-explanatory. If it feels threatened, it can spray its terrible chemical on you, which is difficult to wash off and can make you sick.  Skunks also carry rabies sometimes.

10. Bees, flies, and mosquitoes round out the list of the ten most threatening animals on Southern Utah trails. Being prepared with insect repellent is helpful, and be wise enough to leave that beehive alone.

These are the ten most threatening animals on Southern Utah trails.  In summary, you can increase your chances of having a problem with an animal on a hiking trail by being a very small person, acting scared, approaching and poking at an animal, and wearing headphones.  You can increase your chances of never having a problem with an animal on a trail by being a large person, not acting afraid, giving animals their space, and putting a noise maker on you or your dog.

Ten Most Threatening Animals on Southern Utah Trails

Article By: Clear Content Marketing