Apr
Taking care of a pet can be difficult sometimes. Buying specific pet-friendly foods, watching over them, troublesome baths, and more. It is tough. These don’t compare to protecting your pet from other animals though, as these scenarios can end up much worse than forgetting to bathe your dog. That is why it’s important to know which animals pose the biggest risk to yours.
This article will cover the top five most threatening animals to keep your pet away from. We’ll provide the animal names with a little tidbit on why and how you should watch out for them.
Number 5: Skunks
These popular little animals are less of an immediate danger to your pets than some other examples, although there are still many reasons to watch out for them. Skunks’ nasty defense mechanism, launching putrid liquid at animals, is incredibly foul. While animals aren’t likely to forget this encounter, thanks to the scent alone, danger doesn’t stop there. Skunks hold some rather large claws built for digging, that work equally well for attacking. If you can smell a skunk nearby, maybe watch your pets when they go outside, at least for a little while.
Number 4: Snakes
Everybody knows how dangerous snakes can be. Countries hold millions of snakes, across dozens of species of snakes. The fortunate thing is that most snake bites are not life-threatening, although that definitely doesn’t mean you should ignore them. Only a few species of snakes are poisonous, although all have fangs that can legitimately hurt a pet. That’s why it’s important to watch out for snakes, clear large piles of leaves, and know what to do if your pet has been attacked. Antivenom has been developed for most types of venomous snakes, meaning that there’s a good chance you can save a pet from dangerous venom. Visit pestcontrolsnake.com to learn more about preventing and removing snakes from your property.
Number 3: Porcupines
While porcupines are adorable to thousands across the globe, their barbed hairs aren’t. Porcupines have loosely embedded barbs, one of the unique aspects of them. These barbs are dangerous enough, when an animal contacts them, although they’re so loose that oftentimes they can fly out before contact. When it comes to the aggressor, the porcupine isn’t often the culprit, since dogs, for example, find the weird-shaped, slow-moving porcupine an interesting play toy. Make sure to watch out for these adorable, but dangerous little animals.
Number 2: Raccoons
Raccoons are remarkably dangerous, although they don’t often act first against a pet. The danger from these little animals comes from their sharp little claws and the chance for rabies. Raccoons are one of the top four carriers of rabies, and they are found in nearly every part of North America. But, as mentioned, there’s little reason to be afraid unless your pet is aggravating the raccoon. Even still, it’s important to watch out for raccoons outside, especially since pets can get rabies from bites or even saliva if they’re not vaccinated.
Number 1: Coyotes
Coyotes are the most likely animal, out of this list, to attack a pet out of pure aggression. There’s even a high chance that coyotes could be actively preying on your pet. Moreover, coyotes are more likely to kill a smaller pet, such as a cat, than injure them. That’s why it’s important to make sure that your pets are in a safe place, or you watch them at night. Remember, coyotes can weigh around 30 pounds (13.61 kg) and run upwards of 30 miles per hour (48.28 km/h). The good news out of all of this, is their distinct howls and yelps, signaling that it’s probably a good idea to keep your pet inside for the time being.
Has your furry friend ever been in a hostile encounter with a wild animal? Feel free to share your story in the comment section below.
