If you were being attacked by a wild animal, would you kill it?

Question

I cannot imagine being faced with this choice, because I would never put myself in this position, but if a freakish accident happened and I found myself in the wilds of Africa or Alaska, or floating in the Pacific, for instance, no, I wouldn't. I would try to run away, or hide, or scare it away, but I would never kill it.

I would rather be dead myself and it would be my fault, for placing myself in its world. Most humans seem to think they have the right to expect all environments to adjust for them, and I do not believe this is just. We might be the most powerful and selfish and destructive of the animals, but we are not the most valuable, because we are selfish and destructive.

Thanks to all of you that have replied so far. I am an atheist and don't believe I was made in anything's image. I believe my species evolved, as all have.

I know that my civilization has destroyed habitats and I do what I can to stop that as a member of certain groups. Personally, I feed all the displaced creatures in my area, raccoons, 'possums, feral domestic animals, birds, squirrels, mice, anything really, of which I become aware. I also donate to Humane Societies and various Wildlife Rescue and Preservation groups.

Some things, to me, are more important than self preservation. In the instance of the lion, yes, I would run until she caught me. In the instance of the bad part of town, I spent years in the bad parts of many towns, because I was a social worker. I never had a gun, nor needed one, but if threatened by a human and I had a gun, I would shoot to kill. Humans intend malice, I have never known a malicious animal.

Additional note: I have spent much time in wilderness areas and have never been attacked, really I have seen few animals in the wild. I was taught that animals mostly avoid people, when they can, and that if I make noise they will leave, so I do, and I assume they do, also, because we seldom accost each other.

Another note: I don't deny there is death in the wild, and not so wild. Two of my own cats are fearsome hunters, no matter how many times I have tried to bell them and I love them none the less. But most of you have missed the core of my belief; we are sentient beings and have the ability to choose, my cats and any others mentioned, are not and do not.

Answer 1

I agree but if I was attacked my instincts would be to defend myself even if it means killing the animal. But seriously, I know that you would defend yourself even if it means that you were to kill the animal if you were faced with this situation.

Answer 2

Let me start by saying if I was being attacked by an animal, I would have not done things the right way. Yes I would KILL any animal that was trying to hurt me or my family or friends. It would never get that far with me. I grew up hunting in Montana, Alaska, Afica, and many other beautiful states and counties with my father. I was taught how to keep my self alive. I'm sorry but it's ignorant people like you that feel oh I will let the animal kill me because they where here first and we are in there environment. Sorry Buddy this is not a reality tv show that takes all the predators out of the picture. This is real life. Killing an animal is always my last resort. I always carry a 1911 ACP45 cal hand gun and a 22 cal Rifle with me. Oh and trust me I have back up magazines and ammo. So if a predator was coming at me I would make myself look bigger yelling and screaming waving my arms, and throwing rocks at the animal to let them no I'm not going to be on there dinner plate. If they proceed them it's time to drop them with my 45 Cal. You better believe there will be no hesitation on pulling that trigger. I would rather go to court or jail then become a mean for a predator and turning into a steaming hot turn. No thank you. When I was out in the bush on my hunts you better believe when I was in my tent sleeping I had my 45 loaded and ready to shoot anything that is going to attrack us. I'm so sick of people talking about the poor animals and killing them. Do your research people. If they are not reduced in numbers they will over populate and take over. Educate yourself so and be smart. If you don't want to be armed carry Bear spray. Wake up people.

Answer 3

I think it is supremely difficult to answer this question without having been in this situation. Its the same when people say, I would have done this and not that. Until you are actually in those shoes, you cant with 100% truth and honesty say what you would do.

Feel free to put yourself above those that have done something out of self preservation, but dont judge those that have done something you dont agree with.

taking your example. Your on the Sarengeti, You are walking along. Suddenly a lion steps on the trail in front of you. No where to hide, you certainly aint going to outrun it and I dare say, he wont be too afraid of you. Your just going to stand there while it attacks or turn and run till it catches you, THEN just die?

You should get points for knowing exactly what you will do in that situation. Me, I'm not so sure. I;m not selfish or destructive, but I do have a sense of self-preservation. What gives that lion any more right to live than me?

Good question. Made me think.

Answer 4

I love how people who claim to love, admire, and support nature and the environment constantly prove that they have absolutely NO grasp of either natural law OR the environment. It's a very simple concept to grasp people, wild animals KILL things.

Go ahead, point to a house cat and tell me how kind, loving, and gentle it is. Your comment about being willing to kill a human and not an animal because you've never seen an animal with malicious intent? Have you ever seen a house cat with a mouse? I have 4, and you should see what they can do to a full grown field rabbit! Make no mistake, if you've run into a wild animal and it ran from you, it's because it 'knew' it couldn't take you on. That's why deer run and bears... well they eat people like you.

