Most people think of evacuation as something that happens in third-world countries when there's a war or when nature runs amok and sends a tsunami rushing ashore. But the truth is there are evacuations taking place around our own country all the time.
Right now, for instance, more than 32,000 Colorado residents are on the run from a wildfire that has engulfed their homes, destroying everything they own. The governor of the state said the region looks like a military invasion, and there is no end in sight as the scope of the fire is growing.
It's the same story in neighboring Utah and New Mexico where fires are forcing residents out of their homes. Where will these people sleep tonight? Where will they go, and what will they have to look forward to in the coming days?
Imagine for a moment that you are one of them. Sometime during the day you are notified that you must leave your home and get out of the area, because there's an official evacuation notice. Or perhaps you're at work or school or out shopping when your neighborhood is overrun by a wildfire, and you have no chance to return to your home to grab anything.
That's the way forced evacuations work sometimes. You might not have any time at all to scramble around, grabbing this and that to take with you. You might have exactly what you're wearing and what's in your vehicle, and nothing else.
So that begs the question of what you're wearing and what's in your vehicle, because that might be the sum total of what you are able to have during the evacuation — if you're lucky.
If you're less lucky, you might not have the vehicle. It might be swept away in a flood, or cremated by a wildfire, or destroyed in the wreckage of collapsed buildings after an earthquake.
Then you have only what you're wearing and what you can grab in an instant.
Getting out alive is the highest priority, even if it means you have no time or opportunity to grab anything at all.
But, if you have prepared an evacuation bag (sometimes known as a "grab and go" bag or a "bug out bag"), you are miles ahead of the game. A well-prepared evacuation bag will be sitting by an exit, where you can lay your hands on it as you're fleeing the building. Or it will be in your vehicle already.
For ultimate versatility, organize your kit in a "backpack" style piece of luggage that has substantial wheels, an extendable handle, and shoulder straps.
Just because you're in survival mode is no reason to live like a heathen. To make life easier when you're on the run or are living in a refugee camp, here are my basic recommendations for items to be included in the kit.
A couple changes of underwear and socks
Long -sleeved shirt
T shirtPants
Windbreaker
Rain poncho or rain suit
Billed cap
Sunglasses
Spare eyeglasses (if you need them)
Contact lens solution (if you need it)
Bandana or large handkerchief
Work gloves
Power bars
Trail mix
3 or more MREs or Mountain House meals
Folding military-type can opener
Salt and pepper
Paper plates
Backpack stove, fuel, and lightweight pot (JetBoil Personal Cooking System is excellent for this)
2 liters of water
Backpack water filter
1 roll of toilet paper
1 heavy-duty trash bag
Disposable towelettes
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
Bar of soap
Liquid camp soap
Shampoo, conditioner
Small towel, washcloth
Hair brush
First aid kit
Insect repellent
Sun screen
Lightweight tent or tarp
Sleeping bag or blanket
Sleeping pad
Emergency-type blanket
Flashlight (hand crank type, or take spare batteries)
Fire starter and tinder
Knife
Pepper spray
Signal mirror, whistle
Lightweight rope
Trowel for digging a latrine
Emergency radio (hand crank type like Grundig FR200, or take spare batteries)
Deck of cards to alleviate boredom while in a refugee situation
Roll of quarters (for showers)
Small cache of spending money (keep this hidden)
Photo ID
Pencil and notepad
Prescription medications (rotate to keep these fresh)
This might seem like a lot of stuff, and you might not be able to prepare your kit with everything on this list. But if you can, you will be able to live well and comfortably no matter where you end up after the evacuation.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
When The Unexpected Happens
True story from our early days of knocking around the wild places.
Early one evening, our vehicle broke down in the wilds of the vast western desert. When the engine died, it took the headlights with it. There we were, Becky and me and two tiny children, stranded in the desert, miles and miles from civilization. The sun was quickly going down, and there was no way to notify anyone of our plight.
