ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Animal attacks

When you see an animal in the wild, it's important to remember that they are not like your pets at home. They are not used to being around humans and can become scared or threatened if they feel like they're in danger.

Sometimes, an animal might attack a person if they feel like they need to protect themselves or their babies. For example, a mama bear might attack a person who gets too close to her cubs.

Other times, an animal might attack a person if they think the person is food. This is what happens when a shark attacks a person who is swimming in the ocean, or when a lion attacks a person who is walking through their territory.

To stay safe from animal attacks, it's important to always be aware of your surroundings and to know what kind of animals live in the area you're visiting. If you see an animal, it's best to give it plenty of space and avoid getting too close. And if an animal does start to attack, it's important to try to protect yourself by backing away slowly, making loud noises to scare it off, or using a tool like pepper spray to defend yourself.