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Post by Tringa on Oct 20, 2017 11:08:31 GMT
Spotted this yesterday - www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-41682441It seems some are trying to take selfies with stags. I don't know if I am more annoyed by people who seem to think the natural world is some sort of plaything to do with what they want, or by the warnings being issued at all If you are stupid enough to approach a wild animal, especially one weighing probably 200kg+, that is about 1m tall at the shoulder, is very fast, has antlers and is a bit pumped up just now then you deserve all you get. However, I suppose if no warnings were issued I could imagine injured people complaining they didn't know it could be dangerous. Dave
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Post by rowanberry on Oct 20, 2017 14:11:34 GMT
They have to be Darwin Awards contestants.
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Post by aeshna5 on Oct 21, 2017 3:55:05 GMT
Apparently a woman was gored by a stag earlier this month in Richmond Park.
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Post by ianr on Oct 21, 2017 7:13:42 GMT
Visited Wollaton the other year in October and the red deer were magnificent got some really nice photos with my 70/300mm lens whilst hiding behind a tree there's a good size herd of fallow deer too and the house of course, all in all a nice place to visit. Only an idiot would do what the chap in the photo link is doing. Was sort of planning a visit next week myself but might not happen, other commitments may get in the way ian
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Post by NellyDee on Oct 21, 2017 10:11:56 GMT
I too am never ceased to be amazed. No doubt they too are the sort that claim damages. On the theme of animal that can be dangerous, some of you will know that Highland Cattle females can be extremely dangerous if they have calves and you get between them and their young. They look such docile creatures. Driving through Glen Lonan we could not get past a car so had to stop, we laughed to start with watching two tourists walking among the herd of mum's and babes. We then realised that they were pushing and shoving to separate a female to a better position so that they could take a selfi. The other females had formed a barrier around the babes and were advancing slowly on the couple. I yelled at them to come back here quickly and get in their car. Which they did giving me a one finger 'up yours' sign as they did. Do wish I had left them to be mauled.
In a few places up here there are signs that deer can be dangerous. We get a lot of tourists wanting to take photos of themselves with the deer. I had to smile the other night - it was dark and two lost backpackers knocked on the door, one was crying. They were doing the West Highland way. So having got a map out I showed them where they were and how to get to where they wanted to go. The lady was very frightened and asked "are there any dangerous animals out there?". Only the red deer and they wont bother you, more likely to slip away from you. "are there bears or wolves?". For heavens sake if you are taking on a walk you would think they would learn about the country they are in and what you will see on your walk and what the terrain would be like. They thought the West Highland way was a flat walk! That is why the lady was crying, they had misjudged how far they could walk in a day, not realising they had to actually climb hills.
sorry I am ranting! I get a far number of lost walkers
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Post by accipiter on Oct 21, 2017 14:23:29 GMT
Same here Helen, it never ceases to amaze me too when it comes to situations such as this, surly it is just common sense not to place one’s self in line with any wild animal, but apparently not.
Alan
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Post by Tringa on Oct 23, 2017 14:56:59 GMT
Could you tell if the walkers were from the UK, Helen?
There is a bit of an excuse for being concerned about dangerous animals if they were from a country where such animals are common. There is, however, no excuse for not researching your route properly. Who comes to walk in Scotland thinking it is going to be flat!
Many years ago we had a holiday at an activity centre in Fort Willam and the owner told us about a group of kayakers.
They told him they were going to kayak on Loch Eil to the sea. He informed them that Loch Eil doesn't go to the sea and found their intention was to kayak to the head of Loch Eil and then carry their equipment until they met the river flowing into Loch Shiel and then go down the loch to the sea.
He found out they had no idea about the distance they would need to carry their gear or how far the total trip would be and they had never been on any open water other than canals.
Dave
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Post by NellyDee on Oct 24, 2017 8:04:26 GMT
The walkers were from West Virginia, and were doing the walk using their mobiles - we/I don't get mobile signal here. I was a bit surprised they did not have a map. Our Mountain Rescue were called out 3 times over the weekend - lost walkers. To be fair I know how easy it is to get disoriented when the mist comes down, even when you know the area well.
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Post by rowanberry on Oct 24, 2017 9:43:11 GMT
I googled it- West Virginia does have a large forested national park, and the black bear is the official state animal. They do have the occasional bobcat or coyote, but the most dangerous thing likely to come across when hiking there are rattlesnakes or copperheads. You'd think people who come from such a vast country would still think to carry a map, though- and research the area they are walking in! Many years ago, when I was still fit enough to do such things we walked up Mount Snowdon. I was amazed at the number of people attempting it in open-toed sandals or shoes better suited to a trip to the shops. Without a bottle of water, even. Those people taking selfies with the Highland cattle were just rude- you're right, Helen- they should have been left to experience the full weight of an irate and protective mama cow! I heard about some people who were trampled by a herd once when they'd trekked across a farmer's field... with their dog. Sheesh.
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Post by Tringa on Oct 24, 2017 10:16:11 GMT
"Doing the walk with their mobiles" - !!! Even if were very technology orientated I think there must be areas of the States where a mobile signal is patchy so it is even more surprising they had no map. However, I think (I have no personal knowledge here) there a trails in the USA that are very well signposted. Perhaps they thought it would be the same on the WHW.
I've seen the same thing on the Ben, Rowanberry. I went up one August day we had clear views for miles, visibility of about six feet, flat calm, wind you had to lean into, sun, rain, sleet, snow, hail; we missed out only on thunder and lightning. There were still people in jeans and T shirts - some of them did not look happy.
Dave
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Post by alf1951 on Oct 24, 2017 16:45:24 GMT
In N. Cumbria I read or hear of walkers (with or without dogs) injured by cattle every Spring & Summer. What surprises me however is that on more than one occasion it has been the farmer who gets the blame and is fined for the stupidity of some walkers.
Alf
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