Nature's Path... Lesson Two

Look Around You.

In Romans 1:19-23, the scripture says, what may be known about God is plain because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities -- his eternal power and divine nature -- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles."

Nature is wonderful, but God is not nature. God created nature, and by seeing nature, enjoying the natural world, we can better understand how awesome God really is. Christians are not to have a pantheistic view of God because God is not simply a force that drives the natural world. God is so much more than that! He is the Creator, the Sustainer and the one who set it all into motion, in other words, God is the mastermind behind it all and each thing is remarkable in it's own way.

Look at the trees and plants.

You have learned to identify some plants and trees, but while you are hiking, there are many other things to look for and look out for. You need to keep your ears and eyes, open and attentive to what is around you in your surroundings, pay attention to the path you are on. If you fail to to be alert, and to stay on the right path, you may get hurt or get stuck in the wild longer than you planned, even be unable to find your way home.

Just like someone could go on a hike and encounter dangers, there are dangers in the world we need to be able to identify and avoid. Just as someone could miss seeing cool stuff, as they are hiking, a person can miss seeing cool stuff in life, and just as you wouldn't know what trail to take without direction, or could get lost and not make it home, if you deviated from the right paths, a person can go through life lost in the wilds, and never know the way home, the way to heaven.

The Bible says that people need to know and hear the truth and make the decision to do the things that are right and good. But people often go though life doing what they please instead of what pleases God, and the do not know what pleases God, because they do not know God. They often want to invent a god of their own, one like them, of their own devise. The Bible tells us that we are slow to pay attention to the things of God, slow to listen to the prophets, and heed the warning signs. We have no idea where such ways will take us until it’s too late

Some people think that they need no one to tell them anything or correct their bad behavior when they are wrong. All the while, they do not think about the consequences and they have no idea where their misguided choices and thinking will take them, (hell) because blinded by sin, and rebellion to God they are looking at other things.

Jesus said, "Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
(Matthew 13:13-18)

One way to mitigate the dangers of hiking is to know what dangers their are and how to best respond in a threatening situation. While there are many things that could happen that would not be good, you do not have to be afraid, you just need to know what you are dealing with and what to do.
This week’s lesson is about animals that can be a threat or danger when hiking and how to respond.

Before reading head, test yourself:
What do you do when a moose is coming at you?
What do you do when a cougar is stalking you?
What if you spot a mother bear with cubs on a trail?
What if someone in your group gets stung by a bee?
How do you remove a tick without matches?

Think you know? Read on.


Animal Awareness

MOOSE

At least 1,000 moose are estimated to live in Washington. Almost all are in the northeastern counties of Pend Oreille, Stevens, and Spokane. A male moose, called a bull, can weigh between 850 and 1,100 pounds. Adult females, called cows, weigh between 600 and 800 pounds. These are large animals and encountering one who does not like your presence can be a big problem.

Breeding occurs in the fall and single or twin calves are usually born in June. Remember that adults will be protective of their young. you will want to know what actions to take if you encounter one of these enormous animals on the trail.

Keep in mind that where there are moose, particularly in calving season, there are probably black bears and cougars too for they are moose predators and calves are easy prey. If you live where there are grizzly bears and wolves, remember that they prey on moose calves too.

Most people like to see moose because they're so large and they really do not shy away from people as deer, appearing more docile or even curious. But something to remember about moose is that they are really… really big, and being as big as they are, they can be dangerous, especially if they charge. Most of the time a charge from a moose is simply a warning signal, telling the opponent to stay away, but a charging moose is still a charging moose and his action should be taken seriously. Even a moose calf, weighing in at 300 to 400 pounds is big enough to cause you some damage if they should run into you.

Hikers need to know that a moose that sees you and walks slowly towards you is not looking for you to pet him. This is a warning and he is warning you to keep away. If the moose has been fed before he may be looking for food, and a hungry moose is not something you want to mess with either. Moose often signal an attack by laying its ears straight back and stomping the ground. The hairs on their back raise up and then they will start swinging their head in your direction. If you see it licking its lips, he is telling you that you are way too close for his comfort.

If this occurs, back off. Look for the nearest tree, fence, building or other obstruction to hide behind. Unlike other face to face situations with animals, like cougars, bears or dogs, it's usually a good idea to run from a moose. the reason is that a moose, usually won't chase you very far. You can run around a tree or other obstacle faster than a moose can.