I knew I wasn't going to be able to fix the vehicle until morning, when I would be able to see what I was doing. Right now I had to take care of the immediate needs — making it comfortably and safely through the night.
A short recon of the area led to a suitable stone overhang that would make a good natural shelter. Why not just stay in the car? you ask. We could have stayed in the dark, cold car, but I decided that an outdoor shelter would provide the advantage of being able to get a fire going so we could hunker down next to its friendly glow.
The fire served a couple of purposes — to allow us to see what we were doing, and to help calm any growing anxiety about being stranded in a strange and wild place. To make the most of the soft light, I positioned the small blaze near the stone wall of the overhang. The illumination reflected off the wall and the overhanging ceiling, spreading light over a much wider area than a fire sitting alone in the middle of an open space could have done.
In an emergency, the light from the fire could have been arranged to signal for help. If you attract the attention of someone who can rescue you, you don’t need to spend a lot of time in a survival situation. Signal fires are useful both day and night. By day, you want the fire to produce lots of smoke (add bits of green or damp foliage to produce white smoke, burn oil or rubber to make black smoke). A column of smoke is visible for miles, and stands a good chance of attracting the attention of someone in the vicinity.
By night, smoke is less visible, but the smell of smoke might still arouse the attention of someone. Of course, the best use of a fire as a signal at night is a bright blaze that puts a lot of light into the sky.
For safety, a signal fire should be built in a clearing where there is no danger of setting the whole landscape on fire. Actually, rather than one big fire, a trio of smaller, more manageable fires is even better. Three fires arranged in a triangle make an internationally recognized distress signal. Besides that, you can position yourself between the fires to stay warm all the way around— which brings us to the next topic.
It didn't take long after the sun went down before our night in the desert became dramatically colder. We hadn’t planned on the car breaking down and having to camp in this remote spot (no one ever thinks an emergency is going to happen, right?), so we didn’t have camping gear with us — no sleeping bags, tent, or warm coats.
As the darkness deepened, the cold became a concern. The way things were going, this was shaping up to be a long and miserable night. So, in addition to providing light, the fire suddenly became very important as a source of warmth. But that little campfire wasn’t going to be much of a heat source — unless we modified it.
A campfire is famous for toasting one side of you while allowing the “dark side of the moon” to freeze, so we needed to come up with a solution.
One way to solve the problem is to position the fire a moderate distance away from a reflective surface (like the rock wall at the back of our overhanging ledge, for example), allowing enough room for us to get between the blaze and the wall. That way, the wall reflected some of the heat onto the side of us that was not facing the fire. To improve the situation even more, I erected a stone wall on the far side of the blaze, to turn even more heat back toward us.
There we spent the night. Becky and I fed wood into the blaze continually to keep us surrounded by the glow and the warmth of the fire. When morning brought the light of a new day, I was able to fix the vehicle and get us on our way again, this time with a small adventure to add to our life experiences.
Early one evening, our vehicle broke down in the wilds of the vast western desert. When the engine died, it took the headlights with it. There we were, Becky and me and two tiny children, stranded in the desert, miles and miles from civilization. The sun was quickly going down, and there was no way to notify anyone of our plight.
I knew I wasn't going to be able to fix the vehicle until morning, when I would be able to see what I was doing. Right now I had to take care of the immediate needs — making it comfortably and safely through the night.
A short recon of the area led to a suitable stone overhang that would make a good natural shelter. Why not just stay in the car? you ask. We could have stayed in the dark, cold car, but I decided that an outdoor shelter would provide the advantage of being able to get a fire going so we could hunker down next to its friendly glow.
The fire served a couple of purposes — to allow us to see what we were doing, and to help calm any growing anxiety about being stranded in a strange and wild place. To make the most of the soft light, I positioned the small blaze near the stone wall of the overhang. The illumination reflected off the wall and the overhanging ceiling, spreading light over a much wider area than a fire sitting alone in the middle of an open space could have done.
