Recent Animal Attacks Grab Headlines, but What Should You Do If it Happens?

Recent headlines about animal attacks have only reiterated the fact that wild animals are not to be underestimated and humans should have a healthy amount of fear and respect for them -- whether they are bears, leopards or sharks. Most recently, a bear attack in Alaska that left four teenagers injured -- some with life-threatening wounds - -was from a mother grizzly, according to news reports. Original statements said that the animal was a brown bear but it was later reported that the attacker was more specifically identified as a grizzly.

A report from Fox News said seven students who were participating in a deep woods survival course in the Talkeetna mountains just north of Anchorage, Alaska were set upon by the bear as they crossed a river. The mother was with a cub when she attacked the group, leaving four injured and two of those badly mauled.

In the Prakash Nagur village near Siliguri, India, a leopard that roamed out of the forest and into the village became startled and attacked last week. A total of 11 people were injured before the animal was subdued by a tranquilizer dart. The leopard later died of injuries received during the attack.

In North Carolina, two separate shark attacks injured two young girls. In early July, a 10-year-old girl was attacked in 3.5 feet of water at North Topsail Beach and on July 19, a 6-year-old was attacked in shallow water at Ocracoke Island. Neither attack was fatal.

Knowing what to do in the event of an animal attack greatly increases the chance of survival.

During an attack from a grizzly (as opposed to a black bear), it is recommended that if you are unable to get away before the creature attacks, you should play dead as a means of escaping the worst injury. In early July, a female grizzly bear with cubs fatally mauled a hiker in Yellowstone National Park before attacking his wife who survived by playing dead.

With a black bear, it is recommended that you fight back during an attack.

Big cats prefer to attack from behind. Running away only makes things worse. A long held belief by many natives living in areas with large predatory cat populations urges travelers to wear masks depicting faces on the back of their heads in order to ward off large cat attacks. Other suggestions for survival include making noise so as not to surprise a cat, never traveling alone and always having a weapon--even a large stick--to fight off an attacking cat as playing dead does not work.

If a shark attacks, your only option is to fight--and fight hard. Get away from the shark if you are able to but if the shark actually gets you into its mouth, hit and poke the animal. Aim for the sensitive areas like the eyes and gills. If the shark lets go, get away and get out of the water if you can.