Crazy things can happen when you are out there running…I mean really CRAZY things.  So whether you are on vacation or taking your familiar route, running in town or at a park, trails or roads, there are unconventional dangers that can get your name in the news.  The following are mostly news articles and a few blog postings.  Over half were 2008 or 2009 stories.  However, if you want to find the articles, search the net using the term “jogger”, not "runner" – apparently the media thinks that is the appropriate description. 

The natives are restless…

• A serial blow dart attacker in Delaware shoots 4-inch long blow darts at unsuspecting runners and bikers.  A 29 year old woman runner was shot in the calf.
• A UK runner was injured when a frozen Mars bar was thrown from a passing vehicle.  He suffered a swollen ankle.
• A Washington runner stumbled about five miles into her run.  Unfortunately for her, the .22 caliber revolver she carries for protection discharged, shooting her in the leg. 
• A group of runners on the Moray Firth in Scotland happened upon an Army training exercise during their night run.  They ran through a tripwire, setting off flares and burning two of  the runners. 

The Truth About Cats and Dogs...

• A rabid cat attacked a runner in Florida.  The unprovoked cat jumped on the woman’s back.  It later attacked three more people and a dog before it was captured.
• In New Zealand, eight pig hunting dogs attacked a woman running in a rural area.  She suffered multiple bite wounds to her arms, legs and head.  The attack lasted fifteen minutes until the owner drove them off. 
• Three women were running with their dogs at Fort Rich in Alaska when a pack of eight wolves came up from behind and attacked. 
• December 22nd, 2007 Coyote Attacks Morning Jogger - Dallas area May 2009  while jogging in a suburban neighborhood a coyote took a bite out of her thigh as she ran on a trail.  Coyotes attacking runners were also reported from a Los Angeles park and two accounts from Connecticut.   

Out of Africa...

• A woman runner came upon an ostrich.  Seems they are very territorial and started butting her with his whole body and feet.  The runner fought back and strangled the big bird with her bare hands.
• A British tourist at a luxury safari lodge went for a morning run and was trampled, gored and crushed by an elephant during her three mile bush run.  She sued the lodge for letting her run where there was dangerous wildlife – what did she expect in the African bush?!!!  She won a very large settlement.

The Birds and the Bees...

• Highland Park Kansas.  The runner saw a little baby turkey by the road so she moved to the other side of the road.  That wasn’t good enough.  A male turkey defending his territory attacked with his claws and ripped the hat off the runners head.  The turkey chased her for about 50 feet as she ran away screaming...and everyone makes fun of Ben Franklin for wanting the wild turkey as our national bird!
• In Michigan a goose attacked a man jogging in place waiting for a light to change.
• A hawk attacked two runners in a week in England.  A man received treatment in the hospital after the hawk slashed his head while out for a run.  The hawk with a 4 foot wingspan hit the main on the neck and head twice.  A 19 year old woman was not hurt but badly frightened.  The hawk continued to “stalk” her for nearly an hour after it first attacked.  It screeched and just kept following her!  Personally I have been dive bombed by a nest hawk and it is a scary thing – I was definitely running afterwards.
• A runner on his usual route through a London park was left with a blood speckled shirt after he was attacked by two crows.  They continued hitting his head.  The attack lasted several minutes. 
• Seagulls attacked a beach jogger on the coast of France.  But if words are not enough watch this and you can see runners being attacked by red winged black birds:  
• Santa Ana, California (August 2004) 120,000 bees attacked a neighborhood.  Among the victims was a runner wearing only shorts.  The attack was blamed on boys throwing rocks at the hives.

Animal Farm...

• A Boulder area woman training for Bolder Boulder on a popular trail approached some grazing cows.  She was attacked by a cow when she ran between it and its calf.  The runner received two pelvic fractures after the cow butted her, tossing her into the air.

Jurassic Park...