In an emergency, the light from the fire could have been arranged to signal for help. If you attract the attention of someone who can rescue you, you don’t need to spend a lot of time in a survival situation. Signal fires are useful both day and night. By day, you want the fire to produce lots of smoke (add bits of green or damp foliage to produce white smoke, burn oil or rubber to make black smoke). A column of smoke is visible for miles, and stands a good chance of attracting the attention of someone in the vicinity.
By night, smoke is less visible, but the smell of smoke might still arouse the attention of someone. Of course, the best use of a fire as a signal at night is a bright blaze that puts a lot of light into the sky.
For safety, a signal fire should be built in a clearing where there is no danger of setting the whole landscape on fire. Actually, rather than one big fire, a trio of smaller, more manageable fires is even better. Three fires arranged in a triangle make an internationally recognized distress signal. Besides that, you can position yourself between the fires to stay warm all the way around— which brings us to the next topic.
It didn't take long after the sun went down before our night in the desert became dramatically colder. We hadn’t planned on the car breaking down and having to camp in this remote spot (no one ever thinks an emergency is going to happen, right?), so we didn’t have camping gear with us — no sleeping bags, tent, or warm coats.
As the darkness deepened, the cold became a concern. The way things were going, this was shaping up to be a long and miserable night. So, in addition to providing light, the fire suddenly became very important as a source of warmth. But that little campfire wasn’t going to be much of a heat source — unless we modified it.
A campfire is famous for toasting one side of you while allowing the “dark side of the moon” to freeze, so we needed to come up with a solution.
One way to solve the problem is to position the fire a moderate distance away from a reflective surface (like the rock wall at the back of our overhanging ledge, for example), allowing enough room for us to get between the blaze and the wall. That way, the wall reflected some of the heat onto the side of us that was not facing the fire. To improve the situation even more, I erected a stone wall on the far side of the blaze, to turn even more heat back toward us.
There we spent the night. Becky and I fed wood into the blaze continually to keep us surrounded by the glow and the warmth of the fire. When morning brought the light of a new day, I was able to fix the vehicle and get us on our way again, this time with a small adventure to add to our life experiences.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Top 5 Survival Clothing Priorities
Any time you're outdoors — away from such luxuries as thermostats, solid walls around you, and a roof over your head — clothing is your primary shelter. You might find yourself hunkering down for a cold, wet night in the forest with only your clothing and some kind of rudimentary shelter made from natural materials to protect you. If I were to choose the top 5 priorities in survival clothing, they would be as follows:
Stay Dry — If you can't stay dry, you can't stay warm. Wet clothing acts like a "swamp cooler" air conditioner, as evaporation inexorably drains the warmth from your body core. A simple pocket poncho can be a life saver in wet conditions. Waterproof/breathable clothing is even better, though it is expensive. The ability of the clothing to release perspiration into the atmosphere is a huge benefit not afforded by a plastic poncho. Hypothermia doesn't care whether you got wet by falling in a river or by sweating. All that matters is you're wet. So if you rely on plastic to keep you dry, pay attention to ventilation to release perspiration from your body and clothing.
Insulation — Trapping a layer of body-warmed air next to your skin is the purpose of insulation. It's the same principle as a diver's wetsuit, wherein a thin layer of body-warmed water helps protect the diver from the colder water around him. The best insulation is natural, such as wool or down. The problem with down is that when it gets wet, it quits insulating and becomes an almost worthless lump. Wool tends to wick moisture away from your body and continue to insulate even when wet. I like merino wool because it isn't itchy. Man-made insulation materials are almost as good as the natural, and are generally much less expensive. I like fleece as an insulation layer beneath a shell that turns away the wind and precipitation.
Good Footwear — Your feet might be your only mode of transportation, so you must take good care of them. The worst thing is a pair of new boots that haven't been broken in yet, as they can cause disabling blisters. Trail shoes or boots that are nicely softened and fit your feet perfectly are the right choice. But even the best boots aren't enough. Good socks are essential. My favorite socks are made by a company named Point6 (www.point6.com). They fit like a second skin, are made of merino wool, and are very durable. It's a combination of qualities that help prevent blisters, and keep the feet at a comfortable temperature in both warm weather and cold.
