This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2008, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
While animals attacking humans make compelling stories, the odds of actually being maimed or killed are slim.
Last year's fatal mauling of 11-year-old Samuel Ives in American Fork Canyon, for example, was the first death due to a bear attack in recorded Utah history.
In fact, the most dangerous type of wildlife encounter may be on a highway. According to the Utah Department of Transportation, in 2006 there were 2,037 non-injury crashes involving animals in the roadway, 231 crashes involving injuries, and two fatalities. Last year, five Utahns died due to injuries from a vehicle-animal crash.
But potentially dangerous encounters with creatures large and small do happen when humans venture into the wild - and they can be frightening.
BE CAREFUL ON THE ROAD
The most dangerous type of wildlife encounter may be on a highway. According to the Utah Department of Transportation, in 2006 there were 2,037 non-injury crashes involving animals in the roadway, 231 crashes involving injuries, and two fatalities. Last year, five Utahns died due to injuries from a vehicle-animal crash.
THE RIGHT CALL CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE
Last winter, Utahns Cheryl and Karl Kamenski encountered a moose while sking off the Mirror Lake Highway in northern Utah. Karl quickly skied off trail. Cheryl went to the side of the trail but was still visible. As the moose came up the trail, she skied into the trees near her brother. The pair talked quietly about how to ski around the moose. "It was definitely very scary," said Cheryl. "I was not sure what to do at the time to not agitate it." As it turned out, the Kamenskis' instincts were correct.