# Do wild nature shows have a gun ready in case an animal attacks? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 23, 2007, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-wild-nature-shows-have-a-gun-ready-in-case-an-animal-attacks/420199 "2007-09-23T14:57:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2007, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-wild-nature-shows-have-a-gun-ready-in-case-an-animal-attacks/420199/1 "2007-09-23T14:57:47Z")
No like when Jack Hanna was on Johnny Carson, but when Jeff Corwin and the like are standing with fifty feet of a wild bear or hippo. It seems to me they would be stupid if they didn’t have one at the ready, but at the same time it would kind of go against the whole appreciation of nature deal if they invade a creature’s natural habitat, and then would be ready to kill it if it feels threatened and acts accordingly. Does anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2007, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-wild-nature-shows-have-a-gun-ready-in-case-an-animal-attacks/420199/2 "2007-09-23T15:04:16Z")
If so, I would think it would be loaded with a fast-acting tranquilizer rather than a bullet. ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2007, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-wild-nature-shows-have-a-gun-ready-in-case-an-animal-attacks/420199/3 "2007-09-23T15:57:23Z")
Survivorman carried a [gun](http://www.makemewatchtv.com/category/shows/survivorman/) in the Arctic in case of Polar Bears Tim “Grizzly Man” Treadwell made a great big deal about not carrying a gun… but in theory NO ONE who is in a U.S. National Park filming Grizzly’s is supposed to be packing heat – Bear Spray that is what they are supposed to have for protection. [link](http://www.wolfsongalaska.org/news/Alaska_current_events_815.htm) ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2007, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-wild-nature-shows-have-a-gun-ready-in-case-an-animal-attacks/420199/4 "2007-09-23T20:54:17Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow] If so, I would think it would be loaded with a fast-acting tranquilizer rather than a bullet. [/QUOTE] There isn’t such a thing as a tranquilizer that is fast enough to stop a charging animal. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-wild-nature-shows-have-a-gun-ready-in-case-an-animal-attacks/420199/5 "2007-09-24T00:47:48Z")
[QUOTE=riker1384] There isn’t such a thing as a tranquilizer that is fast enough to stop a charging animal. [/QUOTE] Which is exactly why I hunt from the top of a US Army surplus tank. Nevertheless, I still have nightmares of rabbits charging me and I can’t get the damned lid down. It isn’t easy being a Great White Hunter. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-wild-nature-shows-have-a-gun-ready-in-case-an-animal-attacks/420199/6 "2007-09-24T03:35:46Z")
FWIW, when in Zimbabwe some years ago I went on a nature hike during which we encountered (among plenty of less-threatening species) elephants and buffalo. The guide carried a .375 H&H rifle. He said he “rarely” had to use it. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-wild-nature-shows-have-a-gun-ready-in-case-an-animal-attacks/420199/7 "2007-09-24T03:36:56Z")
I thought it came out a few years back, that all of the scenes of an animal attacking were staged. That is, the crew would more or less force a conflict with ‘predator’ and ‘prey’. With this much control present on the situation, I would think that choices / decisions are made to reduce human interaction. = = I would think that there are measures taken to reduce animal V Human. Yes. ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-wild-nature-shows-have-a-gun-ready-in-case-an-animal-attacks/420199/8 "2007-09-24T13:24:30Z")
[QUOTE=jimmmy] Tim “Grizzly Man” Treadwell made a great big deal about not carrying a gun… but in theory NO ONE who is in a U.S. National Park filming Grizzly’s is supposed to be packing heat – Bear Spray that is what they are supposed to have for protection. [link](http://www.wolfsongalaska.org/news/Alaska_current_events_815.htm) [/QUOTE] From what I’ve read, park rangers have shotguns (12 gauge slugs) and rifles for dealing with dangerous and aggressive bears. Grizzly bears have been known to stalk and kill humans. ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-wild-nature-shows-have-a-gun-ready-in-case-an-animal-attacks/420199/9 "2007-09-24T22:33:19Z")
[QUOTE=mks57] From what I’ve read, park rangers have shotguns (12 gauge slugs) and rifles for dealing with dangerous and aggressive bears. Grizzly bears have been known to stalk and kill humans. [/QUOTE] Rangers do carry. Guys filming in the National Parks (except Wrangell-St.Elias in Alaska) don’t - or aren’t [supposed to.](http://www.hypernews.org/HyperNews/get/trails/Appalachian/368.html?inline=-1) ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-wild-nature-shows-have-a-gun-ready-in-case-an-animal-attacks/420199/10 "2007-09-25T02:57:53Z")
[QUOTE=BarnOwl] It isn’t easy being a Great White Hunter. [/QUOTE] So rabbits scare you but sharks don’t? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-wild-nature-shows-have-a-gun-ready-in-case-an-animal-attacks/420199/11 "2007-09-25T03:03:26Z")
[QUOTE=jimmmy] Tim “Grizzly Man” Treadwell made a great big deal about not carrying a gun… [/QUOTE] The Rangers who recovered Treadwell’s remains had two shotguns and a large caliber handgun. The ranger with the handgun shot and killed the grizzly that devoured Treadwell when it charged them. I have always thought that the guys with the shotguns had to buy the beer if the handgunner ever stooped so low as to drink with them. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-wild-nature-shows-have-a-gun-ready-in-case-an-animal-attacks/420199/12 "2007-09-25T14:14:22Z")
[QUOTE=Duckster] So rabbits scare you but sharks don’t? 🙂 [/QUOTE] Only at the poker table. But I have to admit, ducks are the scariest of all.