On Fri, 23 Apr 2004 13:42:52 -0400, Stephen Harding
wrote:

Mary Shafer wrote:

The closest I've ever come to being attacked by a wild animal is being
nipped by a rock hyrax on Table Mountain, though. Hyraxes are the
closest living relatives of elephants, not that you'd guess that by
looking at either of them. Although now that I think about elephants,
there was that one bull elephant who seriously considered charging our
vehicle in Samburu (or was it Masai Mara?) a few years ago.

Hyraxes? Elephants? Phaah!

Ever been to Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park in Colorado?

Yes, I have been. Pretty, isn't it?

That's the site of my only "wildlife attack". A vicious and highly
aggressive pack of ground squirrels! The little buggers would come
right up under the picnic table at the campsite, and nip at your
toes.

Stellar jays in Yosemite are equally aggressive, taking food right out
of your hand. My father, who spent a fair amount of time in the
mountains of Utah and Colorado, always called jays camp robbers, as
they would take anything not nailed down (and at least try to take the
rest). I don't recall any direct attacks, though.

Mary

--
Mary Shafer Retired aerospace research engineer