If for some reason a moose knocks you down, curl up in a ball, protect your head with your arms and hands, and hold still until you know what the moose will do next. Don't move or try to get up until the moose moves a safe distance away.


BEAR

Look for bear signs when hiking. Get to know what their droppings, tracks, digging, claw and bite marks on trees look like. When you are hiking, the further away from the bear you are the better. This is because bears are unpredictable. If you do encounter a bear, never show fear by screaming, running or yelling. Simply say what you have to say to those around you in a low tone of voice and slowly back away. Bears can run as fast as horses do, you cannot; so do not run from them. Also do not climb a tree to get away from them. Grizzly and black bears know very well how to climb trees.

Wondering how you would not SHOW FEAR in such a situation as this? It might be hard, but remember, God put a fear of man into the animals and He is watching over us. Talk in low tone of voice, Keep your eye on the animal without starring into his eyes, and slowly back away. Bear Spray is helpful to have when you are hiking where bears are possibly encounter. They do not always work, but they can be a good last resort.

Bears have a personal space and chances are, you are in it if you see one. A bear will defend his space and they do not like to be surprised by intruders, so as you are hiking in known bear country, talking loudly, sing songs, or wear a bell so that you do not surprise a bear. Also, never attempt to feed a wild bear.

Also take note that bears are attracted by smells and they can smell your tasty snacks real well. Garbage attracts them too. Airtight food containers help keep scents down, and if you are camping, garbage should be sealed too so that they do not get a scent of it.

Keep your distance from bears. Avoid up close contact with them. If you want to take a picture, of a bear that you do see, use a telephoto lens instead of moving closer.

If you have a dog with you, keep your dog by your side and quiet, keep your dog from barking. Bears hate dogs and may be incited to attack. If possible leave your dog at home. When camping overnight in bear country, make sure to hang anything edible in a tree away from your tent at least 10 feet above the ground and 5 feet away from the tree trunk. When you are camping you never prepare store or eat food in your tent.

COUGARS

Cougars are also called mountain lions, puma or panther and are known to be in the wilds of Spokane. They eat mostly deer, although they will kill and eat wild sheep, elk, rabbits, raccoons, beaver and fowl and they have been known to go after livestock. They are most active at dusk and dawn, but can be seen anytime day or night, no matter the season. Carry a strong tall hiking stick that can be used as a weapon, if you are in cougar country.

Cougars are predators and are more likely to attack smaller children than adults. This is because children have higher voices and move fast like rabbits or other easy, (that is , what cougars think of as easy) prey. It's a really good idea to keep children close by and under the immediate control of an adult whenever you are hiking. Teach your hikers the importance of staying with the group.

Here is a good hiking practice:
Always be in eyesight range of the people ahead and behind you. If you cannot see someone, find out why. Stay together and watch out for each other on the trails. People could fall down a cliff, or perhaps meet up with an unexpected problem, and other people in your group would never know it if you are separated by a lot of distance. Never hike alone, groups offer more protection.

Try not to surprise a cougar, be noisy when hiking. If you do encounter a cougar, stay calm, and whatever you do, do not run. Stay calm, and never turn your back on a cougar. If there are children with you, pick them up as quickly as possible and look really… really big. Make sure you do not back the animal into a corner and he has a means of getting away from you.

If he comes towards you, throw rocks, speak loudly and fight back. With cougars, you want them to know you are a threat, not perceive you to be prey. Talk with confidence and remain upright, even use a branch or stick to make yourself look big and threatening. Remember that God put a fear of man into the animals. Use that top your advantage with a cougar.


COYOTES

Coyotes and other wild dogs, are generally fearful of humans, but can become bold or aggressive if they begin to associate humans with food. They're mainly active at dusk and dawn, but may be encountered at any time.

If you are threatened by a coyote, make yourself look bigger by raining your arms, holding a backpack over your head. Make loud noises.. yell at the dog, bang things together. Back away slowly while facing the coyote if it doesn't run away, but do not stare directly at it.

Don't turn your back or run away and fight back if the coyote attacks you. You’ve got a better chance of being hit by lightning than being attacked by a coyote, but still keep children and pets close to you while hiking. If you see a coyote without using binoculars, you can be certain he's already seen you.

Do not approach strange dogs at all, this means, and even someone else’s pet on a leash.
If a dog threatens you, stand very still and try to be very calm.
If the dog comes to sniff you, let it.
If you say anything, speak calmly and firmly.
If a dog attacks, give it anything that may distract it from biting you.
If you fall or are knocked down, curl into a ball with your hands over your head and neck. Do not scream or roll around.