Head Covering — Most of your body heat is lost through your scalp. An old woodsman saying is, "If your feet are getting cold, put on your hat." Sounds goofy, but it's true. The body starts to shut down the delivery of warm blood to the extremities such as the feet and hands as the body core cools. If you lose too much core warmth through your scalp, the feet will be the first to know about it. Any head covering is better than none, but a hat with a wide brim and the ability to shed water is the best, as it provides protection against both the sun and the rain. Hint: if your hair gets wet, dry it as soon as possible, or else you'll lose heat quickly due to evaporative cooling.
Leather Gloves — Second only to your feet, your hands need protection. Injure your hands in a survival situation and you will seriously limit your ability to perform life saving tasks. Not only that, but if you get an infection through a cut, abrasion, or a splinter, it can become a life-threatening injury as your weakened body and immune system are not able to fight it off. George Donner, leader of the ill-fated Donner Party, didn't succumb to starvation the way so many of the pioneer group did. Nope, he died because of a small injury to his hand that became infected. He was still alive when rescuers arrived, but was too weak from the infection to be saved. A pair of lightweight leather gloves can become treasured survival gear.
Stay Dry — If you can't stay dry, you can't stay warm. Wet clothing acts like a "swamp cooler" air conditioner, as evaporation inexorably drains the warmth from your body core. A simple pocket poncho can be a life saver in wet conditions. Waterproof/breathable clothing is even better, though it is expensive. The ability of the clothing to release perspiration into the atmosphere is a huge benefit not afforded by a plastic poncho. Hypothermia doesn't care whether you got wet by falling in a river or by sweating. All that matters is you're wet. So if you rely on plastic to keep you dry, pay attention to ventilation to release perspiration from your body and clothing.
Insulation — Trapping a layer of body-warmed air next to your skin is the purpose of insulation. It's the same principle as a diver's wetsuit, wherein a thin layer of body-warmed water helps protect the diver from the colder water around him. The best insulation is natural, such as wool or down. The problem with down is that when it gets wet, it quits insulating and becomes an almost worthless lump. Wool tends to wick moisture away from your body and continue to insulate even when wet. I like merino wool because it isn't itchy. Man-made insulation materials are almost as good as the natural, and are generally much less expensive. I like fleece as an insulation layer beneath a shell that turns away the wind and precipitation.
Good Footwear — Your feet might be your only mode of transportation, so you must take good care of them. The worst thing is a pair of new boots that haven't been broken in yet, as they can cause disabling blisters. Trail shoes or boots that are nicely softened and fit your feet perfectly are the right choice. But even the best boots aren't enough. Good socks are essential. My favorite socks are made by a company named Point6 (www.point6.com). They fit like a second skin, are made of merino wool, and are very durable. It's a combination of qualities that help prevent blisters, and keep the feet at a comfortable temperature in both warm weather and cold.
Head Covering — Most of your body heat is lost through your scalp. An old woodsman saying is, "If your feet are getting cold, put on your hat." Sounds goofy, but it's true. The body starts to shut down the delivery of warm blood to the extremities such as the feet and hands as the body core cools. If you lose too much core warmth through your scalp, the feet will be the first to know about it. Any head covering is better than none, but a hat with a wide brim and the ability to shed water is the best, as it provides protection against both the sun and the rain. Hint: if your hair gets wet, dry it as soon as possible, or else you'll lose heat quickly due to evaporative cooling.
Leather Gloves — Second only to your feet, your hands need protection. Injure your hands in a survival situation and you will seriously limit your ability to perform life saving tasks. Not only that, but if you get an infection through a cut, abrasion, or a splinter, it can become a life-threatening injury as your weakened body and immune system are not able to fight it off. George Donner, leader of the ill-fated Donner Party, didn't succumb to starvation the way so many of the pioneer group did. Nope, he died because of a small injury to his hand that became infected. He was still alive when rescuers arrived, but was too weak from the infection to be saved. A pair of lightweight leather gloves can become treasured survival gear.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Surviving A Failed Economy
In these economically-troubled times, there are people all over the world trying to figure out how to survive in an urban environment that has run amok with failed economies and weakening currency. In the wilderness, currency is only good for starting a fire. But in “civilization” the economy lives or dies by the strength of currency. We can take a lesson from some of the folks in Greece.
