Dangerous animals!

[Jan_89]

Hi all!

Did you meet any dangerous animal (venomous snakes, spiders or something else..) on the way? I just want to know if I should be more careful or add some medicine to my backpack..

Or any other experiences with animals?

Thanks a lot!

Jan

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Did you meet any dangerous animal

No. There is a lot of rural walking, but it all is very civilized.

 

[Canucks]

Except for those funny crustaceans on the path outside of Burgos, I think. Those are quite the claws!

No dangerous animals......we were caught in the middle of sheep herds, bovine herds, dog packs, and sleeping cats. I would confidently say that fellow pilgrims were the most dangerous animals since we did see one encounter in fisticuffs.

 

[jirit]

Probably the most dangerous animal you will encounter on the camino walks on two legs.

That said, there are plenty of them around but most are simply harmless, except those encased in a thing we call a vehicle - these are known to be occasionally dangerous to pilgrims.

There is also the dreaded "bed bug", known the surface from time to time, hardly dangerous, but a "real pain in the you know what and most other places"

 

[SYates]

Hi Jan, nice to meet another pilgrim from Prague here ;-) As for your question - No, never. SY

Hi all!

Did you meet any dangerous animal (venomous snakes, spiders or something else..) on the way? I just want to know if I should be more careful or add some medicine to my backpack..

Or any other experiences with animals?

Thanks a lot!

Jan

 

[Maya2]

Occasionally one of the two-legged animals will expose their inadequacies. Best not to react, just keep walking. Ugh!

 

[simply B]

Hello, Jan -

As with other posters, I never saw an "exotic" dangerous animal. However, despite my being an avid "dog person", there were many of that group in Spain that had not "gotten the memo" . (Perhaps it was a translation problem?)

Big dogs who became confrontational were met by my screaming at them, waving my stick over my head, and charging them. That always sent them off. I am grateful that this experience was limited to the Meseta and a deserted stretch a ways past Ponferrada - - my language was atrocious and appearance likely ridiculous.

Small dogs were encountered on the loop of Galicia from SdC to Muxia and Finisterra. They were sneaky. They would come in quietly behind you and look for the opportunity to rush in and nip. After dodging an attack the first time, I found that letting the tip of my walking stick drag just behind me caused them to lose interest in taking a peck at a peregrino. This particular situation was limited to the small towns or within 100 m of the dairy farms on the outskirts.

I hope that helps a bit.

B

 

[Jan_89]

Hello, Jan -

As with other posters, I never saw an "exotic" dangerous animal. However, despite my being an avid "dog person", there were many of that group in Spain that had not "gotten the memo" . (Perhaps it was a translation problem?)

Big dogs who became confrontational were met by my screaming at them, waving my stick over my head, and charging them. That always sent them off. I am grateful that this experience was limited to the Meseta and a deserted stretch a ways past Ponferrada - - my language was atrocious and appearance likely ridiculous.

Small dogs were encountered on the loop of Galicia from SdC to Muxia and Finisterra. They were sneaky. They would come in quietly behind you and look for the opportunity to rush in and nip. After dodging an attack the first time, I found that letting the tip of my walking stick drag just behind me caused them to lose interest in taking a peck at a peregrino. This particular situation was limited to the small towns or within 100 m of the dairy farms on the outskirts.

I hope that helps a bit.

B

Hi B,

yeah thanks a lot for this answer.. Every info like this one helps!

Jan

 

[Jan_89]

Hi Jan, nice to meet another pilgrim from Prague here ;-) As for your question - No, never. SY

Hi SY,

thanks.. Are you also from Prague?

Jan

 

[djkernes]

Hi all!

Did you meet any dangerous animal (venomous snakes, spiders or something else..) on the way? I just want to know if I should be more careful or add some medicine to my backpack..

Or any other experiences with animals?

Thanks a lot!

Jan

I took my first Camino from. St. Jean to Finnesterre in Sept.and Oct. of 2013. I read some stories of bad dogs before I left. Frankly it scared me. But while on my walk the most aggressive thing I experienced was a dog asleep in the road who only opened one eye and then went back to sleep. I walked alone and never felt unsafe.