As far as human beings being destructive... God am I tired of that argument. Do you realize that we have more forest land in the United States today than when Columbus landed? Don't believe me? Look it up! See, before we came to this country, these things called FOREST FIRES decimated large tracts of forest every year, blazing uncontrolled until they ran out of fuel. Now, with us here to stop them, the animals have their precious living space. Name another species that sets aside land that it WON'T live in? How many bears started nature preserves?

Even if you don't believe in God, or even human superiority, you can't escape the thing you claim to love, 'nature'. Nature dictates that if something is trying to harm me, my people, or my family, I will do everything in my power to protect them. And do you know who would be the first to agree with me? Your friend the bear. Try walking up to one of it's cubs, it will be quite the learning experience.

Edit: I just wanted to say that I find it ironic that you tried to counter my argument by saying we're 'self aware' and animals are not. Ignoring the obvious problem with that argument (IE. That many animals actually meet the criteria of 'sentient beings') I might point out that one of the benchmarks for self awareness is a desire to avoid physical harm and death. So by your own argument, it's our drive to survive at any cost that actually grants us our much-vaunted 'sentience'.

Answer 5

REALLY? Not a single animal was displaced to build your home? None of their food was plowed under to grow your food? No road you drive on disrupts any creatures' habitat in any way?

BE REALISTIC.

You can, do, and are killing animals on a DAILY basis. Make no mistake - they were here LONG before your house or your car. You ARE in their habitat and are destroying them nontheless.

So the question is really whether you are going to continue your pretense of non-violence, or whether you are going to accept that if you have to kill things to stay alive then so be it. You can minimize your footprint, but for now there is NO way to eliminate it.

No offense, but if you think animals are not malicious, then you really don't know very many animals. I invite you to watch a cat play with a mouse some time. Some will literally let them go and re-catch them for pleasure. And then eat them. The mouse is terrified. The cat is having a good time.

I'm sorry. But it's just true.

Answer 6

it really depends what kind of animal i am attacked by and what i have at my disposal. if i'm attacked by a bear id...well it doesnt matter cuz its a bear and im surely dead. i guess i'd play dead in that situation. humans are the most cunning of all creatures. we are incredibly intelligent and the way we survive is by changing stuff to suit us. yes we are selfish, hell we all are, animals too. it's just a part of our survival. from a scientific pov, we are selfish because we want the safest environment for our offsprings. also, it attacts mates. humans are attracted to sucessfull people. humans,although civilized, still have survival instincts. when you are attacked by an animal your survial instinct will ususally kick it, the fight or flight response. some peole are paralyzed with fear, those are the weak. the weak die, the strong survive. that's the way it all works

Answer 7

In less than a heartbeat. Been there done that and will again if need be to survive. I am a human at the top of the food chain and intend on staying there. I will send ya pics of the 3lb. chunk of meat ripped out of my leg by a 1200 pound grizz right before I blew it to hell with a 45-70 co-pilot. Dont get me wrong I like animals but when I get hungry I go out and kill them and eat them, kinda of a lack of grocery stores around these parts.

Answer 8

Darwin was obviously wrong - and you are the proof. Ever heard of "survival of the fittest"? If you are attacked it makes no difference where you are or what the circumstances are at the time. It is kill or be killed and I guarantee the wild animal doesn't give a rats *** about your pacifistic nature. Stay in the city where you belong and don't go into the woods. I'd hate to hear about your mostly eaten body being found anywhere near my part of the world.

Answer 9

First, what is wild? Frankly, I, myself, am wild. I would never go into another animal's environ simply to kill it. But, if I find myself in their environ, then it is my job to stay alive until I can get out again. If that means killing them then they are dead. Period.

If some fool goes into the woods and gets mauled by a bear, should they go back and kill that bear? No. But should that dude put up a fight, hells yeah!!

And honey, I know you think you woulnd't, but instincts are there for reasons and, I garauntee you, when something starts chewing on you, you WILL fight. Regardless. Don't kid yourself.

Answer 10

I would kill anything that attacked me. It wouldn't matter what was or wasn't going through it's mind. Actions speak louder than words!

I'm not so sure they're not capable of malice. Aren't there chimpanzees, for example, who've been known to be serial killers? I don't think every animal is as "dumb" and innocent as people would sometimes like to believe.

Also, if you love animals and want to help them, you can do much more alive than you can do dead.

You also have to consider that if that animal succeeds in killing you, people are going to go out, find it and kill it. They won't care about your personal philosophy, they'll care about protecting other people who might encounter it. Whether you kill it, or they do, it will die.

Answer 11

God created this earth for man and everything in it is for man's sake. So, yes, if faced with the choice of life or death for me, I would kill the animal. You may be an atheist, but this is the ultimate truth. Also, I am positive that if you found yourself in a very dangerous and dire situation with a deadly animal, you would not think twice before killing it. You may preach all you want, but you love yourself more than that animal. It is not wrong or selfish- it is the human code to survival.