• In Glacier National Park, a grizzly bear bit a runner in June 2009.  The 60 year old man came upon the bear while running backcountry trails.  He heard what sounded like dogs barking and horses galloping behind him – nope – just one angry bear.  The bear sunk its teeth twice into the calf and thigh. 
• Personal story again.  You’ve all heard the one about not out running a bear, just the person you are with?  I did that with my roommate on his first backpacking trip.  We were not trail running until we met the black bear.  I did out run him but we both lived to laugh about it, unscathed.
• Yellowstone bison with calves attacks a woman runner.  Bison are responsible for more animal injuries at Yellowstone than any other animal. 
• In the Philadelphia area in August of this year, a woman running in the park was killed by multiple blunt force injuries when a thirty foot tree branch fell from fifty feet above and struck her.  She was running with headphones on and no identification.
• A Prescott, Arizona jogger was on a trail when a rabid fox attacked her.  It first bit her big toe then went for her knee and finally it locked on to her arm.  The runner could not get it to let go so she ran the one mile back to her car while attempting to choke the fox to death.  She managed to get it off of her and into the trunk of her car.
• Numerous trail runners have reported stepping on snakes or being struck at by snakes, including the venomous varieties. 

Lions Tigers and Bears, Oh My!...

• July 2008 a University of Alaska Anchorage cross country runner was working out on a trail known to biologists as the most likely in the area of town to encounter a grizzly bear.  He heard something and said "I sucked in my butt."   The mother bear protecting her two cubs missed but gave him a chase.  Even a collegiate cross country runner can’t outrun a grizzly bear which is fast enough to take down a horse.  He managed to escape – only because she just decided to walk away. The UAA coach indicated that his athletes have been running into bears all around Anchorage.  Biologists warned runners and mountain bikers who move fast enough to catch bears off-guard to use extra caution. 
• A woman in Alberta was running when a black bear began following her and wouldn’t back away.  She then lay down and the bear came up and licked her then bit her about six times as she played dead. 
• Another Alberta woman was less fortunate.  She was mauled to death despite climbing a tree in her attempted escape from a grizzly.
• A Kansas teen on a late night run in 2007 was attacked by a mountain lion.  He was attacked from behind when the mountain lion jumped on him and knocked him to the ground.  He hit the lion in the face as he jumped back to his feet and the mountain lion retreated back into the bushes.
• A California woman running in the Sierra foothills was mauled by a mountain lion.  Her body was found the next day, buried, as mountain lions often do with their prey. 

Crocodile Dundee...

• A Melbourne man running near his home was attacked by a kangaroo when he ran between males and females.  He received a gash to his head and multiple scratches.
• A Florida woman didn’t return from her run one evening.  The next day she was found dismembered at a nearby lake, the victim of an alligator attack.   Investigators believe the alligator stalked the woman on the land and attacked her there, eventually pulling her into the water and dismembering her.  

Bambi...

• In Denmark, an aggressive female white deer in Copenhagen's Deer Park attacked a woman jogger.  It has also been reported to run after horseback riders and to kick walkers. 
• Rogue deer exhibiting particularly aggressive behavior toward people have attacked runners on the campus of Southern Illinois University Carbondale.  A police shot and killed the deer as it was chasing a female runner.  

Twister...

• In April 2009, a Murfreesboro, Tennessee pastor was out for an afternoon run when a tornado struck.  He grabbed hold of a tree and his legs were flapping in the air.  All of a sudden he saw up into the eye of the tornado then once again the rest of the tornado was upon him.  He suffered minor injuries but was glad to be alive. Listen to his interview here: http://www.wsmv.com/video/19191683/index.html
• A 24-year-old's favorite Colorado runner was in the park when he was struck and killed by lightning.
• An earthquake off the coast of San Diego this year caused squid up to three feet long to seek refuge on the beaches where runners either had to dodge them or rescue them.
• A runner was rescued from frigid water in Pacoima, Washington.  The teenage runner was running alongside a wash and slipped into the rushing waters and tumbled downstream for nearly a mile, losing his shoes in the process.  He was rescued from 4 feet deep water near where the wash funnels underground through a tunnel.  

Lessons learned:  Know the potential wildlife hazards when you run in the wild areas (or in town), especially if you are traveling.  There are many more big (and therefore potentially dangerous) animals in wild areas than we have around Dayton.  A very large deer in Ohio is 200 pounds, whereas mule deer, elk, moose, bison, etc. all exceed 500 pounds.  Surprising large animals can also be dangerous.   Give animals their space – especially if you are running near their young or during breeding season (birds in the spring, deer in the fall). If you get bit by any mammal, you should be concerned about rabies and should seek immediate professional medical attention.  Don’t run in stormy weather or near flood waters.  Seek shelter where it is safe from lightning.