Dangerous wildlife series is Michelle’s latest addiction
There is nothing more romantic than lying in bed next to your husband and whispering sweet nothings in his ear.
“Did you know snakes can bite you even after they’re dead?” I asked Mark.
He didn’t, so I kept on whispering.
“It’s true. I just saw it on an episode of ‘I was Prey.’ A guy cut off a rattlesnake’s head. An hour late, the snake’s head lunged at him and bit him in the finger.”
My husband rolled over to face me. “You need to stop watching that show,” he said, softly. “It practically consumes you.”
“Better than being consumed by a crocodile,” I cooed, “which is why we are NEVER canoeing on the Zimbabwe River.”
So much for pillow talk.
The Animal Planet series “I was Prey” is my second-favorite TV show after “Dateline.” The series recounts the true stories of people who have found themselves in a life-or-death situation with dangerous wildlife.
The good news: The victims survive to tell their tales. The better news? The wildlife usually survives too.
There was the lady who got ambushed by a wily coyote. And the dog walker who was attacked by marauding raccoons. Oh, and lest we forget the hunter who was mauled by a bear. (Bears often guest star on “I was Prey.” They’re right up there with sharks in terms of air time.)
A couple weeks ago, my family and I vacationed in Estes Park, Colorado. As we hiked through Rocky Mountain National Park, I warned Mark and our son, Sam, to keep their guards up.
“There could be a mountain lion lurking behind every pine tree,” I told them. “And moose can be dangerous too. Fortunately, they’re near-sighted so it’s easier to get away from them. But if you see a moose wearing glasses, make a run for it.”
Spying a mountain lion in town
Mark chuckled at my warnings — until he drove into town early one morning and spied a mountain lion slinking across the roadway. Why, of all mornings, did I choose that one to sleep in? I made him retell the story at least a half dozen times, living vicariously through his sighting.
For me, it was the most thrilling part of our trip — but not the most adorable. During our hikes, we also crossed paths with several chubby-cheeked chipmunks, a herd of grazing elk, and an overweight marmot that tried to steal Sam’s trail mix.
Though we looked for bears, there were none to be seen — which was good news for a slowpoke like me. According to my “I was Prey” research, you don’t have to outrun a bear. You just have to outrun the hiker behind you.