 

[RENSHAW]

I came across Wild Boar(or they came across me) , twice while camping Between Logrono and Najera. On the first occasion a boar growled , grunted and screeched outside my tent - I dare say that my snoring may have been misinterpreted as a mating call. I could not see the animal but had an idea what it was.
The next night , at dusk , A wild boar came crashing through the vinyards sniffing the ground in a stressed state. It knew one of those two legged hostile animals was around. As it looked up to see me , I rose to my feet with my arms streached out to make me look as large as possible. I shouted as loud as I could ..... WAAAAAAAA!
300 pounds of solid muscle took off like a scalded cat.

 

[Jan_89]

I came across Wild Boar(or they came across me) , twice while camping Between Logrono and Najera. On the first occasion a boar growled , grunted and screeched outside my tent - I dare say that my snoring may have been misinterpreted as a mating call. I could not see the animal but had an idea what it was.
The next night , at dusk , A wild boar came crashing through the vinyards sniffing the ground in a stressed state. It knew one of those two legged hostile animals was around. As it looked up to see me , I rose to my feet with my arms streached out to make me look as large as possible. I shouted as loud as I could ..... WAAAAAAAA!
300 pounds of solid muscle took off like a scalded cat.

Wooow, that's interesting! Thanks a lot for this story! Hope I will not have this experience! If I will, so I would run away and climb up the tree..

 

[Suzanne O' Mahony]

I met a wild boar on the hill before coming into Burgos. I was 15 and alone at the time and scared out of my mind but that's nothing that a good whack of a stick off a rock won't help

 

[Tincatinker]

"-I dare say that my snoring may have been misinterpreted as a mating call."

Renshaw, the Beloved assures me that she does not interpret my snoring as a mating call. But then, she isn't 300lbs of pork-meat and attitude...

 

[SYates]

Yes, I live in Dejvice ;-) But I am not Czech (I am German and my husband is British) and speak the Czech language, unfortunately, only very, very poorly and little. SY

Hi SY,

thanks.. Are you also from Prague?

Jan

 

[Stephen Nicholls]

It's theoretically possible to meet packs of wild dogs, esecially in the forests: they are best ignored, with no eye contact, and, if necessary, poked in the face with your walking pole. I happen to carry a Dog Dazer but have only used it only once in three caminos.
Don't be put off the camino by this ... it's still a wonderful, unforgettable adventure!

 

[SYates]

Forgot to mention - I am always happy to meet up with a fellow pilgrim for a pivo! And do you know http://www.ultreia.cz/ already? SY

Hi SY, thanks.. Are you also from Prague? Jan

Yes, I live in Dejvice ;-) But I am not Czech (I am German and my husband is British) and speak the Czech language, unfortunately, only very, very poorly and little. SY

 

[Deleted member 3000]

It's theoretically possible to meet packs of wild dogs

Such a pack would be dangerous to livestock, so the farmers have eliminated them all. Shirley MacLaine imagined them, but I have never heard of anyone encountering them -- just the occasional loose cur.

 

[RENSHAW]

It's theoretically possible to meet packs of wild dogs, esecially in the forests: they are best ignored, with no eye contact, and, if necessary, poked in the face with your walking pole. I happen to carry a Dog Dazer but have only used it only once in three caminos.
Don't be put off the camino by this ... it's still a wonderful, unforgettable adventure!

In all honesty ................. did you ever see dogs with 'Human eyes' in the Mesteta? ...........or was it just me?

 

[SYates]

What do you mean with 'dogs with 'Human eyes'? Blue eyes? Most likely a husky or similar mix! SY

In all honesty ................. did you ever see dogs with 'Human eyes' in the Mesteta? ...........or was it just me?

 

[RENSHAW]

What do you mean with 'dogs with 'Human eyes'? Blue eyes? Most likely a husky or similar mix! SY

No , At Poblacion de Campos I choose to take the scenic route to the right outside of town instead of walking next to the road. At a small farming hamlet I was surrounded by 4 farm dogs , medium to large in size. Two of them had wierd hazel eyes that made direct contact with mine . Their eyes were very human like - you would know straight away had you seen these dogs yourself. They allowed me to continue though only a few feet away. Their stare was part evil , part sad.
This unsettled me so much that later on I could not sleep. A doctor from Germany who I had shared dinner with had got up in the middle of the night to go to the loo. He sat and spoke with me. He had seen the same dogs and agreed that the dogs eyes had been a little wierd but he had not been unsettled as I had been . Those eyes seemed to penetrate my very soul.

