THE COMPLETE OUTDOORSMANS HANDBOOK.pdf - Doczine

possibly even death if they hit vital organs. If you are near a vet, get your dog to him right away. The vetwill anesthetize the dog and remove the quills. If you are on a wilderness trip, you will have to dequillthe dog yourself.To do this, you will have to have someone hold the dog still or, if a second person is not available, youwill have to tie the dog. The best way to do this is to wrap a jacket or blanket around the dog and tie itwith a rope or belt so that the dog cannot hit you with his feet. Twist out each quill slowly with a pair ofneedle-nosed pliers, starting in the chest area. Remember that the dog will be frightened and in pain, andmay become a fear biter. You may have to use a muzzle or gently tie the dog's mouth closed with ahandkerchief or a piece of rope. When you have taken out the quills, get the dog to the veterinarian assoon as possible so that he can get a shot to prevent any secondary infection.WILDLIFE ON HIGHWAYSBig-game animals - mostly deer, but sometimes elk, moose, and even bears - are a very real hazard tomotorists traveling in big-game country. Some years ago I wrote a story on this for one of the motoringmagazines. To document my story, I obtained statistics from states known for their vast deer herds. Myfindings surprised me. In one year, the relatively small state of Pennsylvania alone, reported 22,610automobile collisions with deer. Texas reported 16,145; California, 8517; and Michigan, 7077, just toname a few. The province of Ontario reported 153 collisions with moose and 45 with black bears. Manyof the moose collisions caused human fatalities.A motorist in big-game country should drive defensively. You never know when a deer may leap out infront of your car. If you see a deer on the side of a road, slow down. Obey all deer-crossing signs. (Theywere put there for a purpose.) A deer may be standing in the middle of the road just around the nextbend. If an animal is on the road at night, turn your headlights off momentarily, leaving on only yourparking lights. The animal may be mesmerized by the beam of light, and the moment of darkness maybe enough for it to jump out of the way.If a collision seems unavoidable, don't try to swerve to miss the animal. You may go into a spin and losecontrol of the car, hitting something more formidable, such as a rock or a tree. It is best to hit the animalstraight on. If a collision does occur, treat it like any other accident and report it to the police. Even if thedamage to your car is negligible, report the accident to a conservation officer. If the animal is seriouslyinjured, he will want to track it down to prevent further suffering. He may be able to salvage some of themeat for a charitable institution. He may also want to take biological data from the animal.Above all, don't go near the stricken animal. Wounded deer have been known to lash out with theirhoofs and cause injuries. Wounded moose or bears are even more dangerous. Let a police officer or aconservation officer deal with the animal.SNAKESSnakes have been feared, vilified, and venerated by man from time immemorial. Generally western