Making wild animals come close to you

[wildWoman]

I'd like to know if you guys ever try getting a wild animal approach you, and what you think helps with that. Do you talk to animals when you encounter them?
Maybe I'm getting a bit addled out here with just animals and no people around - do you think they can judge your intention (whether you mean them harm, are excited or scared)?
My theory is that a many animals somehow do pick up on your vibes, I guess horses and dogs etc do anyway, but also wild animals. My partner who hunts encounters a lot less wildlife than I do (I'm a very reluctant hunter), even though I always make noise in the woods to avoid surprise encounters between the dogs and moose or bears. I've had curious and friendly moose and caribou approach me, and bears remaining at ease, but not my boyfriend. Is that coincidence? Is this too esoteric??

[Jay]

Animals definitely can sense your intentions. I have had lots of encounters ranging from squirrels,through mongoose,hare, several highly venomous snakes, wild buffalo and elephant. the key is to be as still as possible. this is not just physically still but mentally too. Breath deeply, and concentrate on you breathing. dont let you mind wander to othr thoughts. just the breathing. Dont look the animal in the eye. look at its shoulder or flank etc. just dont make eye contact. be relaxed. you will need to practice this for some time before you get it. its not easy to be still and control the churning emotions when a potentially dangerous animal is close. if necessary repeat inside you head a phrase like "I mean you no harm" or "I wish you peace"over and over. this will help you to feel peacful. Here in SL there is a buddhist form of meditation that is called roughly "the mindfulness breathing" It helps to calm you down and to think and act rationally. you may be able to get some such techniques on the net. Just make sure that you know your animal and can read it intentions from its behaviour. All the peaceful thoughts in the world wont help you if it's hell bent to get you. But generally keeping still and calm will put animals at ease. I have had birds, squirrels, mongoose & snakes actually land or walk/crawl over me. I wasnt camouflaged. just wearing dull colors and sitting still...several times against a tree trunk and once against a rock. The mongoose actually stood up on its hindlegs and looked at my face for nearly a minute, climbed over my ankel and walked away slowly. but he only came close after he had inspected my and circled round me for nearly an hour. . But you have to sit very still for long periods.
hope this helps.

[Rick]

I think Jay is so right on the eye contact piece. I was taught never to look an animal in the eye and I always avoid it. If you give a dominant display then the encounter won't last very long. Avoiding eye contact is a real key in my book.
I've read that more folks are bitten by dogs trying to pat them on the head than petting them under the muzzle. A pat on the head is a dominant move to a dog and he may try to prove you wrong and put you in your place.

Familiarity can also be important. If the animal has seen you before and you were never a threat then they will be a bit more relaxed around you. Just walking through an area you lay down your scent so even though you never see an animal they often see you long after you are gone. That scent can be another piece of familiarity without us even knowing it.

[FVR]

Problem with many hunters is that they are so quiet, they move right past the animals. Animals like deer, hogs, rabbits, not so much turkeys, will stand fast if they notice you walking through the woods quietly. Unless they wind you.

When I diddybob in the woods, I see alot of critters cause they see me. When I am stalking, with a damp ground, I've darn near snuck past critters.

And I also believe that critters know. I've had coyotes and foxes, up wind of me, I'm perfectly still and cammy'd, stop, and you could tell that they could tell, something is not right.

Cover yourself with doe estrus during the rut, some bucks will find you and won't care.

[Rick]

So that's what happened. Hmmmm:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCDzM-dNY-8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9GrKyetrYQ

[Sarge47]

I discourage wild animals coming too close. An animal does not need to get to familiar with man as it can cause damage to it's hunting instincts. They then rely on man for food.