 

[SYates]

Perhaps you have just become more attuned to the life around you? Spain, especially rural Spain, is a tough life for dogs, perhaps you just grew more sensitive as you walked? SY

 

[RENSHAW]

Perhaps you have just become more attuned to the life around you? Spain, especially rural Spain, is a tough life for dogs, perhaps you just grew more sensitive as you walked? SY

Shure , but the fact that this doctor could back me up to a certain extent and confirm that he too , did see these dogs. Most people are way out of their comfort zones in speaking about happenings such as these - This Doctor did hint at the possibility that this was part of MY journey and a battle within myself and what I had seen was indeed real , but perhaps it was only I that could?

 

[RENSHAW]

"-I dare say that my snoring may have been misinterpreted as a mating call."

Renshaw, the Beloved assures me that she does not interpret my snoring as a mating call. But then, she isn't 300lbs of pork-meat and attitude...

Hey, picture this. I had been through half a litre of that divine 'Don' box vino, the Mozies were relentless - dashed into the tent and fell asleep ........... sleep aphnea - snoring and exhaustion .......can you imagine the sound ........... poor chap , thank goodness the flaps were closed or I may be a changed person today.

 

[SYates]

I agree with the doctor, part of your journey was/is to become more aware of other lifeforms. SY

 

[oursonpolaire]

On the Vadiniense, I saw a wild boar run through the terrace at a bar between Liebana and Cosgaya. He was apparently running from hunters. The Spanish in the bar, being sporting types, gave him a round of applause as he headed up an almost vertical incline.

 

[Stephen Nicholls]

Such a pack would be dangerous to livestock, so the farmers have eliminated them all. Shirley MacLaine imagined them, but I have never heard of anyone encountering them -- just the occasional loose cur.

Hi Falcon!
The packs are there, I assure you. They would occasionally come onto our land when we lived [for 8 years] in Spain. I also encountered one small pack [maybe 4 or 5 dogs] on the northern stretch of the Camino Portuguese. I certainly didn't imagine them!!!
Buen camino ... sin perros!

 

[Stephen Nicholls]

In all honesty ................. did you ever see dogs with 'Human eyes' in the Mesteta? ...........or was it just me?

How many litres of vino blanco did you have before seeing them, Renshaw?

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The packs are there, I assure you.

Quite true. Spain has a culture of dog ownership, and many become feral. However, the farmers constantly combat them for livestock protection, so from a pilgrim point of view, there is not a problem. There are wild dog pack everywhere, but attacks on humans are rare. Urban dogs may be the biggest problem, but they often are quite cowed, roaming mostly in the middle of the night. There are many other things to worry about on the Camino, so I recommend finding something more worthwhile on which to base anxiety.

 

[w cleveland]

two days in a row I sat next to a pig while eating my dinner, quite disgusting no nothing dangerous....

 

[RENSHAW]

two days in a row I sat next to a pig while eating my dinner, quite disgusting no nothing dangerous....

That pig spoke quite highly of you Clevey.

 

[Sraaen]

Library not to make contact with strange dogs.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

I have lived in a little town in the middle of the meseta for eight years. I have six dogs, all of them former strays. They are the nearest thing to a pack of dogs that I know of within 20 kilometers, and they all are harmless to anything bigger than a mouse or rabbit.
I walk the caminos and sendas, I listen to people talk and I talk to local "dog people" myself. There are plenty of foxes, wild pigs, Roe deer, Least Weasels, turkey-sized Avutarda birds, and even a wolf or two out there. But this forum is the only place I have ever heard of any packs of wild dogs. If wild dog packs were around, I think I would have heard about them or seen them myself by now.

No fear.

 

[domigee]

I have lived in a little town in the middle of the meseta for eight years. I have six dogs, all of them former strays. They are the nearest thing to a pack of dogs that I know of within 20 kilometers, and they all are harmless to anything bigger than a mouse or rabbit.
I walk the caminos and sendas, I listen to people talk and I talk to local "dog people" myself. There are plenty of foxes, wild pigs, Roe deer, Least Weasels, turkey-sized Avutarda birds, and even a wolf or two out there. But this forum is the only place I have ever heard of any packs of wild dogs. If wild dog packs were around, I think I would have heard about them or seen them myself by now.

No fear.

I am VERY scared of unknown dogs who come barking at me only because I was attacked as a child (in a city, in Paris!) But I walked the camino frances twice , on my own , saw no packs of wild dogs and lived to tell the tale, so please do not worry! Yes I encountered dogs, lovely friendly ones, bored ones who slept through it all in the middle of the road, the poor old ones chained to their kennels and barking, well, wouldn't we all?? Oh and those absolutely wonderful shepherd dogs dealing with the cattle....Wow!

