dangers during herping

[Michal Szkudlarek]

What are the dangers that you stumbled upon during herping?
Personally, I am afraid of dangerous dogs and today during a stroll for Testudo hermani i got autostop to avoid walking next to a dog in a property. That dog was not tied and could bite me. I heard his barking so it could be probably aggressive. Usually pepperspray helps to feel confindent but if you are flying abroad from Germany you mustn't own pepperspray in baggage. Have any of you been bitten by a dog?

[Alexandre Roux]

For me, the biggest danger is when we stop the car on the side of the road to look at a dead snake or save something. But obviously I'm always affraid of dogs when I go out.
I also fell a few times while climbing to reach a point faster thant with the safe way. No that I think about it, I won't try again next time.

[Guillaume Gomard]

My worst enemies are ticks , they are everywhere in my surroundings I recently faced annoying leeches in rain forest, it's not so critical but still does not make any fun. Regarding dogs I only had 1 bad experience last summer in Romania with 10 wild (and aggressive) dogs following me as I was quietly looking for ammos. I know that wild dogs are a big problem in Romania, in particular in Bucarest. So far I don't have any bad human encounter, but I'm sure people on this forum could tell stories that happened in Greece or Turkey

[Michal Szkudlarek]

My worst enemies are ticks , they are everywhere in my surroundings I recently faced annoying leeches in rain forest, it's not so critical but still does not make any fun. Regarding dogs I only had 1 bad experience last summer in Romania with 10 wild (and aggressive) dogs following me as I was quietly looking for ammos. I know that wild dogs are a big problem in Romania, in particular in Bucarest. So far I don't have any bad human encounter, but I'm sure people on this forum could tell stories that happened in Greece or Turkey

how did it go with wild dogs? did you scare them off to make them go away? i would shit my pants in this situation Are people in Greece or Turkey mean toward herpers? I remember Jeroen's trouble with cops in Greek-Turkish border.

For me, the biggest danger is when we stop the car on the side of the road to look at a dead snake or save something. But obviously I'm always affraid of dogs when I go out.
I also fell a few times while climbing to reach a point faster thant with the safe way. No that I think about it, I won't try again next time.

Several days ago I got lost in a cave and I was sub-panicky but fortunately I found the way to go out.

[Berislav Horvatic]

What about lightnings? Unlike dogs, they kill for sure...

I know that's a rare event, but if your head is the highest point within many kilometers, and a thunderstorm
is just above your head... I told Ivo to hasten with his camera... gave him some ten seconds, no more. Even
managed to produce something like a smile...

BTW, a perfect V. ursinii habitat on the highest peak of the Central Velebit, but nothing...

[Guillaume Gomard]

Even managed to produce something like a smile...

Nice pictures, Bero!

how did it go with wild dogs? did you scare them off to make them go away? i would shit my pants in this situation Are people in Greece or Turkey mean toward herpers? I remember Jeroen's trouble with cops in Greek-Turkish border.

Indeed I managed to scare them off by making strong noise with rocks, but this could have turned wrong as well, those guys were unpredictable. Regarding Greece I heard several bad stories about people getting crazy when they saw that herpers were crossing their field/property. I guess it does not happen only in Greece but maybe they are less used to that?

[Ruggero M.]

Short answer with the smartphone: the only danger specifically related to herping is being bitten by a dangerous reptile. The other dangers are common dangers of driving, stopping while driving on trafficked roads, hiking (falling in crevices, ankle distorsions, and so on), walking in the woods (lightning, dogs, wild boars, getting lost, ending drinking reservoir, meeting the Blair Witch... ) and so on till the end of imagination!
Another possible specific danger, sadly shared only by herping and poaching, is to receive a 200€ fine from the law enforcement!

[Michal Szkudlarek]

im considering buying ultrasound dog replent
will its activity make herptiles run away? its frequency is 25 KHz and its sound pressure is 130 dB
it looks like this