Any time a warm-blooded animal (such as a dog, cat, skunk, fox, bat, etc) bites a person, there is a danger that the animal may be infected with rabies. If you or someone with you is bitten, take the following precautions:

Immediately and thoroughly wash the wound with plenty of soap and warm water. The idea is to remove as much dirt and saliva—and therefore, bacteria—as possible. It may hurt to scrub a wound, but an infection will hurt a lot more so scrub it well and run water over it for several minutes to make sure it is clean and all soap is rinsed out. Follow the washing with an antiseptic solution, such as iodine or other disinfectant, but always wash with soap and water first. Apply antibiotic ointment and cover the wound with gauze or a bandage.


INSECTS

Bees and Wasps
Do not wear any sweet smelling fragrances often found in after-shaves, colognes and perfume when you are hiking. Try bug repellent instead. Perfume will often attract flies, bees, and other insects that you really do not want to attract. Wear light colored clothing too. Looking like a brightly colored flower can attract bees.

Bees like sweet things, so they're drawn to soft drink cans. 'BE careful when you take a drink from a container with sweet stuff in it because it's not unusual for a bee to get inside and then sting someone on the lips or inside the mouth. Keep soda cans covered, or use bottles or thermoses that have caps, and replace the cap immediately after each drink.

Leave beehives and wasps nests alone. This would include ant nests and spider webs as well.

Bees will mostly attack when either trapped or agitated. Close any opening in your clothes that could trap bees between your skin and your clothing. If you are allergic bring an allergy kit with you. Tell the people in your group too. Be sure to keep up on the expiration date on your medicine.

If you are stung, immediately remove the stinger. Using scraping motion with a needle or knife , simply scrape the stinger out by moving it back, not forward. Avoid handling the stinger with your hands, as this will probably squeeze more venom into your skin. Use a cool towel or ice, (not directly on the skin) to help ease the pain.

Carry insect sting ointment in your first aid kit. A dab of a bit of household ammonia from a cotton pad works well to relieve pain. There are also products you can carry with you for this purpose. Also antihistamines, such as Benadryl can help relieve inflammation, itching and allergic reaction.

People who receive multiple bee stings or who are allergic to bee stings can go into anaphylactic shock, which could cause swelling, obstructing the airways. Remove the stingers and use antihistamine medication as soon as possible.

Ticks
One more unpleasantly of hiking is the tick. They have six legs if they are young and eight when they are mature. the size and appearance depend on the kind of tick they are. They feed on blood.

Physical contact is the only method of transportation for ticks from one person or animal to another as ticks do not jump or fly. They may drop from a tree or branch on to a host, but if you stay on groomed trails you are less likely to have a tick encounter than if you go off into the bruch. Be especially wary of ticks in the winter and spring months, when they are most prevalent.

Tick Protection:

Wear a hat, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, tucked into your pants.

Avoid walking through brush and tall grasses.

Spray exposed body areas with tick repellent (DEET) but avoid using repeated applications of on children. The product will repel ticks and it is said to be safe when used according to directions, but isn't meant for long-term (every day) use. It's also important to keep this product away from eyes and mouth.

Use the buddy system and search each other and yourself for ticks after walking in wooded areas. Pay special attention to finding them and remove any ticks you find right away. An adult tick can wander around the body looking for just the right place, usually a place with hair, for several hours before he finds a place to bite, be sure to check everywhere, and do not forget, under the arms and behind the ears.

The best way to remove a tick is by grasping it as close to your skin as possible, then pulling it gently and slowly straight out, without twisting or jerking it. Repeat, do not twist or jerk. A tweezers works so put that in your day pack. The use of organic solvents or oils to suffocate ticks and make them come out, or burning the tick with a match, should be avoided. They do not work and may risk having the tick to release more of its saliva into your bloodstream, so just pull the little sucker out. Be sure to pull the mouth parts out with the tweezers as you do not want to risk infection from having a foreign element stuck under the skin.

Ticks are bad because some, not all, of these little bloodsucking creatures carry diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. The best thing you can do is take precautions, and most importantly, know what ticks look like so that you can beat them at their game. If you find a tick on you and he's actually biting into your skin (not just crawling around), you should remove the tick, and take it to your doctor for examination to see if it is carrying Lyme disease.

Take a shower after outdoor activity and put clothes in the dryer if you think you have been around ticks. The dryer heat will kill ticks that may be in your clothes.