Two Animals That Can Kill You in Rhode Island

There are two animals that can kill you in Rhode Island. Black bears and mountain lions. You may snicker at how unlikely it is to happen, but it is not impossible.

Rhode Island is a Refuge for Young Black Bears

A black bear mother literally chases its young bears away and out of its habitat two years after they are born.  If you have a friend that has a child that is in their thirties and still living in the basement, you may want to tell them what black bear mothers do. So this may be the reason why young black bears find themselves in Rhode Island, looking for their own habitat.

If you followed the news last spring, a black bear was blamed for killing some sheep in southern Rhode Island. The Department of Environmental Management sent an official to look for the bear. What this really means is that when they find the bear they will shoot it to protect Rhode Islanders. But the official never found it. My guess is that the bear moved on into Connecticut or Massachusetts. But there is a possibility that it is still in Southern Rhode Island.

How to Protect Yourself Against a Black Bear

Make noise. Be very loud. Hopefully you will have a plethora of friends with you so all of you will make crazy menancing noises. If it attacks, fight back. Do not be submissive and do not run away. You cannot outrun a black bear. If you are only hiking with one other friend, at least outrun your friend so that the bear catches your friend first. Then you have the easy job of calling for help while your friend tassels with the bear. OK, seriously, help out your friend and fight the bear even if it catches your friend.

To make up for killing any black bear that even thinks "Rhode Island", the Department of Environmental Management made this cute, informational brochure about black bears. http://1.usa.gov/nC6XQl

One of my favorite parts of the pamphlet is the "Don't Fear the Bears" phrase. I totally agree with this statement. Do not fear them. Unless you see one in your backyard or out in the woods while hiking. In that case fear would be a positive thing because seeing a large predator and being scared go hand in hand. Fear may actually help you back away or run a bit faster from a dangerous situation.

New England is now Cougar Country
I thought it was huge news that the DEM reversed their position on a mountain lion sighting in Matunuk and actually confirmed it! More on this can be found at this link http://bit.ly/oDtrss. In most cases when someone spots a mountain lion the DEM tells them that it must have been a large coyote or a bobcat and that is the end of the story. Very frustrating for the people that actually see the large tail, the black marks on the face or the cold stare of its eyes. After reviewing a map of southern Rhode Island, I can see how an elusive mountain lion can be living around the Great Swamp area.

How to Protect Yourself Against a Mountain Lion

Do not play dead! You must fight back! Make yourself look bigger. Stare at the mountain lion. Do not take your eyes off of its face. If you have a child with you, pick up the child to protect them. But you have to fight. Throw a rock, back away, yell, call for help. So fight the good fight, and if the child is not one of your own, you can even offer up the child as a sacrifice so you can escape. OK. Not really. That's really mean. But do fight.