Mounted search and rescue

["Jorene Downs" <Jorene@CEOates.com>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Barnard" <rb4bar@quixnet.net>
> I've read with interest all of the comments regarding guns and MSAR. One
> thing I find lacking in the discussion is the potential of hostile
> creatures. Most of our missions are in wilderness areas. I've never felt
the
> need to arm myself against human hostiles, but I've seen plenty of bear
> signs and I'm told lions are in the area. [...]

Since others haven't commented on this issue, I'll contribute an opinion. ;)

Hopefully in your SAR briefing you are advised of current possible local
hazards and how to address them. That should include everything from
poisonous plants and critters to unsafe terrain/water to reports of a bear
raiding camps. If that information is missing, [tactfully] remind SAR
management it should be included.

While you need to consider human and horse safety, the area where you might
encounter the wild animal is likely a national park or forest ... with
related suggestions for dealing with the area and the wild inhabitants.
There are also legal issues regarding shooting various wildlife - in general
be sure the threat to life is imminent for any self-defense/defense of
others shooting.

You should [pre-plan] also be aware of issues that would likely pertain to
any longer stay, like appropriate methods for tying / confining livestock,
bear-proof food issues, etc. And riders should inquire about current
available water sources for their horse on any long search mission, as well
as possible grazing in the area for a potential overnight. We always have a
representative from the Park/Forest at the Wilderness SAR ICP to pick
his/her brain on hazards, water availability, etc., since they'll know the
current status of their area better than we will. Keep in mind if the water
is limited, local wildlife will also be using that source ... including the
predators, potentially putting you in their path for both water consumption
and hunting area.

The potential for wild predator attacks increase when the animals locally
are driven by hunger, or a mother is protecting a baby. When weather, fire,
injury, etc., has greatly reduced the animal's normal feed and water
sources, in desperation they will be far more bold around humans and
potentially venture into more populated areas in an effort to survive. If
this kind of situation exists in the extended SAR region, the potential for
a wild animal attack - normally rare - increases for the searchers, as does
the threat to the MP who is even more vulnerable since s/he is most likely
alone and perceived as more vulnerable prey than a group of people. However,
that group of searchers bearing food could be the target for a camp raid.

Sound Attraction is the most common search technique - whistle, calling the
MP's name, etc. The vast majority of animals will hear you coming and stay
out of your way. Perhaps you'll see their tracks or get a visual of the
departing animal. If you happen to be following MP tracks and have the
tracking skills to realize a predator is following the MP tracks, the IC
should be notified immediately. Odds are the animal isn't an actual threat
to the lost human - use of that trail may be coincidence for a limited
distance instead of stalking. But the potential is there ... particularly if
the MP is injured, leaves a blood trail or blood scent, carries an obvious
scent of food, or is somehow obviously more vulnerable prey in that animal's
perception. The odds for possible predator attack will increase.

Prevention is a safety issue - avoiding the mom and baby so the perceived
threat is reduced by distance, reducing the advertising you have food or are
somehow vulnerable to a hungry predator, choosing camp sites further from a
limited water source, etc.  Any encounters with aggressive wild animals
should be reported immediately to the ICP so others can be notified of the
hazard and local authorities can do follow-up.

If a predator exhibits aggressive behavior - assuming you aren't hanging
around a camp fire, with fire as a natural deterrent - the first effort
should be to scare the animal off with excessive loud noise. This might
include whistle blasts, yelling, and possibly warning shots fired. (More on
warning shots below.) Are your MSAR team horses desensitized for this? Also,
a mounted ranger in Yosemite once told me they used scented bear skin, etc.,
to desensitize their wilderness livestock. An option worth considering if
skin and scent is available for MSAR training.

If the animal is hungry, it might be distracted by food placed in its path
while you quietly retreat. Otherwise the non-weapon defense recommended is
usually to "play dead" and hope the animal looses interest and you survive
the mauling.

If the predator is close enough to be within fatal handgun range and is
showing very aggressive behavior, a rider would likely be more concerned
with controlling / staying on a scared horse doing a fast exit. (Prey animal
survival instincts overriding training.) If the animal is attacking /
pursuing, shooting with any degree of accuracy from a rapidly moving horse
at a moving target isn't a skill set most of us have. Also, if the loud
noise doesn't work and the predator attacks, and you've been using the gun
for noise, I hope you carry a real fast method for reloading and can do so
potentially on a fast moving horse over uneven ground.

If the rider ends up on foot with a predator on the attack, while a very
rare occurrence, the situation reinforces my preference for packing the
weapon on your person, readily accessible. The gun in the saddlebag won't do
you much good as the horse disappears over the horizon in full flight mode,
or is stored on the other side of camp.

Also remember fundamental weapon safety issues if random warning shots are
fired - be aware of what is behind / near the target, the bullet has the
potential to ricochet, and what goes up will come down. In many situations
warning shots would not be a good strategy. I'd save the ammo for a possible
shoot to kill defense situation unless you have ample time for reloading,
and have practiced speed loading.

Staying calm and engaging the brain is obviously preferred and increases
chances for survival. Not as easy as it sounds when an animal - 2 or 4
legged - is attacking. Even experienced hunters would be in an unaccustomed
situation, with a role reversal of being the potential prey. And generally
hunters don't use handguns. Your shooting accuracy at distance X at the
range will be greatly reduced when under the stress of attack. Odds are the
shot would wound instead of kill, creating an injured predator more likely
to seek easier prey ... like an unarmed human.

So the choices for using a gun against a wild animal attack seems to be
"perhaps" do warning shots, and otherwise shoot to kill and keep shooting
with accuracy to confirm the kill. Not easy with a handgun and a moving
target, with the kill range notably closer than with a rifle. And how many
of us train with handguns shooting at moving targets?

Luckily there aren't many instances of predators attacking humans. A bit of
online research indicates venomous snakes claim an average of 15 lives per
year in the USA, and 7,000 non-fatal snakebites are reported annually. 45
fatal black bear attacks in North America since 1900, with 3/4 in Canada.
37 mountain lion attacks on hikers in the 1990s, with 7 of those fatal.

Locally we have plenty of predators in the backcountry, including bears and
big cats. And the huge McNalley fire changed a lot of hunting grounds for
surviving predators. But what we're most likely to encounter is a
rattlesnake blocking a narrow trail. Depending on the situation, a tracking
stick can be useful in flinging a snake way off the trail. Alternatively,
snake load in the handgun at close range with accurate aim has dispatched
some larger rattlers that could potentially strike most of the length of the
tracking stick. While knowledge about predators is important for safety, I
hope those with venomous snakes in their potential search areas have
pre-planned with training and supplies to deal with human and horse snake
bites, since that is statistically more likely to occur than a predator
attack.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jorene Downs
Tulare Co, CA
SAR, MSAR, Swiftwater Rescue, US&R,
Hasty Team, ICP
www.CEOates.com/sar