Do Marine vs. Terrestrial Animals differ in dangerousness?

[MaxBottomtime]

I've hiked in Alaska and had grizzlies within 200 feet. I surprised a bull moose (and myself) when I turned a corner on a trail and it was five feet away. It snorted, then bolted. In Nevada I had a mustang rare up and flick his front legs at me from fifteen feet away when I came around a rock and found a dozen wild horses grazing. While scary, none of these animals tried to attack me.
Underwater I've been bitten by a bull sea lion who also threw me around like a rag doll. I've been nipped by sergeant majors, sheephead and garibaldi. I've been "attacked" by numerous urchins. I consider these encounters part of the cost of doing business when I venture into their world. I'd rather have a close encounter with a wild animal than use an ATM after midnight.

 

[Bubblesong]

@MaxBottomtime you mentioned surprising large animals, which I have heard is most dangerous. Is it harder to surprise animals underwater, due to our bubbles and their sonar, so we are less likely to catch sea creatures by surprise?

 

[MaxBottomtime]

The only time I think I surprised an animal underwater was when I swam through an arch at 1000 Steps in Laguna Beach, California. As I was entering the arch on one side a leopard shark was entering the other side. Each of us was startled and quickly backed away.

 

[KeithG]

Do we need to pick a few land vs water species and then let them battle it out? I am willing to pit my local Red Squirrel against any Damselfish.

I think the reality is that a few underwater predators "mistake" us for food (for whatever reason). Or are forced to seek us out for food due to a lack of (easily caught, plentiful, better tasting) real food.

On land the same happens. But as scuba divers we do not pay much attention to it.

If I mention rabid fox (or wolf, or squirrel, or ...) then I claim that situation could be considered to fit the mistaken attack situation? We are not normal prey, but we become prey under an abnormal circumstance. (do sharks go rabid?)

Hungry bear pretty much covers the other case. Omnivores. Everybody tastes good. Stay away!

So my answer is no.

And as a challenge, try teasing a Canada Goose...Let me know how that works out for you...

 

[Lorenzoid]

Good point about humans "surprising" potentially dangerous land animals. Compared with some of them, we humans have relatively poor senses of hearing and smell, so I suppose we are more susceptible to stumbling into their space than other animals. They might sense us approaching but do nothing until the last minute--when they are surprised--because they are not accustomed to other animals being unable to sense their presence. I bet a lot of other animals can smell a bear a mile away.

 

[seeker242]

World's most dangerous animal: Human beings!

 

[MaxBottomtime]

 

[Marie13]

I never saw Jaws all the way through. Couldn't bear to watch it. People give me grief for wanting to dive the cold waters of the Great Lakes, but "there is nothing in there that can eat me" (The Great Lakes Diving Guide, Cris Kohl). . I need to get one of the stickers that depicts the Great Lakes and says "Great Lakes: unsalted and shark free."

Maybe I'll dive warmer waters eventually...when, I don't know.

 

[KathyV]

I wonder who won the race?!

 

[USMC CPL.]

I never saw Jaws all the way through. Couldn't bear to watch it. People give me grief for wanting to dive the cold waters of the Great Lakes, but "there is nothing in there that can eat me" (The Great Lakes Diving Guide, Cris Kohl). . I need to get one of the stickers that depicts the Great Lakes and says "Great Lakes: unsalted and shark free."

Maybe I'll dive warmer waters eventually...when, I don't know.

You never know a bull shark may make it to the great lakes one day. The ocean is beautiful. I have dove in Okinawa and saw a great white. I looked at him and said the water is yours. Lol. If you ever get a chance San Diego wreck alley is a great place to dive.