Wild Animals Avoiding Humans: Reasons and Exceptions
Larger wild animals are descendents of those that had enough sense to avoid humans. Those that didn’t were killed and failed to pass down those genes. Smaller animals, however, don’t always avoid humans. Spiders, for example, sometimes seem to ignore humans entirely, and even roaches hide when lights come on. But let's delve deeper into the reasons behind wild animals' avoidance of humans and the exceptions to this rule.
Natural Caution and Adaptive Behavior
Most animals inherently have a natural wariness of humans. This tendency is likely to be adaptive and protective. Since we are fundamentally different from most other creatures in nature, animals may naturally associate us with potential problems or simply as something to avoid. For instance, many herbivorous animals like deer possess strong anti-predator behaviors and avoid anything that could potentially chase or injure them. They tend to startle easily and maintain a distance from objects that might come too close, including humans.
The primary reason for animal caution is the risk of direct encounter with a potentially lethal threat. If an animal cannot eat a human, the best choice is statistically to avoid it. Being afraid means there is a slight risk of wasting energy, but not being afraid places an animal at risk of death.
Learning to Trust or Fear Humans
Animals can lose their natural wariness of humans if they learn to associate us with food. This is often the primary reasoning for discouraging the feeding of wildlife. Furthermore, a few wild predators occasionally become man-eaters, which is rarely due to feeding but more often due to a misperception of humans as prey. This behavior can occur when the opportunity arises.
Another significant exception is an animal infected with rabies. Such an animal loses all fear and caution and may approach or attack any person it sees. It’s crucial to never pet a raccoon, skunk, fox, or wolf, no matter how cute they might appear. If a normally wary wild animal, like a raccoon, skunk, fox, or wolf, comes close to you and seems very friendly, this behavior is generally not normal and could be a sign of rabies.
Rabies and Its Transmission
Worldwide, dogs are the most common animals that transmit rabies to humans. However, most biting animals can be vectors, including foxes, coyotes, wolves, jackals, cats, skunks, raccoons, mongooses, and bats. Rabies is particularly a significant issue in many developing countries where preventive measures for dogs are not as robust. This is critical information for anyone in rural or wilderness areas, where such encounters are more common.
Understanding the reasons behind animal avoidance and the exceptions can help us coexist more safely with wildlife. By recognizing the behaviors of wild animals and understanding their natural instincts, we can take steps to minimize the risks of unwanted encounters and promote a safer environment for both humans and animals.