SANParks.org Forums

Not only bold, but now they're getting cheeky too

Don't worry -- I have it on excellent authority that striped mice are not known to carry rabies Best thing to do is put some bactroban/betadine/dettol on it and a plaster. If it goes septic (some folk are prone to sepsis) see a doc & get a course of antibiotics.

Hope it heals soon

on the other hand, if you start foaming at the mouth & wanting to bite your dogs, see a doc ...

Hi Sue, I have just googled your question and to qoute one article, "to our knowledge striped mice do not transfer rabies"

This was an article on striped mouse and elephant shrew research in the Karoo. Lets try www.stripedmouse.com.

Might be an idea to make sure your tetanus is up to date?

Thanks all, well as the bite happened at Grootkolk about 2 weeks ago now, and I immediately washed the toe and applied Aloe lotion, without any sepsis or infection since, I guess it is OK. I too believed there should be no rabies risk from the stripey things, but thought I would ask - I am sure a meandering mouse should know though!

It was sore at the time though!

Sue a lot of my childhood was spent rescuing mice. Growing up in a village surrounded by veld, the cats had a primitive paradise. I eventualy learnt to catch and carry the mouse to safety without being bitten, but it took many bites. I was the official mouse catcher and setter free.

My fate was sealed. Patron saint and saver of mice.

MM, my youngest son has a love of creatures equal to mine. He works at a large agricultural seed cleaning and distribution centre. As the apprentice one of his jobs is to check the mouse bait stations which are a type of box trap. If he finds dead mice he solemnly carries them to a nearby bush or tree for burial. If he finds any alive he surreptitiously sets it free! If his burly macho workmates find out he is in for some stick! But I tell him I am proud of him!

for your son.

My husband and I recently visited Kgalagadi and camped at Nossob from 30th May- 3rd June.

We went for a morning drive and witnessed two Lionesses walking up to a Fortuner and sinking their canines into the bumper and hanging on when the driver tried to pull away. This incident happenend on the look-out hill just north of Nossob. There were other cars at the look-out as well that they ignored and seemed to favour the Fortuner's bumper instead
Apparently the Lionesses were at it again that afternoon at Cubitje Quap waterhole. This time they took a chunk out of a guys car bumper!

Just wondered why they single out certain cars? We are told and made to believe they see cars and tents as objects.
Can any forumite perhaps explain this crazy Lion behaviour.

Interestingly, at Urikaruus, in October 2011, we were warned by Eric, the Sanparks Ranger on duty, to remove the plastic coverings off the towbar ball and light fitting and the one night we experienced an hyena biting and shattering my towbar light fitting into 4 pieces . The same night our neighbours got their plastic coverings chewed and mauled.

Maybe the game are a lot more intelligent than we give them credit for, and the only thing saving us is that they don't associate us with 'FOOD'!!

Imagine sitting next to a water hole watching the lions and the one turns to the other and grunts 'Ah, looks like canned food for dinner tonight, Simba!'

Ha-Ha

Hi GlynB

Now that would be scary if they started associating us with FOOD
Bet you werent thrilled to find your towbar light fitting in pieces???
The Fortuners bumper was a mess...just shows what damage those canines can do. But also wondering why they 'pick' on some cars and leave others alone?
wont be camping comfortably at Rooiputs in future just in case we're Simba's canned dinner

Just make sure there are no 'odd protrusions' from the tent, and label it with Nissan or Isuzu or something other that Toyota

ok.... now that poses a problem where do we hide the Hilux

Have a great week GlynB

regards from the Quinnies

Morning All,

Animal behaviour might never be understood 100% in why certain species behave differently as what we are taught the way they should behave, that is the beauty of nature we all learn something new every day.

Regarding the fact that animals do see vehicles and tents etc just as objects is true, they for instance don’t know they are able to go through a tent, it would just be by accident and playing behaviour that they might tear a tent and only then realize they can get through it.

Regarding species chewing on vehicles etc, the reason could be that our human scent is all over the vehicle. Remember that whenever you touch any object your human scent comes off on it and it does smell like meat, therefore the specie might have smelled it and think it is food and then take a bite out of it or 'taste' it. Why they pick on certain vehicles is unknown (maybe the human scent is just more prominent). It could also be that fluids from meat etc might have dripped on the bumper......who knows.

We have taken note that on a few occasions that lions actually charge certain vehicles. After investigating these matters we have come to the conclusion that visitors to the park would do anything to get the perfect picture even if it means they would through oranges at a lion to get his attention or even batteries.
Where did our respect for Mother Nature go.......

Good morning KG

Thank you so much for explaining the Lion behaviour. It all makes sense re human scent or even meat spills on a bumper.

Yes totally agree with you in cases where people will do anything for a photo we've seen this happening at the Kruger Park!!

But on this occassion we can assure you that these Lions weren't encouraged for a photoshoot. It happenend so quickly.

Although a friend of ours managed to get photos of the Lions biting the vehicle and just as well as the owners of the car can show these as proof when making an Insurance claim.

Very interesting!
A long time ago we entered Kruger at Malalane and had billtong in the boot which enticed a male lion to bite and scratch the boot