This document summarizes safety precautions for interacting with wild animals in Georgia, including mammals, snakes, spiders, and deer. It notes the most dangerous species in each category and provides tips for avoiding encounters. If bitten or attacked, it recommends remaining calm, cleaning wounds, immobilizing injured areas, and seeking immediate medical attention. Key precautions include properly storing food, being aware of high risk areas, wearing protective clothing in wooded areas, and knowing what to do and not do in case of a bite.

1. Animal Safety: Georgia’s Wild Animals
By: Kelly Fitzgerald

2. Georgia’s Most Dangerous Animals
• Mammals: Bobcats, Coyotes, Deer, Black
Bears, Raccoons, Opossums, and Foxes. As
well as feral animals like cats and dogs.
• Snakes: Copperhead, Rattle Snake, Coral
Snakes, and Water Moccasin (a.k.a
Cottonmouths)
• Spiders: Black Widow and Brown Recluse

3. Precautions with Wildlife: Mammals
• Rabies:
• “Symptoms of rabies can include
foaming at the mouth, erratic,
hyperactive behavior, and/or fearful,
paralyzed and lethargic behavior. If
you see any animal with symptoms of
rabies, stay away from it and call 911,
your closest Arizona Game and Fish
Department office, or a wildlife
control business immediately.
• Anyone bitten must immediately
seek medical attention from a
qualified health care provider.
Whenever possible, the animal
should be captured or killed and sent
to a laboratory for rabies testing.”
(Arizona Game and Fish)

4. Precautions with Wildlife: Mammals
Precautions when camping:
-Store away food and other scented items
securely.
-Stay alert at dawn and dusk.
-Go with a group, if possible.
-Stay away from animal carcasses.
-Always sleep inside your tent.
-Make your presence know.
-Carry pepper spray, or bear spray.
-If you see signs of an animal, leave the area.
-Do not attempt to touch, feed, or approach
any animals.
Precautions around your home:
-Dispose of trash carefully
-Install motion activated lights, or
noisemakers.
-Get one or more dogs.
-Put up fencing.
-Keep smaller animals inside at night.
-Do not feed wildlife.

5. Animal Encounter: Mammals
If you encounter a wild animal:
-If the animal see’s you from a distance, talk in a low calm voice and retreat slowly. Avoid
direct eye contact.
-If the animal gets closer, stand your ground, act aggressively, and try to look larger.
-Do not try and outrun the animal or climb a tree. Face the animal and walk backwards
slowly away from it.
Or if attacks:
- Use Bear Spray, or pepper spray.
-Throw something on the ground if the animal is chasing you.
-Always fight back.

6. Animal Safety: Deer
Vehicle collision:
-Deer are more active at
dusk and dawn.
-Be aware of deer crossing
signs and what they
mean.
-Drive slower at night.
-Be watchful of roadside
banks.
-Do not serve in attempt
to miss a crossing deer.

7. Animal Safety: Georgia’s Snakes
Florida Cottonmouth
Eastern cottonmouth
Southern Copperhead
Eastern Diamondback
Rattlesnake
Canebrake RattlesnakeDusky Pigmy Rattlesnake
Eastern Coral Snake

8. Animal Safety: Snake Precautions
-High risk areas:
-under/on rocks
-In sun spots
-In brush
-Water Bodies
-Forest lines
-Precautions:
-Always watch your step and
where you reach.
-Wear closed two shoes and
pants when in the woods.
-Walk around logs.
-Remove debris and wood
from your yard.

9. Animal Safety: Snakes
- If you encounter a snake:
-Stay Calm
-Move slowly away from the snake.
-Keep your distance.
-If you hear a snake, do not move until you
can locate the snake.
-What not to do if you are bitten:
-Do not panic, call 911.
-Do not attempt to restrict blood flow.
-Do not to attempt to suck the venom out.
-Do not drink caffeine or alcohol.
-Do not expose ice to the bite area.
- Do not use, or let the doctor use
antivenom until you are checked for
allergic reactions.
-Things to do if you are bitten:
-Remove rings, watches, or anything
else that might restrict blood flow.
-Cleanse the wound and wrap the
area.
-Use a splint to restrict movement.
-Apply cold washcloth or icepack to
victims forehead.
-Get medical assistance as soon as
possible.
-Use Antivenom only by a doctor.
-Try and identify the snake.
-Position yourself, if possible, so that
the bite is at or below the level of
your heart.

10. Animal Safety: Spiders
Black Widow Brown Recluse
Precautious:
-Shake off clothes or shoes that have not been worn in a while.
-Be careful when you move things from storage areas.
-Clean up clutter.
-Do not stack up wood near your house.
- “The widow often makes tangled webs around outbuildings, storage units, old tree
trunks or cabins not in regular use.” (Camelspiders.net)

11. Spider Bite First Aid
-Signs and Symptoms:
- Bite may feel like a pinprick.
-Chills
-Fever
-nausea or vomiting
-Severe abdominal pain
-Muscle cramps
-Fatigue
-First Aid:
-Try and identify the spider
-Clean the bite with soap and water
-Apply a cold compress
-Tie a snug band around the limb
-Elevate the limb if possible
-Aspirin and antihistamines may relieve
symptoms in adults.
-Seek medical attention

12. Questions?