I was out wandering around Riverview’s Alafia Scrub Nature Preserve with my 3-year-old German Shepherd, Thor, in April. It was the middle of the afternoon, the sun was shining — but I was alone.
Usually, I’m OK with solo excursions when I have a 90-pound watchdog for company, but my adrenaline spiked about halfway through our walk when a wild dog appeared on the trail about 100 feet away from us.
I didn’t know what to do. Thankfully, Thor was on a leash and went into protective mode, scaring the four-legged creature away. But it got me thinking; was I doing the right thing to protect the two of us? Was there a better way I could have reacted in that situation? What if it had been another one of Florida’s native creatures instead?
It’s been on my mind ever since, so I went out and got some answers from an expert.
Rebecca Winch, a former Hillsborough County trail guide who now works in the county’s conservation and environmental lands management department as an environmental specialist, had all the answers I needed for the best ways to react when out on a trail, hiking in the woods or out on the water and you encounter some of Florida’s wildlife.
Here’s what I learned, and what Winch said you should do if you run into an …
Alligator or crocodile
So here’s the good news. Crocodiles are more aggressive than alligators, but the former mostly reside in South Florida, so there’s not much chance of running into them in the Tampa Bay area, Winch said.
If you happen to encounter an alligator, Winch said, you want to give it plenty of room — in other words, do not walk or paddle (if in water) close to it.
“If you see a gator lying across the trail and you’re near it and it’s not moving, turn around,” Winch said. “It’s not worth it.”
If you need to get around the animal, you want to give it as wide a berth as possible. And by absolutely no means should you feed these reptiles. It’ll only make them more aggressive.
If you’re out on the water, make sure you stay away from banks on the shoreline, especially during mating season (May and June) or if a mother is with her babies. It’s also unwise to go kayaking after dark in these summer months.
“Just ignore them,” Winch said. “If you see baby alligators, don’t go near them, because, again, moms are pretty territorial.”
Wild dog or coyote
Happening upon a wild dog or coyote is especially relevant for those of you who like to take your furry friends out on adventures.
Winch said it’s critical to keep your pet(s) on a non-retractable leash no longer than 6 feet to help protect yourself and them from danger.
If you run into a wild dog or another animal off-leash, it’s best to back off and stay calm. If it’s a coyote, make loud noises and scare them (without throwing objects at them) by yelling.
“Pretty much anything that you can do that will make you big and loud and scary with a coyote is going to be a pretty good idea,” Winch said. “Make sure they realize that you are human and that you are not prey.”
Often, you can tell the difference between a wild dog and a coyote by their physical appearance.
A coyote has large, triangle-shaped ears with a slender muzzle and bushy tail, usually staying within the browns, grays and whites for its coat, according to a University of Florida/IFAS peer-reviewed fact sheet. Coyotes also are most active around dawn and dusk.
“Coyotes are pretty timid and they don’t usually like to be around people,” Winch said.
Snake
Of Florida’s 44 snake species, only six are venomous. But if like me, you’re not a snake expert, your best bet is to stay away from all slithering serpents.
Avoid walking directly in front of or behind a snake, giving it plenty of room. A poisonous stake can strike about the length of its body, Winch said.
“Snakes are not going to come at you across the trail and try to attack you,” Winch said. “They don’t want to be around you.”
Snakes are not naturally aggressive, Winch said, but you don’t want to provoke them by throwing things at them, poking at them with your walking stick or yelling at them to try to get them to move.
“Most snakes are not going to be interested in being anywhere near you,” Winch said. “Their first reaction is going to be to run away.”
Bear
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has an interactive bear map on its website that shows recent bear calls and captures. Winch said it’s not common to see a bear in the Tampa Bay area, but it has happened before.
If you run into a bear, you won’t have to worry about fending off a grizzly, but you could be face-to-face with a Florida black bear.
In situations where the bear hasn’t noticed your presence, Winch suggests you slowly — without running — back away with the front of your body facing the bear. According to the FWC, bears can run up to 35 mph and climb 100 feet up a tree in 30 seconds.
If the bear has noticed you, Winch suggests backing away slowly with the front of your body facing the animal and talking to it so it knows you’re a person.
There have been no bear attacks in the state of Florida, according to the FWC, but if a bear happened to come at you to defend itself, its cubs or food source, Winch said to fight back aggressively.
“Bears do not tend to prey on people,” Winch said. “So you’re going to back away and you’re going to say, ‘Hey, bear, hey, bear, hey, bear,’ or whatever you want in a calm voice.”
Panther
Thankfully, panthers don’t usually attack humans. In fact, there has never been an attack in Florida, according to the FWC’s website.
If you’re worried, however, about a panther sighting, you can check out the FWC’s interactive panther sighting tracker, similar to the bear tracker.
“If you see a panther, you’re incredibly lucky,” Winch said. “If you see a panther, the same kind of rules (as seeing a bear) applies. Back away, don’t run and get out of the area.”
Bobcat
If you happen to run into a bobcat while exploring, soak in the moment while you can, Winch said, because despite how populous these animals are in Florida, they’re incredibly shy. It’s very rare to see one out and about.
If you do see one, you’ll likely be in a densely wooded area where the bobcat can flee and disappear into the brush.
“It’s going to run away,” she said. “You are not going to need to do anything. They do not want to be around you.”
Raccoon
Some might assume that raccoons are nocturnal, but Winch said they can be out in the daytime, too.
These animals can carry rabies and canine distemper — which attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems — so it’s best to stay away from them.
“You don’t want to feed them, because, again, it will make them more aggressive,” Winch added.
Cow
Surprisingly enough, one of the animals you’re most likely to run into while out in nature is a cow.
“A lot of larger nature preserves and parks will have a cattle lease on them where a rancher runs cattle and pays whatever government agency some small amount to graze them,” Winch said.
Usually, cows are pretty calm, but you don’t want to freak them out, Winch said.
“Don’t get too close to them if they’re on the trail,” she said. “Wait for them to pass.”
