A Pack Of Predators Rely On Their Numbers To Prey On The Weak

Predators run in packs. Predators will instinctively prey on the weak – especially those separated from the herd. Predators are opportunists looking for easy targets first. Not only is this true for the four legged predator but also the two legged variety.

Again last night as I listened to the squealing and howling pack of coyotes outside, I was reminded of their predatory instinctive mentality. Perhaps their noisy ruckus was the result of a successful attack and fresh kill of a lone rabbit or some other unsuspecting creature.

The pack behavior of those coyotes are not too far different from that of the two legged predator. While not all predators are pack animals, there is power in numbers for greater success at targeting prey.

How to avoid becoming prey?

1. Situational awareness.
2. Match their strength.
3. Power in numbers.

Situational awareness can give you the time needed to avoid an encounter with a predator or a pack of predators. But just because you’re a breathing human being doesn’t mean that you have situational awareness. You need to work at it.

Consciously be aware of your environment. Look ahead as you walk or travel. Notice what’s going on way before you get there. Alter your course of action when your gut tells you to…

I have written lots of articles to do with situational awareness. If you’re interested to read more about it, then go to my search page and type in situational awareness.

Match their strength. What I mean by this is to appear as though you might be a tough match for them. There are a number of ways to accomplish this. You might be fortunate enough to have a physique that may intimidate them, so they will likely leave you alone. If you are not 6’2″ / 220 then you have other options…

Look and appear confident. This alone will be quite effective, given that so many others are not outwardly confident. Remember, predators look for the easy prey. So shoulders back, head up, and go about your business with ‘purpose’.

Power in numbers. If you are part of your own pack, chances are you will be left alone. Traveling in numbers is a enormously effective deterrent to a predator or even a predatory pack. The lone person will always be preferred prey.

Note: If and when our modern society collapses into social chaos, ‘power in numbers’ will become a very important thing. Predatory packs will become more prevalent and widespread, so your security will be greatly enhanced by your own ‘numbers’. Be aware that just because you believe that you are adequately prepared for security, remember that you can absolutely be overcome (become prey) by the actions of a determined pack. Your looks and appearance may be a deterrent, but situational awareness and especially ‘power in numbers’ may become critically important to avoid, deter, or deal with the pack.

44 Comments

  1. Our own government has become one of the largest predator packs there is. They have become too big and powerful, so much so that the individual does not stand a chance against them. Hopefully, with the most recent election results, the “citizen pack” will recapture some of the power lost over the last several years.

  2. At 6′ 4” and + 250 lbs most of my adult life, my physical presence has kept me out of trouble more often than not [especially if you aren’t looking for it – walk softly but carry a big stick]. However it can have the opposite effect of attracting the banty cock with something to prove to themselves and the world. Ultimately situational awareness is the first and most important aspect, as prioritized in your list. Even the smallest and most defenseless prey has to be caught off guard first.

    1. Ohhh a little guy!
      Just jokin,,,
      No wonder your nick name is BamBam!

    2. Yep…I’ve experienced the same thing. It is some sort of irresistible show off impulse and is unique to the two legged types.

      I’ve also seen packs of dogs riled up and attack and size did not matter to them.

  3. What I have experienced with hoodlum gang attacks, they feel power in a group, but alone they normally wouldn’t try. Groups give them security.

    Be armed and watch your back. Knife, pepper spray, alarm blaster, and mostly a gun because a gun levels out the playing field.

  4. Or as one of my favorite bloggers says–even a doberman recognizes the sound of a gun clearing a fanny pack. Predators are looking for the largest return with as little risk to themselves as possible.

    I used the word predators once in one of my books (in reference to humans) and some of my readers got really confused. Apparently humans aren’t predators in their protected little world.

    1. My Rottweiler runs away every time he sees me with a gun. He hates the noise, so now he just leaves when he sees one.

      1. Ditto with my fur-child…runs and hides at the sight of a rifle. Wouldn’t be helpful in confrontation, but his ears and nose will be an asset prior to…

    2. Humans are the worst predators that are out there. I’m sorry your readers don’t get that. The reason we have laws, morals and ethics. Unfortunately, there are the few who feel laws do not apply to them and they can do whatever they want. They could be in a government position, they could be a neighbor, or a misguided youth in a gang, or anyone who could have a narcissistic personality (millianials anyone? celebrities? fuglies who have to tweet every hour) I don’t know any other animal that lies, or rapes or kills just to kill. ( and when serial killers say they are just obeying their animal instincts…. well what a dumb ass) I hate to say such harsh words, yet it is the truth. I still believe that humans have an instinctive sense of right and wrong. and if I’m wrong on that, I guess I’m naive.

    3. Also Lauren, I would be really interested in reading your books. I am an avid reader. understand if you want anonymity.
      cheers! Have a great weekend!

      1. If Ken says it’s OK, no problem. Lauren is a pseudonym anyway, so no problem with anonymity. :) She’s my writing persona. Sometimes she seems more real than the other one.

        A few months ago I went to visit a group of readers who actually knew me, and used Lauren without thinking because it was author stuff. Caused some confusion.

  5. Predators like low hanging fruit. Distance, effort, risk, … for apparent little gain dissuades predators.

  6. One issue with the “two legged predator pack”, as local situation becomes more desperate. They be creatively adjusting their strategies, setting up ambushes, booby traps, using women and children as bait. Then the predator pack will pounce.

