OUTDOORS FEATURE: Be wary, but don’t fear the harmless

Poisonous snakes can hurt people; even on rare occasions kill them. Poison ivy and similar noxious plants may drive one to distraction and have the potential to make a person ill. Bees, wasps, and hornets can be nuisances and, for some, real dangers.

In short, there are a number of things outdoor enthusiasts regularly encounter that are dangerous and deserving of the utmost caution. However, there are also quite a few wild things encountered by outdoorsmen that strike fear into their hearts for no good reason. These creatures incite terror, panic, and sometimes even self-inflicted injury, all of which, in the end, are unnecessary.

Let