Greece has been at the forefront of economic news recently
because of their financial crisis. While politicians sit around lavish tables
endlessly discussing the theories and options, the folks back home need
solutions. And they need them now!
The town of Volos is a good example of a Greek community
that has taken the bull by the horns in seeking a way to keep living in spite
of the failed national economy and high unemployment. Their solution: Barter —
trading goods and services in exchange for something else. That is, after all,
exactly what we do — trading our goods and services for a piece of paper
(money) that we can then trade for other goods and services.
In Volos, residents are exchanging their chickens and eggs,
or homemade bread, or used clothing and jewelry, or carpentry skills. The
residents have come together in a cooperative enterprise, establishing what
appears to be a cross between a flea market and a farmer’s market, with stalls
displaying fresh produce and other wares.
The people have come up with an alternative currency that
they use as a substitute for the euro. When members of the “co-op” sell their
goods or services, either online or at the marketplace, they collect this new
currency into an account that can be tapped to buy stuff from other members.
Virtually anything can be purchased, including yoga classes.
This system has developed into a comfortable and stable
substitute for the national economy. One resident, a school teacher named
Irene, said, “It’s very nice, I think. I don’t have stress. When you have to
buy something in euros you’re always in stress. But now I’m okay.”
Could there be something in all this for us to learn? In the
event of a financial meltdown, here is a model that shows how we can keep
things going. Barter of hard goods, or working though an alternative currency
are two options that can be made to work.
But it will work only if the community comes together in an
organized way that is acceptable to everyone. Something like this could be done
in smaller scale, say with the population of a neighborhood, a church group, or
people of like mind. It doesn’t have to involve an entire city, necessarily,
although the more variety of goods and services that are available, the more
functional the system becomes.
Barter — it's a possible solution to tuck into the back of our minds as we prepare
for an ever more doubtful economic future.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Dying In A Freezer — A Lesson In Situational Awareness
When Jay Luther stepped into the walk-in freezer at his restaurant, he fully expected to come out alive. Unfortunately, he didn't.
Here's what happened:
On Friday, there was a power outage that affected the restaurant owned by Mr. Luther. Employees, concerned about keeping the food safe, place dry ice inside the freezer to keep everything cold. On Sunday, the power came back on and Luther walked into the freezer to get some supplies for cooking.
The door closed behind him, and he was trapped.
Here's what happened:
On Friday, there was a power outage that affected the restaurant owned by Mr. Luther. Employees, concerned about keeping the food safe, place dry ice inside the freezer to keep everything cold. On Sunday, the power came back on and Luther walked into the freezer to get some supplies for cooking.
The door closed behind him, and he was trapped.
About now, you might be thinking Jay Luther froze to death while trapped in his own freezer. But according to the official report, the probable cause of death was asphyxia as carbon dioxide gas was released by the dry ice into the tightly sealed freezer compartment.
Luther's commercial freezer had a safety release button on the inside that was supposed to allow anyone inside to open the door. But the button was evidently broken.
So, what we have here is a death that can be attributed to a failure of situational awareness. Had Mr. Luther been aware that the safety button was broken, and had he taken steps to have it repaired, he might be alive today.
Even though the "agent of death" might be asphyxia, or hypothermia, or an 18-wheeler that clobbers you as you step off the curb, the real cause of death is often a lack of situational awareness.
Maintaining situational awareness is a core principle of survival. Here are a few ways to do it.
Keep eyes and ears open — watch what people are doing around you.
Be aware of danger zones, and stay out of them.
Test safety equipment to make sure it works.
Check the weather, and take appropriate precautions to stay dry.