[Ole WV Coot]

I have had my fair share of meeting the "doggie that won't bite", The sweet little varmints that come up toward you in the woods, like rabid skunks and coons. I worked as a maintenance splicer for Bell Atlantic up and down hill & dale from D.C., Md., NY, VA & WV and anyone that puts out his hand or tries to pet a strange dog ain't playin' with a full deck. Friend of mine was chased by a coon a couple of weeks ago and he put it down with a 30-06 cause it wouldn't stop. Bucks, when they get a sniff of their sweetie ain't much fun either. Working jobs after floods or hurricanes can get you bitten by any animal hungry or scared. And they can be either wild or domestic. I do know one thing, a mean bull is tough, and won't share his pasture. I spent 2hrs up a pole before I got some relief. And I didn't try to stare that much beef down.

[Rick]

Hey Coot - I held that title eons ago. Worked lead (paper wrapped) up to fiber. Still have all my Wiss snips and they still have their edge. Makes a pretty good spark tool. Nice survival tool in my book.

Cool beans bro. Ain't many of us dinosaurs left.

[Last Mohican]

I had an Owl land on the barrell of my 12 ga while I was in my deer stand.

[Ole WV Coot]

Got that correct Rick. Guess we learned "survival" first hand. I worked lead also, think I was the last around these parts who could wipe a lead sleeve and it took yrs to stop wearing snips also.

[granite]

My avatar is not just a pretty picture I pulled off the Internet.

[LadyTrapper]

Wild animals are just that...wild and unpredictable. They live in a world run by instinct to survive and frankly it is a merciless world. Wildlife is fascinating, but we must respect it for exactly that..it's wildness! Moose and deer can be just as agressive as a bear and do as much damage, especially during the rut. Bucks have been known to attack female hunters if that woman happens to be on her monthy cycle while in the woods. Bears react to this as well.
Can these animals sense our intentions? yes I do believe so...would they feel remorse or hestitaion for tearin you up if you crossed that fine line? I think not. The simpliest of motion or gesture could set off an attack.
Enjoy your wildlife, take pictures, even walk in their world, but respect thier personal space LOL

[wareagle69]

i beleive i see things a little differently because i work with injured and orphaned wildlife on a regular basis. animals are like ppl in alot of ways they have different personalitites some seem to know that you are trying to help and others don't want help at all. i handle all types of animals even play with a couple of skunks and have never been sprayed the only animal i've had at the centre that i couldn't bond with was a cormorant. always wanted to go for my eyes, we,ve got an 800 pound siberian tiger that thinks it's fun to grab my leg and run, but the best part is lying outside at night and hearing our 21 wolves howl which then gets the coy dogs going which then gets the sled dogs going sometimes it's to noisy out in the middle of no where.

[Sarge47]

Dig it! WE has his own "Wolf-Pack!"

[nell67]

Awesome!!!

[Rick]

That is pretty cool. How do you feed all those animals? The tiger alone must eat tens of pounds of meat every day.

[Sarge47]

When seeing a couger in the outdoors do NOT say: "Here kitty, kitty, kitty"!

[wildWoman]

I agree with Jay and Wareagle (I'm wildly envious you get to be around all them wild critters, WE!!! It's great that you that). I've really noticed how they all have their own personality, not two moose or bears behave or react the same. I wouldn't advocate for people to cozy up to bears like Timothy Treadwell, I don't even try to get close to any wildlife for taking photographs. They want to do their own thing and generally don't appreciate having their personal space invaded. But in my experience some are friendly and curious about people and will come closer to check you out if they feel comfortable. When that happens, it's an awesome feeling, especially if you don't get much people interaction as we do. And I totally agree with Jay that understanding the body language of animals is crucial.
I think going with Jay's advice and keeping in mind that hoof, paw and tooth can lash out at you at fast speed, hanging out with wild animals is no more dangerous than hanging out at night in a city.

[Rick]

Wildwoman, off subject a bit. How do you folks generate your electricity?

[wareagle69]

i would not do what tim treadwell did but... for the 13 yrs or so he was doing that, there was not a single poaching in that park.
yes it takes allot to feed the animals we are fortunate to have several ppl leave trust funds for the animals and allot of wealthy ppl help support us, one of the wolves is sponsered by a photographer and we also receive allot of food of large grocery chains, tons of volunteer work..