Bear!

[gila_dog]

That was a good story, with a good end. I've never had any trouble with wildlife when out in the boondocks. The only animals I've had trouble with are other peoples' dogs. And I see a couple of rattlesnakes each year while out hiking. So far my walking stick has been the only weapon I've needed for either of those critters. I've had to whack a couple of dogs, but the rattlesnakes I just flip off the trail with the stick. But one thing I've noticed is that when I'm out with my goats wild animals focus on them, and don't seem to realize that I'm there. I've gotten very close to deer, elk, coyotes, javelinas, and rabbits because I was with the goats. That could be dangerous if the animal is a hungry predator, especially a bear, mountain lion or wolf. In my area we sometimes have an epidemic of rabies. It usually affects the foxes, mostly, but it's been seen in coyotes and mountain lions. They aren't going to behave like normal animals. So, for those reasons, and because I think human predators are the most dangerous thing in the back country, I always carry my .38 pistol. So far I've never had to use it, tho.