Inspect vehicle gauges before taking off.
Is your zipper up and shoes tied? Is your slip showing (for those of you who wear slips)?
Turn around to see if there a mountain lion following you.
Check your backtrail for landmarks you'll use when hiking in the opposite direction.
Inventory your bug-out-bag often.
Be sure of your footing before shifting your weight.
Ask yourself where the will blade go if it slips — make sure it isn't into your flesh.
Look both ways (twice) before crossing.
Find out what that noise is.
Pay attention to sources of water, food, shelter, and essential supplies.
Maintain general awareness of what's going on around you.
Luther's commercial freezer had a safety release button on the inside that was supposed to allow anyone inside to open the door. But the button was evidently broken.
So, what we have here is a death that can be attributed to a failure of situational awareness. Had Mr. Luther been aware that the safety button was broken, and had he taken steps to have it repaired, he might be alive today.
Even though the "agent of death" might be asphyxia, or hypothermia, or an 18-wheeler that clobbers you as you step off the curb, the real cause of death is often a lack of situational awareness.
Maintaining situational awareness is a core principle of survival. Here are a few ways to do it.
Be aware of danger zones, and stay out of them.
Test safety equipment to make sure it works.
Check the weather, and take appropriate precautions to stay dry.
Inspect vehicle gauges before taking off.
Is your zipper up and shoes tied? Is your slip showing (for those of you who wear slips)?
Turn around to see if there a mountain lion following you.
Check your backtrail for landmarks you'll use when hiking in the opposite direction.
Inventory your bug-out-bag often.
Be sure of your footing before shifting your weight.
Ask yourself where the will blade go if it slips — make sure it isn't into your flesh.
Look both ways (twice) before crossing.
Find out what that noise is.
Pay attention to sources of water, food, shelter, and essential supplies.
Maintain general awareness of what's going on around you.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Wolves Don't Attack Humans … Really?
In fact, of all the animals who have ever lived in our family, the one I remember with greatest fondness is a Malamute-Lab-Wolf mix who became my constant companion when outdoors. We raised him from a puppy so small I could hold him in the palm of my hand. I've never known a more non-territorial, gentle, loving animal who was friends to everyone and everything that walked by. He loved the snow (Malamute), loved to play in the water (Lab), and would sing with me a favorite Wolf song when the moon came up. He lived with us for 11 years, until he became ill. His final act of compassion for me was that he, in typical wild animal style, went off to die by himself — and in spite of my 2-day search for him, remained hidden from view. I never did find his final resting place, and I wept as if I had lost a child. Still today, I have momentary fantasies about him showing up at the doorstep, having found his way home.
I mention all this only to convince you that I am not prejudiced against wolves. I believe they are among the most magnificent canines on the planet. Still and all, a wolf is a wolf. And there are folks who make it their pseudo-religion to believe that wolves simply do not attack humans. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Wolves DO attack humans, sometimes killing them. But so do Pitbulls and German Shepherds and other large domesticated breeds. Horses sometimes attack and kill humans, so do bovines that are raised by and habituated to people.
So the point of all this is not to single out the wolf as a particularly deadly animal — but only to put to rest the myth that wolves do no attack and kill humans.
In point of fact, just yesterday a female zookeeper was attacked and killed by wolves at a wildlife park in Sweden. These wolves had been raised in the park since birth and were in contact with humans on a routine basis. The keeper was a longtime employee and had worked with this particular group of wolves since they were born. So they knew her, and she knew them, and was experienced in working with them.
It's not clear yet what prompted the attack. All that is known is that she entered the compound to "maintain contact with the wolves," and was found dead later with evidence pointing to wolf attack.
With wild wolf proliferation on the rise in the American west, the issue must be raised about the safety of humans in wolf habitat. If wolves that have been raised since birth in the company of humans will attack and kill their keepers, what are wild wolves capable of?