Only once did I feel threatened, somewhere on the way to Cee, but only because I was passing a farm and the 3 (loose) guard dogs weren't prepared to have a stranger walk through! In the end I yelled for help to the farmer (i hoped there was one!) and sure enough the farmer lady came and held the one who was really threatening. She had them loose because she was on her own and was scared herself! It was in the middle of nowhere. All this long story (sorry!) to say....please don't worry. The camino francés is a very civilized place.

 

[ranthr]

Hi all!

Did you meet any dangerous animal (venomous snakes, spiders or something else..) on the way? I just want to know if I should be more careful or add some medicine to my backpack..

Or any other experiences with animals?

Thanks a lot!

Jan

A Danish woman who is walking the camino these days saw a wolf chasing a hare some days ago near Rabinal.
Randi

 

[Alena]

September 2013 was rather calm, except one situation with young calf in one of the tiny villages along the way. The animal had managed to get out of the byre and suddenly was running with enthusiasm along our way. I was fine with it initially as it moved away from us, but then decided against it, turned around and started running with this crazy look in its eyes right towards us. We all froze and I immediately started moving back targeting the inner yard of a house next to us as the animal approached. Right then a woman came running out of the house with a stick and placed herself between us and the excited animal, then started directing it back in the byre, looking really angry. Some spice to our walking that day, but for a few seconds I was really scared.

 

[Winchester09]

I walked from Winchester and only had trouble from farmers dogs twice. Both in France once in a small village near Bordeaux and again just outside St Palais. Both times I just shouted and waved my stick at them and they backed off.

The only snake I saw was a young adder which just happened to be crossing a path in Galicia! It was pure luck I saw it. This is the only native venomous snake to Spain and the chances of seeing one let alone being bitten is so small as to make no difference. Spiders I don't know but again so astronomic as to not be worth worrying about!

 

[rector]

We seen a snake minus it's head outside astoga

 

[rector]

maybe that was Astorga

 

[raydercha]

If you see a problem dog dip down and pantomime that you've picked up a fist sized stone. They know what this means and will stop in their tracks.

 

[Travelite]

Probably the most dangerous animal you will encounter on the camino walks on two legs.

That said, there are plenty of them around but most are simply harmless, except those encased in a thing we call a vehicle - these are known to be occasionally dangerous to pilgrims.

There is also the dreaded "bed bug", known the surface from time to time, hardly dangerous, but a "real pain in the you know what and most other places"

Is there any bird life?

 

[JillGat]

Hi all!

Did you meet any dangerous animal (venomous snakes, spiders or something else..) on the way? I just want to know if I should be more careful or add some medicine to my backpack..

Or any other experiences with animals?

Thanks a lot!

Jan

There are 600 venomous snakes in the world belonging to four families:
Atractaspididae (atractaspidids), Colubridae (colubrids), Elapidae (elapids), and Viperidae (viperids).

Almost none of these snakes are known to be found in Spain (and some only live in the sea). However, considering the changing environment and progressive global warming, habitat boundaries for many of these venomous snakes are expanding, and you can never be sure what you may encounter on the Camino!

Fortunately there are antivenom serums available for most of these venomous snakes. These antivenoms are listed on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (EML), so the well-prepared peregrino will include all of them in his or her Camino First Aid kit.

Be sure to also pack a Reptile Guidebook so as to identify the species that bit you, a tourniquet, a wooden stick to bite down on, so as to avoid panic while waiting for the antivenom to take effect (walking poles can serve double duty in this case), and a bottle of Orujo for antiseptic. For cultural reasons, you should light the Orujo on fire and wait for the flame to turn blue before you use it and carry enough to drink as well as to swab on your wounds.

 

[JillGat]

A charmer flute can come in handy in case of cobras, too.

 

[Ferdinand the Bull]

Hi all!

Did you meet any dangerous animal (venomous snakes, spiders or something else..) on the way? I just want to know if I should be more careful or add some medicine to my backpack..

Or any other experiences with animals?

Thanks a lot!

Jan

I agree with the others. You will meet many animals but they will be friendly and either curious or simply not interested in you. A few guard dogs may be aggressive but they are always fenced in or on a chain. Nothing to worry about. Enjoy your Camino. Regards Torben

 

[Bradypus]

Almost none of these snakes are known to be found in Spain (and some only live in the sea). However, considering the changing environment and progressive global warming, habitat boundaries for many of these venomous snakes are expanding, and you can never be sure what you may encounter on the Camino.

