We humans sometimes get a little complacent, so every so often it falls to the animals to...challenge us, if only just a bit. For today's Fun Friday, we're highlighting five videos that'll keep you right at the edge of your seat. In addition to supplying that little adrenaline rush to help get you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this morning, each of these videos has a takeaway lesson for those of us who enjoy the outdoors as much as we enjoy our place at the top of the food chain. (This means you can truthfully assure your boss that this is educational, should he or she catch you watching these videos.)
1. The One That Got Away
When this fisherman set out to while away his morning catching fish, he probably wasn't hoping to put a water moccasin in his creel...but that's almost what happened. Luckily for him, not only does it turn out that bashing a cottonmouth with your fishing rod serves as a pretty good deterrent, but he also has the footage to prove to his friends that this is one "fish story" that's totally true. Click here (if you're not ophidiophobic) to watch!
2. The Curious Case of the Cocky Coyote
This turkey hunter wound up getting just a little bit more than he bargained for when he attracted the attention of a very curious coyote. Click here to watch just how close a call it turns out to be. What's the takeaway? Well, judging by the camera angle, the hunter is seated the entire time the 'yote is approaching him. When it finally decides to charge, he stands up—which makes the dog turn tail (literally) immediately. Coyotes can and do attack humans, but it's rare...usually, they'll retreat when they realize their intended "prey" isn't going to be an easy meal. (And if worse came to worst, he did have that shotgun!)
3. The Overly Bold Bull
This video offers yet another proof that you should never, ever feed the animals. Although the photographer set himself up at a safe distance, this young bull elk was so used to being fed by humans that he not only approached, but got more than a little testy when no food was forthcoming. Sadly, this caught-on-tape attack wasn't this animal's first offense, and the National Park Service elected to cull the animal to ensure the safety of park visitors.
4. If Called By a Panther, Don't Anther
With all due apologies to Ogden Nash, there has to be very little in nature that would be more unnerving than realizing that you're being stalked by a mountain lion. At several points in the video, the lion gets dizzyingly close—especially considering that these cats are capable of leaping 10 yards at a bound. The good news is that, after an initial short and panicked dash, the photographer quickly calms down and does exactly what you're supposed to do: He stops running, faces the animal, stands tall, slowly moves out of its way to give it an "out," and challenges it loudly with his voice.
5. All He Wants To Do Is, All He Wants To Do is Dance!
Not all of the critters you'll see in the wild are out to attack. Some of them, like this bear our own American Rifleman assistant editor Chris Olsen caught on camera, just want to party the night away.
1. The One That Got Away
When this fisherman set out to while away his morning catching fish, he probably wasn't hoping to put a water moccasin in his creel...but that's almost what happened. Luckily for him, not only does it turn out that bashing a cottonmouth with your fishing rod serves as a pretty good deterrent, but he also has the footage to prove to his friends that this is one "fish story" that's totally true. Click here (if you're not ophidiophobic) to watch!
2. The Curious Case of the Cocky Coyote
This turkey hunter wound up getting just a little bit more than he bargained for when he attracted the attention of a very curious coyote. Click here to watch just how close a call it turns out to be. What's the takeaway? Well, judging by the camera angle, the hunter is seated the entire time the 'yote is approaching him. When it finally decides to charge, he stands up—which makes the dog turn tail (literally) immediately. Coyotes can and do attack humans, but it's rare...usually, they'll retreat when they realize their intended "prey" isn't going to be an easy meal. (And if worse came to worst, he did have that shotgun!)
3. The Overly Bold Bull
This video offers yet another proof that you should never, ever feed the animals. Although the photographer set himself up at a safe distance, this young bull elk was so used to being fed by humans that he not only approached, but got more than a little testy when no food was forthcoming. Sadly, this caught-on-tape attack wasn't this animal's first offense, and the National Park Service elected to cull the animal to ensure the safety of park visitors.
4. If Called By a Panther, Don't Anther
With all due apologies to Ogden Nash, there has to be very little in nature that would be more unnerving than realizing that you're being stalked by a mountain lion. At several points in the video, the lion gets dizzyingly close—especially considering that these cats are capable of leaping 10 yards at a bound. The good news is that, after an initial short and panicked dash, the photographer quickly calms down and does exactly what you're supposed to do: He stops running, faces the animal, stands tall, slowly moves out of its way to give it an "out," and challenges it loudly with his voice.
5. All He Wants To Do Is, All He Wants To Do is Dance!
Not all of the critters you'll see in the wild are out to attack. Some of them, like this bear our own American Rifleman assistant editor Chris Olsen caught on camera, just want to party the night away.