Maybe this can put to rest the ridiculous myth that wolves don't attack humans. Farley Mowat was evidently not working with (or perhaps didn't care about) complete knowledge of the facts when he wrote Never Cry Wolf — a book that leans on the philosophy of "never let the facts get in the way of truth." Unfortunately, the facts don't substantiate his version of the truth.
For us, the lesson should be that when you're in wolf country (or bear or cougar country), you're in their house. Don't underestimate them — or any other wild animal (you should see what a moose can do when he takes a dislike to you). Respect these animals, understand that they are wild and likely view you as an uninvited intruder in their world. Be able to protect yourself, if necessary.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Wildlife Attack
Michael and Lindy Chamberlain took their 9-week-old daughter Azaria on a camping trip to Ayers Rock, the famous monolith in the Australian desert. It was August, 1980. Sometime during the night of August 17th, little Azaria disappeared from camp. Her body was never found.
Lindy and Michael reported that their baby had been dragged away by dingos — Australian wild dogs the roam the desert regions, hunting prey at night. The authorities didn't believe that story, because the popular beliefs were that a dingo was not dangerous and would only attack if provoked. Not only that, but the theory was that a dingo was not strong enough to carry away a baby human.
An initial coroner's inquest found that a dingo had taken Azaria. A second inquest (after some of the baby's clothing was discovered in the desert) ended with Lindy being charged with murder and Michael being charged as an accessory. Lindy was accused of slashing her daughter's throat with nail scissors and making it look like a dingo attack.
Lindy was prosecuted for murder, was found guilty, and was sentenced to life in prison with hard labor. Ultimately, she spent more than three years in prison before being cleared of those charges when further evidence was found that backed up her story. But in spite of being exonerated, public opinion ran strong against the Chamberlains for years. Some spat on Lindy, others gathered outside her home and howled like dingoes.
A third inquest came to no conclusion one way or the other. At that time, no similar dingo attacks had been verified.
Then new evidence emerged of dingo attacks, including three fatal attacks on children that happened after the third inquest. A fourth inquest was held, and Australian authorities finally made it official that Azaria was killed by an attack of dingoes.
In an interview, Lindy said, "No longer will australia be able to say that dingoes are not dangerous and only attack if provoked."
This outcome is important for two reasons. First, it finally and officially clears the parents of the heinous crime they had been accused of.
Second, it illustrates to the world that the "Disney" version of life in the wilderness is not true. Nature is not all warm and fuzzy. It's harsh. Predators are always on the hunt for their next meal, and sometimes they will attack humans.
For those of us who enjoy being out in "nature" this is a clear signal that we need to take precautions to avoid a tragic encounter with wildlife.
An initial coroner's inquest found that a dingo had taken Azaria. A second inquest (after some of the baby's clothing was discovered in the desert) ended with Lindy being charged with murder and Michael being charged as an accessory. Lindy was accused of slashing her daughter's throat with nail scissors and making it look like a dingo attack.
Lindy was prosecuted for murder, was found guilty, and was sentenced to life in prison with hard labor. Ultimately, she spent more than three years in prison before being cleared of those charges when further evidence was found that backed up her story. But in spite of being exonerated, public opinion ran strong against the Chamberlains for years. Some spat on Lindy, others gathered outside her home and howled like dingoes.
A third inquest came to no conclusion one way or the other. At that time, no similar dingo attacks had been verified.
Then new evidence emerged of dingo attacks, including three fatal attacks on children that happened after the third inquest. A fourth inquest was held, and Australian authorities finally made it official that Azaria was killed by an attack of dingoes.
In an interview, Lindy said, "No longer will australia be able to say that dingoes are not dangerous and only attack if provoked."
This outcome is important for two reasons. First, it finally and officially clears the parents of the heinous crime they had been accused of.
Second, it illustrates to the world that the "Disney" version of life in the wilderness is not true. Nature is not all warm and fuzzy. It's harsh. Predators are always on the hunt for their next meal, and sometimes they will attack humans.
For those of us who enjoy being out in "nature" this is a clear signal that we need to take precautions to avoid a tragic encounter with wildlife.
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