There are only three venomous snake species in Spain which present any danger to humans - three very similar vipers in the same family as the adder (Vipera berus) common in much of Europe including the UK. There are a couple of other snake species which are technically venomous but are rear-fanged and possess only mild venom and are in practice almost incapable of envenomating a human being. The venom of the Spanish vipers is of moderate toxicity. While a bite should always be treated as a medical emergency and treatment should be sought immediately it is very unlikely that a bite from one will result in serious long-term injury if treated. As Spain and Portugal are a peninsula surrounded by sea any foreign species would probably have to migrate through France to get there. Fortunately France's reptile population is no more hazardous than that of Spain. They are certainly something to be aware of but not a major ground for concern.

http://www.viborasdelapeninsulaiberica.com/index-eng.html

PS. A story passed on to me yesterday by my daughter who shares my fascination with snakes. From the USA rather than Spain. Moral of the story - leave the things alone

https://www.facebook.com/thatsnakeguy/posts/507322726385133

 

[Csutak]

Hi all!

Did you meet any dangerous animal (venomous snakes, spiders or something else..) on the way? I just want to know if I should be more careful or add some medicine to my backpack..

Or any other experiences with animals?

Thanks a lot!

Jan

This July I/we saw snakes several times on the first etaps of the Primitivo. Something like this:
https://www.cyprusisland.net/cyprus-snakes/montpellier-snake-napoleon-monspessulanus

I am sure it was NOT a grass snake (almost 2 m long and thick) and the hospitalera told us threre are snakes theer: dangerous and not dangerous ones.
Luckily, it disappeared so quickly the I had no time to get frightened. However, after this case I always examined the ground before I sat down.

 

[Ferdinand the Bull]

Snakes in general are more afraid of you, than you are of them. European snakes cant prey on you - so they will try to avoid you and wont bother you unles you try to catch them or harm them. I have met snakes on many occasions over the years in Europe. There is nothing to fear.

 

[David]

I have had two dog encounters, one in France and one in Spain - over thirteen years mind you.

As for wildlife - I long to see a wolf (but maybe not a bear, there are a few left.

One truly dangerous creature to be aware of is the Tic - I was tic-bit last year, it didn't have a chance to burrow in before I brushed it off, but I still got Lyme's disease. I knew the symptoms so knew what I had and went to my doctor when I got home and he eradicated it. They are there. Mine was because I lay down at lunchtime on short scrubby grass on the Meseta.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

this is the first I have heard of Lyme disease on the Meseta. There are plenty of ticks in the spring, but never a murmur of Lyme disease.

The forum is a revelation. People find all kinds of animals and illnesses here that did not exist before!

 

[David]

this is the first I have heard of Lyme disease on the Meseta. There are plenty of ticks in the spring, but never a murmur of Lyme disease.

The forum is a revelation. People find all kinds of animals and illnesses here that did not exist before!

It is indeed a revelation and as I caught Lyme's from a Tick on the Meseta in spring I think that it did indeed exist before I got there last year.

 

[Csutak]

I have seen tics on my Caminos only 3 or 4 times. Luckily we discovered and removed them them on time.
However, Lyme is a real threat everywhere in Europe, I think.

 

[Marbe2]

I have seen a wolf on our way up to Foncebadon. One of the owners in Foncebadon says that there is a pack of them nearby....but as far as he knows they have not harmed pilgrims.

 

[Deleted member 12253]

Hi all!

Did you meet any dangerous animal (venomous snakes, spiders or something else..) on the way? I just want to know if I should be more careful or add some medicine to my backpack..

Or any other experiences with animals?

Thanks a lot!

Jan

2 legged i have been spat at shouldered attempt to put me through plate glass window and dont mention releasing gas. 4 legged fine

 

[Rebekah Scott]

It is indeed a revelation and as I caught Lyme's from a Tick on the Meseta in spring I think that it did indeed exist before I got there last year.

I am glad you got better, David.

 

[JillGat]

I had hoped to see snakes while on the Camino, but haven't yet. (btw, my long post above about all the different kinds of poisonous snakes that might be in Spain was a joke)

 

[KinkyOne]

I had hoped to see snakes while on the Camino, but haven't yet. (btw, my long post above about all the different kinds of poisonous snakes that might be in Spain was a joke)

I guess we all understood that.
So that makes you the most dangerous snake on the route???

