Staying Safe While iNatting in Public

General
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I carry an expensive-looking camera, and I had two very unsettling experiences while I was hiking alone, where strangers approached me and started asking aggressive questions about how much my camera cost. I am used to hearing compliments like “nice lens” and so forth, but these two encounters were quite different. I was definitely getting creepy vibes both times. (It didn’t help that one of the men had an off-leash pit bull with him.) I replied that I purchased the camera second-hand from a friend, which happens to be true. That makes it sound older/less valuable and avoids questions of price. One of the guys demanded I take his photo with my camera and then asked for my e-mail address so he could get the photo from me. I gave him a fake e-mail address and got the heck out of there.

It occurred to me afterwards that it might be a good idea to think through scenarios like this in advance, so you have something prepared to say. Both times, I found that talking loudly, confidently, and enthusiastically about insect photography seemed to discourage them. Perhaps I was giving off “confident/ she will fight back” vibes. More likely I was just giving off “crazy bug lady” vibes. Anyway, I made it through unscathed!

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LOL! :joy:

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That sounds lovely! I so wish I had a group like that!

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Hmm that actually might be a great way to ward off people. “Sorry going #2 here!” :sweat_smile::laughing:

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Another safety tip I have not seen mentioned here is looking out for aggressive wildlife.
I was with my family on a hike last Wednesday and because I was meticulously looking for mushrooms I happened to notice I walked right over a yellow jacket nest. It was right smack on the path and I had to warn others behind us to walk on the other side of the path to avoid the nest.
This past Saturday unfortunately several people were stung and two were hospitalized so they had to close the trail for the time being.

So whether it be a venomous snake, a yellow jacket nest, a bear or any wildlife always be aware of your surroundings!

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27

Where I live, people are the biggest concern sadly :-( However, discussion on proper interactions with wildlife, for the safety of the observer and the organism, is definitely important to discuss too.

I’d also like to add to keep conversation short and try not to answer questions in too much detail. I’ve had creepy people try to talk to me a few times, and if I stay polite but also try not to engage in conversation too much, they usually get bored and find someone else to bother. Sometimes not, I suppose it depends on the person. In all of my experiences, I have been around a lot of other people, which may play a role in how these people decide to act.

People who don’t keep track of their pets are not only annoying, but they also cause danger for others when they don’t keep track of their animal. I can’t count how many times I’ve been at a ‘No Pets’ beach, usually watching seagulls or photographing fish carcasses, when some dog comes galloping over with no-one in sight. All of these dogs seemed friendly, but they should not have been there. Someone once brought a dog on a wildlife drive, and I saw them get out of the vehicle with their dog on a leash. No dogs are allowed, and for good reason. Taking dogs to places like these where they don’t belong is possibly dangerous for the dog, and can cause stress for wildlife.

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28

Given the number of bullet holes in some rural street signs here (most signs are yellow) I think a yellow vest may make you more likely to be mistaken for something someone would want to shoot

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I have a couple of strategies. I often have someone else with me, but when I don’t, I will typically use the environment as best I can to minimize risks. I’m usually the only person crazy enough to wade through waist-deep thorns. Ditto water and steep gullies. These also have the added benefit of making me difficult to see. Of course, those are often the places with the best bugs as well.

Also, big dog privilege. Sometimes you can’t/shouldn’t bring a dog, but depending on what you observe and where, having a dog (especially a large one) can be great, even just as a confidence booster when alone. Mine has also helped with finding a number of animals I would’ve missed! And you look far less crazy bending down looking at bugs when people can just assume you’re picking up after the dog.

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30

I must say that I find this a weird question. I am in my seventies and have been iNat-ing or whatever its predecessors were called almost all my life. By myself or in a group. I have never felt threatened once other than by free-running dogs (that’s a whole other topic). When I encounter other people we either ignore each other, nod politely or they ask if I have “seen anything good today” and “can I look through your scope” (that comes from kids). I am not a particularly big guy who malefactors would avoid either and I refuse to wear orange vests or anything like that. I just do what I do. Why the fear and expectation that everyone else is out to mug you? Very strange.

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People are never a threat when wildlifing in my experience - dogs are a threat 100% of the time. Dogs should never, ever, anywhere be off leash.

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Hi, I agree that living in constant fear isn’t good. This post was made partially in response to this post, and also because as a young female naturalist who lives in a fairly populated area, I have felt unsafe a few times. Because of this, I felt that a discussion on what to do to stay safe was something others would appreciate. I would like to add that, for the most part, my interactions with others have been pleasant and positive.

Hopefully this explains my post a bit.

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33

I have run into issues where there was a little more interest in my camera than I liked, once I had a large angry dog rush me, once I was approached a slightly “elevated” lady, who was looking to make a certain transaction. So yes, I am constantly on alert. Thankfully, I’m also a reasonably large man, with big voice so people usually leave me alone.

