Regardless of how beautiful Mother Nature is, it is still a wilderness. And because of that, we have to accept the fact that we aren't the only residents there. Even at established campsites, there's still a possibility that you'll encounter insects and animals that could pose a danger to you and your family.
The thing is, animal/insect and human encounters don't yield in significant numbers of death--at least, that's what the statistics are telling. But don't give you a sense of relief or confidence. The data don't really include the injuries.
Of course, this is not something that should deter you from camping. By being smart and cautious, you will be able to enjoy your outdoor trip. One way of safeguarding yourself is through knowing what these dangerous creatures are.
On average, wasps and hornets result in 60 deaths every year. Technically, that puts them on the top among all insects that cause human fatality.
One should know that there are different species of these stingers. Depending on their variant, they could either dwell underground, in mounds, or in hives.
If you see a hive, the best thing that you need to do is to avoid it. You'll be surprised that you no longer have to deal with them! If you are allergic to wasps, hornets, and bees, then you should bring your prescribed antihistamine with you.
Sometimes, you will encounter the nests of these stingers in unexpected places. You can find them inside cottages and bathrooms! Fortunately, these insects are loud, so you can really know that they are there even from a distance. This is a precaution that you should veer away from wherever you are heading.
Once you are attacked by wasps and hornets, the best thing that you need to do is flee. You can't swat them anyway because they attack in a group. And they get more aggressive while they are attacking. Unlike bees, hornets and wasps don't die after stinging. So they can actually hit you repeatedly. In this situation, run toward a source of smoke, such as fire. Smoke deters these stingers. If there's none, look for a body of water and submerge yourself.
Getting bitten by a tick doesn't result in a substantial effect right from the get-go. However, this doesn't mean that you can go easy around them. After all, ticks are carriers of a number of diseases, such as Lyme disease.
Ticks are also vectors for the virus Powassan, which is a relatively new virus. Specifically, they are carried by deer ticks. Since this virus has no vaccine yet, it is essential that you exercise caution when heading to forests, woodlands, or any areas with deer.
Having bug spray is the first line of defense here. Meanwhile, staying away from areas with tall grasses is also a good way to avoid ticks. From time to time, always check your body and clothes and see if there are clinging ticks. Don't ignore the little crawling sensation. It might be from a tick looking for the perfect spot for a bite.
The black widow might be small. But throughout North America, this creature is considered to be one of the most venomous spider. Being bitten by this spider can cause anyone a lot of problems.
Specifically, male and young black widows don't carry as much venom as their full-grown, female counterparts. Fortunately, differentiating between a male and female black widow isn't that difficult. Female black widows have a red hourglass on their underbody. Once you see this mark, just flee.
However, you can't really do anything if it is dark, right? Hence, it is best that you avoid going to undisturbed, dry, grassy areas during the night.
The bite from a black widow doesn't typically cause death. However, they can be extremely painful. This is due to the high concentration of latrotoxin in their venom. Even if they didn't kill you, these spiders would end your trip in an instant.
There's a good chance that you'll never encounter a brown recluse throughout all your camping trips. After all, this particular spider isn't a fan of staying in areas where humans stay.
Most of the time, you can see this spider staying in dead tree bark. It only leaves its home during the night since it is the only time it hunts for food. Similar to black widows, a brown recluse likes to stay in undisturbed, dry areas. Moreover, they only stick to their geographical home. If your state isn't a habitat for the brown recluse, then that's already a relief.
The danger of this spider is due to its necrotic effects. Its body hosts a potent hemotoxic venom, which is capable of eating your flesh. In severe cases, it can even cause the bursting of the red blood cells. Accordingly, skin necrosis happens to roughly forty percent of the victims of the brown recluse.
The bite of a brown recluse is not deadly. But at the same time, it is not a spider that you want to mingle with. Avoid it at all costs.
Rattlesnakes are fearsome creatures. They are extremely venomous and can cause death in just a matter of minutes.
The most worrisome aspect about these rattlesnakes is that they tend to occupy spaces where campers also stay. This is not surprising, though, as rattlesnakes are cold-blooded creatures. They tend to settle on areas and buildings when the temperature goes low.
Surely enough, you know when there's a rattlesnake nearby. That's how they got their name in the first place. The only problem here is that they tend to strike without being taunted. This could happen if the snake happens to wander into your tent during the night.
Once bitten, you will need antivenom right away. Don't bother sucking out your blood. That's not going to help you. The faster the antivenom is administered to you, the better. But of course, let me remind you that the bite will cause you a lot of pain. There's also a possibility that it will cause permanent damage to the area where you got bitten.
Again, there's no real way of taking out these venomous and pain-causing creatures in the wild. The best thing that we can do is to avoid them. Hence, it is always essential that you are away from these threats. Putting your life at stake because of the "I don't know what creature is that" statement is never worth it.
Of course, it is also important that you exercise caution at all times. Be aware of your surroundings. Always be keen on the sounds, movements, and even smell. They could make a lot of difference.