K1

 

[trecile]

I had hoped to see snakes while on the Camino, but haven't yet. (btw, my long post above about all the different kinds of poisonous snakes that might be in Spain was a joke)

I saw a snake, but as it was only about 6 inches/15 cm long and 1 cm wide it really just looked like a big worm.

 

[JillGat]

I guess we all understood that.
So that makes you the most dangerous snake on the route???

K1

I don't think Bradypus knew I was kidding. Anyway, I'm kind of bummed out because I put a lot of energy into that post (researching categories of venomous snakes, etc.) and I didn't get enough "likes."

 

[KinkyOne]

I don't think Bradypus knew I was kidding. Anyway, I'm kind of bummed out because I put a lot of energy into that post (researching categories of venomous snakes, etc.) and I didn't get enough "likes."

Ok, hahaha, I went back (up) and gave you likes. It's OK now?

Still not enough? OK, I'll open three more accounts

 

[LesR]

Hi all!

Did you meet any dangerous animal (venomous snakes, spiders or something else..) on the way? I just want to know if I should be more careful or add some medicine to my backpack..

Or any other experiences with animals?

Thanks a lot!

Jan

Most dangerous animal I came across on CF 2018 was the pilgrim on two wheels... crossing the meseta, they had a bad habit of appearing out of nowhere, in a convoy, and without warning. Further, they seemed to be under the impression that they owned the pathway and expected others to yield right of way without question or consideration of other factors such as safety of the pilgrim on foot).

 

[LesR]

Hello, Jan -

As with other posters, I never saw an "exotic" dangerous animal. However, despite my being an avid "dog person", there were many of that group in Spain that had not "gotten the memo" . (Perhaps it was a translation problem?)

Big dogs who became confrontational were met by my screaming at them, waving my stick over my head, and charging them. That always sent them off. I am grateful that this experience was limited to the Meseta and a deserted stretch a ways past Ponferrada - - my language was atrocious and appearance likely ridiculous.

Small dogs were encountered on the loop of Galicia from SdC to Muxia and Finisterra. They were sneaky. They would come in quietly behind you and look for the opportunity to rush in and nip. After dodging an attack the first time, I found that letting the tip of my walking stick drag just behind me caused them to lose interest in taking a peck at a peregrino. This particular situation was limited to the small towns or within 100 m of the dairy farms on the outskirts.

I hope that helps a bit.

B

My experience of CF 2018 was that virtually all dogs (especially the ones that were large enough to eat a horse) ignored all pilgrims, and I returned the favour. The only dogs that expressed any interest in me were the occasional dog behind a tall steel fence - presumably guard dogs for absent landholders - and as they were behind a secure fence, I ignored them too...

Now if I were to be a tractor, I might have been more concerned - nothing like a tractor to excite a farm dog...

 

[ranthr]

I saw a snake on Via de la Plata in 2011. It crossed the path and was away before I reached to get scared.
Heard sound of wolves in the fog up to O'Cebreiro once, never saw them but it was a bit scaring for an old woman alone in the fog. But I think the thick fog made me more dizzy than the wolves.
This year on the Invierno I had to move a flått(Norwegian) tick? from my leg with a knife. No infection afterwards.
When I walked GR 651 from Oloron St. Marie to Somport in 2012 I was afraid of meeting the bears living in the area but I never saw them. There were some warnings about them along the path.

 

[JillGat]

Ok, hahaha, I went back (up) and gave you likes. It's OK now?

Still not enough? OK, I'll open there more accounts

Now I've invited Pity Likes, which is even worse.

 

[JillGat]

I saw a snake on Via de la Plata in 2011. It crossed the path and was away before I reached to get scared.
Heard sound of wolves in the fog up to O'Cebreiro once, never saw them but it was a bit scaring for an old woman alone in the fog. But I think the thick fog made me more dizzy than the wolves.
This year on the Invierno I had to move a flått(Norwegian) tick? from my leg with a knife. No infection afterwards.
When I walked GR 651 from Oloron St. Marie to Somport in 2012 I was afraid of meeting the bears living in the area but I never saw them. There were some warnings about them along the path.

You know, if you get eaten by a bear on the Camino, it's just God's will.

(and people will say, "She died doing what she loved to do.")

 

[VNwalking]

You know, if you get eaten by a bear on the Camino, it's just God's will.
(and people will say, "She died doing what she loved to do.")