On the other hand, one I had recently downtown was a guy walked up and asked what I was doing, and so I pointed out to him and his little girl all the different types of bees and flies that were on the patch of flowers I was walking through. Ended up being a nice conversation.

So I stay alert to be sure, but am willing to chat.

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Sadly, this topic is a reaction to the murder this week of a prolific and well regarded iNaturalist in New Zealand, Stephen Thorpe.

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That’s fortunate for you. Not everyone has the same experience or does nature observation in the same environments. What is the harm with suggestions about how to have a safer experience when out iNatting?

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I bring my dogs! But not really with the intent of protection, though they do make me feel safer. My Goldens just love to be out on the trails with me. Having spent A LOT of time iNating with them, I can’t say that I’ve ever felt unsafe around any individuals. One has chased off a coyote that was approaching far too close for comfort.

On the downsides they can get a bit restless, and can make those stealthy focus photos a bit tough at times. They have gotten pretty good though at knowing when I need them to be patient.

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Hopefully I didn’t sound like I disapprove of dogs altogether, when they are on leashes and not where they shouldn’t be, I enjoy seeing them! My dog also likes to join me when I’m out in the yard.

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My go to is info dumping when someone thinks I’m a threat (and any time anyone approaches me…). I was on a public beach that runs into the backyards of homes and a man was outside with his daughters while they swam in the pool. I walked by with my camera and net he comes up and starts grilling me about what I’m doing, so I just awkwardly started ranting about robber flies and I go oh here I collected one a little while ago want to see it? He says sure, I pull it out of my bag and go this is Efferia albibarbis, he looks and goes “Yup that’s pretty bar-bis.” and just walks away. It’s a funny story in hindsight but I was obviously perceived as a threat in that situation and things could’ve gone very differently.

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Dogs are true crazy naturalists. They love hikes and are curious about IDing everything along the trail, which can really slow you down. And if they aren’t leashed they disappear into the brush chasing who knows what and it can take a while to bring them back on trail. Basically like most of us.

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As the trope, so often correctly, goes: “If you don’t know who the scariest guy in some dark or secluded place is - it’s probably you”.

And if it’s often you, it really can take a while to become fully aware of that and try to do things to mitigate it…

There is a curious synergy that happens when you pair that guy on a walk with a much less imposing women though. Suddenly the people who might have quietly and nervously crossed to the other side of the road when approaching him, instead will comfortably smile and say hello - while the people who might have behaved in ways that could make her uncomfortable (even unintentionally) are more likely to dust off and display their very best manners.

My general rule any time or place where I am not without any doubt the ‘apex predator’ is:

  • Don’t look like food.

With the corollary to that, when you’re trying to engage peacefully with your surroundings, and are not surrounded by things looking at you like you might be food, being:

  • Don’t look hungry.

Trust is contagious though, so I’d add my voice to those saying try not to let a terrible event in your news feed taint your future interactions with other people. Mutual suspicion and feelings of contempt or disdain and disconnectedness are the things that give licence to people being shitty to each other.

In the same way that real world wild predators are not single-minded killing machines that will instantly slaughter everything they see (except for the indomitable Final Girl who lives to the end of the movie), real world predatory humans are not inexorably out to Hurt Everyone either.

If someone random is going to mug you, it’s much less likely that they are taking such a desperate measure because they fundamentally want to hurt you, than that they themselves have a desperate unfulfilled need that has been ignored for too long. If you treat them like they are worthless, or worse, vermin, they will return the sentiment. If you treat them with more sympathy and decency than others usually do, most people will quickly return that gesture as well and everyone’s day might end a little better than it otherwise could have.

That doesn’t mean don’t be alert and ready to defend yourself by any means necessary if it ever really comes to that. It just means don’t lose sight of that being the last resort on a path that most usually had many ways to get off before you slam into that dead-end crash barrier.

You’re still far more likely to be brutalised or robbed in or near your own home, by someone who you know well, work with, or are related to, than just about any other place in the world by just about any other complete stranger. Stranger Danger is a popular news trope, but it’s not even nearly the flavour of trouble that is most likely to happen to most of the people here.

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41

Yes. This is the one thing I hate about iNatting…
People crossing to the other side when I’ve seen something interesting and am taking pictures on it on a sidewalk. Or people hesitant to walk by when I’m hunched over some plant on a hiking trail.
Or just getting all the weird looks like I’m doing something improper or disgusting.
I don’t know what I can do differently. My physique is pretty unthreatening and I wear brighter colours when iNatting. So for now I’ve just learnt to ignore the looks…

Regarding my safety, I’m pretty lucky and live in a very safe area. I have never once felt unsafe while in nature (neither from other people nor from wildlife).

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