To ask what is the largest wild animal you could fight off?

[Tsham]

You’re walking in the countryside. An animal resents your presence and it goes for you.

One simple question.

What is the largest wild animal you think you could successfully fight off?

It doesn’t have to be a British wild animal. Feel free to choose a Koala or a Baboon, etc. if you wish.

I was going to say hedgehog until I heard about its attack on a pp. A house mouse bit me very hard ( and it’s tail slinked up me - not sure which was worse) so he or she definitely won.
so now I am stuck thinking of an animal with no teeth or claws and always sleepy or eating.

ok having researched this I am going with pangolin.
AI tells me that with no teeth and passive nature they are Not aggressive and possess no offensive combat skills.
Why You Would Win

• Zero aggression: Pangolins never attack humans or other animals.
• Defensive nature: When threatened, their only instinct is to roll into a tight, motionless ball.
• No biting: They completely lack teeth, so they cannot bite you.
• Slow movement: They cannot run away quickly to escape

However , wasn’t one a potential culprit for Covid 19? And therefore could be responsible for millions of deaths worldwide?

Maybe I should just hide under my duvet or fill my pockets with tit bits just in case?

No way, wasps terrify me. 😂 I can handle spiders, though.

In terms of animals, maybe a mouse??

The state of my car suspension against a badger was interesting. Admittedly the badger came off worse, but my suspension wasn’t happy!!

Not a chance I’d take on one of those buggers.

Im thinking my neighbours dog. The way it’s going, it’ll be very soon.

I assume you don’t live rurally? The cars aren’t fine - it’s pretty much like hitting a lump of concrete, they are solid! If you hit a badger your car is pretty certain to have damage, bumpers, lights, dents that sort of thing. Obviously the badger doesn’t come out of the encounter fit and well, but I would defo recommend doing your best to avoiding driving over one if possible!

Should we wear bright colours to your funeral?

I reckon I could take a medium sized sheep, not a pig though, they're solid muscle with massive teeth. The PP saying anteater, I read the other day that one in a zoo killed it's keeper with it's massive claws, so I think you'd be better running!

An aged, lost, inner city pigeon with one leg.

Violated by a monkey 😮

Polar bear.

I wouldnt fight it though, I'd befriend it. I bet they love a good belly rub.

Possibly a penguin? Not a maximum size one, and the beak would inflict nasty wounds, but they might be lighter than they look (being birds) and could be toppled by kicking and they sat on?

I love capybaras! They look like giant guinea pigs.

The first time I saw one*, I was surprised by how big they are. In my head, they were around Jack Russell terrier size, but they're more like the size of a spaniel.

*in a zoo, I wasn't trekking in South America or anything exciting

No they are in fact heavy, because their bones are dense (so they don;t keep floating to the surface when they dive, they've got big muscles for swimming and they have a lot of heavy blubber for warmth.

I also suspect they might try to sit on you like they do with their eggs, and shove a fish down your throat. On the other hand they do a look a bit dopey so you might be able to surprise one from behind.

I totally would not take on a badger 😂

I think a fox would be about my limit, too.

I pulled my terrier away from two young badgers who were fighting one another. It wasn’t pretty and I didn’t want her joining in.

I don’t like them much.

A wasp.

I was born prey.

I would have a go against a flamingo. They are a ridiculous shape so if I can tackle it to the ground and sit on it I'd have the upper hand.

Great question. DH says "Emperor Penguin". For me, dunno. Small animals can be very fierce! I wouldn't mess with a fox either. Fast and bitey.

I reckon a penguin could give a pretty good slap

👏👏👏😂😂

Mmm me thinks you'd be polar bears tea.
Agreed they look cuddly fluffy etc but it ends in looks

My teen DS said with some certainty a black bear. I like that he backs himself, and I hope he holds onto this confidence.

Actually, I had an encounter with a bear (didn’t ask for credentials) in California in the early 90s. I was camping and it came into our camp. Me and my friend scared it off with flashing lights and noise (banging saucepans). It left. So on that basis, I can take a really quite large bear.

A deer, one of those small ones, they come into my garden so I am experienced. Although realistically I'm more herding them than fighting them. But I think I could take one on.

……or could you?