Wild animals territorial?

Question

Ever had something negative happen because you disturbed wild animals in their natural habitat (like scaring birds from a nesting tree or chase away squirrels living under/near your cabin)?

Answer 1

Once I came a cross a young woodcock while I was working out near a plantation. I nearly stepped on the little thing, but I saw it at the last minute and decided to pick it up and have a closer look at it. Since I had to get back to work I decided I would put the little guy back. I took it over to the edge of the woods just about 10 feet from where I found it and tossed it into the long grass.
What happened next surprised me, I actually threw the bird onto the back of a young deer that was using the long grass for cover, the young animal jumped up about 3 feet into the air, it scared me, scared the woodcock and by the height of the deer's leap it was obviously scared as well

It was a crazy animal chain reaction of fear!

Answer 2

Wild animals often have multiple factors that increase a more common instance of violence, while domestic animals are often bred to have a more docile relation. For example (docile) A fox skinning company had a difficult time with their animals as they were very aggressive. They tried an experiment, allowing only the rare timid fox males to breed. The results were astonishing. Within one or two generations, psychological tendencies were apparent as well as subtle visual changes (the foxes looked more cuddly). By following this practice, the job of the fox skinners became extremely less difficult to keep these foxes. (wild and aggressive) Wild animals (particularly mammals and carnivores) often display tendencies to use their particular defensive skills against humans who threaten them. Mammals are particularly dangerous, as it has been shown that they come equipped with a personality (subject to emotions) and can become aggressive and annoyed due to this personality. They do not have breeding to subdue this (review docile example) and as such their instincts often take over. This is why experts will always say that a wild animal never makes a good pet. (They have not been genetically preconditioned to allow for human dominance)

Answer 3

I came up on a wolves den in spring, once. The pups were out under the watchful eye of the alpha female. She did not even have time to give a warning snarl, as I retreated instantly. More out of chagrin that I had miscalculated the distance to the observation point, than danger.

Answer 4

I was riding my horse through the woods in Washington state. Her hoof broke through the top layer of earth, and went into a yellow jacket nest.

My horse and I had hundreds of stings on the right side of our bodies. Not fun...very painful!