4 Animal Attack Myths: You May Want To Think Before Peeing On That Jellyfish Sting
What’s the old saying? Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. People in the United States have very little to worry about when it comes to dangerous animals as opposed to people in animal attack capitals of the world, such as Australia and Africa. All the same, it’s best to know what you’re up against in case you come into contact with some of nature’s deadliest predators. With summer in full swing, it’s likely that many of us will be traveling to areas of America with formidable wildlife. Let’s take a look at some of the most common animal attack myths that could be fooling you.
Peeing On A Jellyfish Sting
Fourth of July weekend is finally here and the beaches are going to be packed. With all of those bodies in one designated swimming area, jellyfish stings will be all too common. A school of jellyfish pulsating through the water is a picturesque sight, but it’s important to remember that each of those umbrella-shaped invertebrates come equip with long tentacles attached to thousands of microscopic barbed stingers capable of injecting you with venom. Contrary to what you saw in that one movie, do not pee on a jellyfish sting.
Sucking Snake Venom Out Of A Bite Wound
Cutting X’s over a snakebite and sucking out the venom may make for a good scene in a Western movie, but doing so in real life won’t help anyone out. The venom from most snakes makes its way through the human lymphatic system almost immediately after its injected. Having enough time to cut deep enough into the wound and suck hard enough to get enough of the venom out is nearly impossible.
Sharks Can Smell A Drop Of Blood In The Ocean From Miles Away
Sharks have a tremendous sense of smell, but a single drop of blood in the ocean is a stretch even for this apex predator. Unlike human nostrils, shark nostrils are used solely for smelling and not breathing. They are also lined with specialized olfactory cells capable of identifying dissolves chemicals from the water. Due to the sensitivity of their olfactory cells, sharks can detect small amounts of certain chemicals found in the ocean.
Bears Can Smell The Menstruation
No Brick, they can’t.
Back in 1967, two women were attacked and killed by a grizzly bear in Montana’s Glacier National Park. It was determined that one of the women was on her period and the other was carrying tampons. Following this event, the Park Service and other wildlife agencies started warning women that menstruation could trigger a bear attack.
