Artsmith Loc: Grayson, Georgia

I got these photos in a email and they started me to think...shooting BIF or gators or in fact any wildlife could be hazardous to ones health. Have any of our UHH members got any stories to share for educational purposes. So we will know what not to do>

coatachrome

Hello Artsmith, Coatachrome here. While I've never had anything happen to me as dramatic as your photos, I had a job for the state photographing a culvert scheduled for some renovation. I'd been walking around for about 20 minutes shooting GPS tagged images at the north end when I noticed a single Canadian Goose bobbing its head up and down and watching me. The closer I got the more defensive the goose became, hissing and displaying its wings. Look, it's just a damn goose, right? I needed to get some close photos of that particular area because of the depression in the ground. The closer I got the more actively defensive the goose became. Then I noticed the nest and the goslings. Suddenly the male, I presume it was the male because it was not on the nest, gets airborne and swoops down on me. I ducked, lost my balance, fell over, and then another goose was right on top of me biting and scratching my face, while the other continued to swoop down, knocking off my hat. I felt like the main attraction in another rendition of "The Birds." My face was badly scratched, my fingers swollen from being bitten, my hat carried off by some insane Canadian Goose, and my pride was damaged beyond belief. Not to mention the hazing I had to put up with when I made my presentation displaying my band-aids. And now I have a healthy respect for those friggin geese.

Copper Canon Loc: Oxfordshire UK

Sometimes I'm not impressed living in the UK, the weather is wholly unpredictable, the Government are mostly incompetent and overpaid, ...sorry that last point applies most everywhere.
This article however reminds me that while we commonly get rain in the midst of summer, we dont have gators, poisonous spiders, huge bears, huge birds of prey prepareded to take on a fully grown man. Hell its not so bad here, thanks for reminding me how good it is :)

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

#3 just proves to me that those who kayak around Florida on those "beauuutiifulll" little streams and lakes are asking for it.....

Artsmith Loc: Grayson, Georgia

Damn! Marking geese off my list. We have a lot of them that stop in Georgia on their migration. But don't see any nests.

Artsmith Loc: Grayson, Georgia

I am waiting to hear from the Alaskan & MT Shooter or that nut who posted all those different species of rattlesnakes.

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

actually having been chased by a goose and nipped in the arse by said creature i have a healthy respect for those vicious but oh so tasty birds!!! Fois de grasse anyone? somewhere i heard that the RAF used geese as guard birds on some of their bases, and in Scotland some of the distilleries use them to protect the scotch.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Please don't be offended...
The proper name for the bird is Canada Goose, not Canadian.
Scientific (Biological) name is Branta Canadensis

Mean if scared or protecting nest. But I guess you all know that now!

DaveHam Loc: Reading UK

I do a lot of wildlife photography in Africa where apart from the obvious dangers (lion, hippo, etc.) things like impala and small buck can do you harm as well if you get in their space or they perceive you as a threat. Most wildlife instinctively reacts to man, must be something to do with our having killed huge quantities for food and 'sport'. There is one golden rule; don't invade the animals space! If you do expect it to react. If an animal has young double the amount of space you give it!

Most animals have a comfort zone. Outside that they will show awareness of you but will not take flight or attack you. Outside the comfort zone all is well; inside it you are at risk!

lachmap Loc: Sydney Australia

Geese? Ha!!! Take a look at this video taken of me photographing a python near Sydney, Australia. It had had a meal of something, perhaps a possum, and couldn't move much except for the metre or so of its body in front of the meal (the lump you can see is the meal). I thought it had gone for the other guy, but when I saw the vid I was a bit dumbstruck. Of course my kids say "Dad, the snake attacks and you go straight back to getting photos!!". You might also see me chimping there too!!! Freeze it at 28 or 29 seconds and you can see how wide its mouth can open up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk2mBxpJFTs

Fat Gregory Loc: Southern New Jersey

Most Owls can put on quite an attack display. Tough to photograph if you are running for your life.

lachmap Loc: Sydney Australia

By the way, here are some pics of the snake. Trouble was it was a dull day and so the ISO had to be up and still I got a lot of blur. Plus had a devil of a time getting focus, as you can see in the second pic.

Ready to strike

konica135 Loc: Ormond Beach, FL

Mean if scared or protecting nest. But I guess you all know that now![/quote]

For humans, it's called the Castle Doctrine or stand your ground right.

mafadecay Loc: Wales UK

I have had a few close encounters with police, bouncers and security guards whilst taking images. Also nearly got trampled by a horse and run over by cars a few times. The eagle owl in my avitar wanted me dead. She was tethered to a post or stand thing and with wingspan of getting close to a metre. She was flapping and dragging the stand towards me.

Oh and the Queen's security and snipers paid particular close attention to me. Enough to have the head security guy pick me out from a crowd and check my gear.

mafadecay Loc: Wales UK

Here they are.

Police Snipers checking me out!