I'll take being eaten by a bear over lingering in a hospital hooked up to machines any day.
Better yet, to succumb while walking and then to have the vultures do their natural work of dealing with
what's left.

 

[Bradypus]

Better yet, to succumb while walking and then to have the vultures do their natural work of dealing with
what's left.

Is there any Tibetan influence in your lineage @VNwalking

 

[Kathor1]

Tibet? DON'T google "pic de Pista" and femme.

 

[Bradypus]

I don't think Bradypus knew I was kidding. Anyway, I'm kind of bummed out because I put a lot of energy into that post (researching categories of venomous snakes, etc.) and I didn't get enough "likes."

The last paragraph was a pretty strong hint But I thought I should just present the less-than-dramatic truth because so many people have a very strong fear of snakes which is often completely out of proportion to the real dangers involved. Strong enough to make them quite irrational on the subject. There are a few people who refuse to visit our house because we have a very small and completely docile pet python. An animal only slightly more dangerous than the goldfish I kept as a child Such a fear is understandable in many tropical and sub-tropical countries where there are seriously dangerous species present and relatively common but snakes really are a minimal risk in Spain and the rest of Europe. Of course there is always the occasional Josh who needs a reality check in the other direction too

 

[VNwalking]

I'm unconvinced. My preference is still bed and worms.

Haha!

Fromista has put a warning on their website this year that they got from the Health Services, concerning las garrapatas and the diseases they can transmit, ie. ticks.

Here's the original, which needs translation:
http://www.fromista.com/index.php/noticias

 

[JillGat]

The last paragraph was a pretty strong hint But I thought I should just present the less-than-dramatic truth because so many people have a very strong fear of snakes which is often completely out of proportion to the real dangers involved. Strong enough to make them quite irrational on the subject. There are a few people who refuse to visit our house because we have a very small and completely docile pet python. An animal only slightly more dangerous than the goldfish I kept as a child Such a fear is understandable in many tropical and sub-tropical countries where there are seriously dangerous species present and relatively common but snakes really are a minimal risk in Spain and the rest of Europe. Of course there is always the occasional Josh who needs a reality check in the other direction too

A snake phobia is almost never about fear of a toxic bite (or being squeezed to death, as they might be at your house). "Real" danger has nothing to do with it... it's more of a squeamishness about all legless, slithery things. My mother - who was fine with lizards, turtles and all the other critters I brought home - couldn't even look at a picture of a snake. My dad used to say "If you said you saw a snake as big around as your finger, she couldn't look at your finger." Everywhere she went, she'd ask first "are there snakes there?" And of course, even if no one ever saw snakes there before, they would come out just to greet her, swim up to her in the pond, sun themselves on her car, etc.

 

[Icacos]

.....Better yet, to succumb while walking and then to have the vultures do their natural work of dealing with
what's left.

I would just like to be fully dead first before the vultures start their work.

 

[Icacos]

Is there any bird life?

Yes, see my post above.

 

[nycwalking]

I would just like to be fully dead first before the vultures start their work.

Why?

 

[Icacos]

Why?

Surely you are not serious when you ask that question!
I'm going to turn in now .... and I will not be thinking of vultures circling overhead.

 

[VNwalking]

Happy dreams, @Icaros.

 

[nycwalking]

Surely you are not serious when you ask that question!
I'm going to turn in now .... and I will not be thinking of vultures circling overhead.

Oops! Forgot, this is not, not so serious thread.

Night.

 

[Canucks]

Now that’s I think about it, on the Le Puy route, it was hunting season and there were, occasionally, signs up noting not to go in certain areas. There were a couple of times when the shooting was very near or we saw deer running past us, away from hunters.
That was the highest level of concern we had.
And the dogs who live in a gated yard next to the Camino and get their kicks out of hiding behind a bush until you are right beside them....they then lunge at the fence, Cujo-like in their ferocity. You can tell they do it thousands of times per year and it works every time for them.

 

[naplesdon]

I can't restrain myself from adding lounge lizards and coyotes, yes there are males on the Camino preying on pelegrinas and females doing the same to pelegrinos.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Now I've invited Pity Likes, which is even worse.

Take what you can get my friend.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Apparently, if you're afraid of snakes, you need to take an Australian peregrina with you

 

[KinkyOne]

Apparently, if you're afraid of snakes, you need to take an Australian peregrina with you

WOW!!!