    A good technique may be to start thinking like these animals so that you can recognize traps/ambushes and avoid then when a SHTF event occurs.

    1. Unfortunately that’s where the trust nobody comes from for me. Actually experienced that first hand, try to sell something on CL only to have one of the lookyloos come back when they thought I wasn’t home.

  7. Predators can be fascinating to watch when they do take down a larger animal. If you ever get the opportunity to watch the process in the wild, I would encourage one to do so. You will learn some most valuable lessons. (ie: they never attack from the front. They will distract the front and go for the flanks or the rear.) I hunted coyotes prior to becoming a police officer. The only ones that attack straight away frontal attack is the biggest guy in the room and he knows it. (similar to a full grown black bear in the woods)

    I went through my first police academy before my 21st birthday and I was hired and sworn in when I was only shaving 2-3x per week. I am small stature and I looked kind of geeky so I was asked to do some undercover work. Essentially I was bait for a robbery detail. We caught a lot of bad people. Nobody could believe I was a cop. One fellow being handcuffed said I looked like a high school freshman.

    Back then I got a lot of advice on officer safety from my mentors growing up. One was a Senior Deputy with the SO and the other was Highway Patrol. They told me how to behave off duty and how to stay out of trouble.

    I also purchased a book on officer safety called Street Survival by Ronald Adams (Special Agent-Los Angeles area) I purchased it through Paladin Press back in the 1980’s. I am not sure if it is still being printed. This book was handed down to a friend who joined a local PD just before I left that line of work.

    Some things I do now days from the hard lessons I observed or cleaned up in the past:

    1. You will rarely see me ever go into a convenience store after dark. When I do, I park out front and watch the inside of the store for at least 1 full minute prior to walking inside. I get what I need and then leave quickly. Same applies to liquor stores.

    2. I never go to the ATM after dark in a secluded area and I avoid the ATMs where there is a lot of bushes and trash cans around to hide behind. This is one of the locations we worked in Robbery Detail. My wife would get irritated when we dated because every time she did this, I stood 10 yards away with a loaded pistol scanning outwards. People mistook me for a security contractor.

    3. If you smoke, buy your smokes by the carton from the grocery store.

    4. If the fight is on, fight to win but accept the possibility you will get hurt or killed in the process. My goal is to take the attacker(s) out with me. You are way beyond the Peaceful Resolution when the guns and knives come out.

    5. Use any means possible to avoid the fight (bribery, humor, distraction) then make your escape. The older I get, the more I use all of this stuff.

    Sorry for the long post Ken. I still work within a secure environment so I still have a combat mindset. Get out there and talk to people. Ask them questions. The world is full of retired security contractors, soldiers, police officers and government workers. I met several retired CIA case officers walking my dog. (They all had a knack for learning and fluency in several foreign languages) They all looked like old fat guys walking their dogs (like me!)

  8. Last note Ken: I am of Asian Ancestry so do not forget the protection and weapons potential of the automobile or truck that you are driving. (especially if you drive like Mr Magoo as I do.)

    The only threats within your automobile are: Bigger vehicles, Armored vehicles or Rocket-Propelled Grenades.

  9. Not all predators are pack animals. In America, most big cats and the bear families are usually alone when hunting/stalking. Predators can be divided into those that operate in a pack mentality and those that operate alone. In canines, there is a somewhat organized pack mentality to harm or destroy their prey and humans recognize this pack mentality often. We even see this behavior within our own species. With humans, the pack mentality is different — that herd behavior is usually unorganized and an element of chaos can disband the herd easily. With human predators acting alone, the element of danger can be just as vicious as the element of danger within a predatory pack. Just some thoughts and observations…

    Predators don’t always attack the weak, they often attack due to the situation that presents the prey as being in a weakened state (ie alone, stamina, situation). The behavior tends to be predictable and it would serve each of us to be mindful of herd and pack mentality as it applies to humans and to each of us.

  10. When I lived in Vermont (single then) I would cross country ski on outside of a federal migratory game preserve not far from where I lived in the mountains. Cold, clear January day about 500 yards behind a farm, heard the big old farm dog doing the I’m hot on a trail baying. So I stopped and starting looking over my left shoulder.

    I saw what I though was a fox loping along doing a wide turn towards me. It jumped a couple of fences (snow was deep and crusty). It was coming about 10 feet to my left, I stood still (nowhere to go in the wide open), turned out to be a coyote which came within about 10 feet of me, it stopped looked behind itself right where the barn dog was baying, then looked right at me (eye contact)and gave a kind of throaty mutter/mumble (not a growl). Then just looked forward and loped away into the woods.

    I did not feel threatened, probably should have, but it seemed the coyote wasn’t worried about me at all. Seems like the barn dog wasn’t the sharpest blade in the drawer and the coyote was. I’ll never forget it, memory is still vivid. Fortunately, the coyote appeared healthy, coat was clean not shaggy, no drool, muscle tone good, eyes clear.

    I guess the point is, I was in a spot randomly, ran into something I never expected without proper protection. I don’t think a cross country ski pole is much protection. From then I on I was a little more diligent on what I had with me.

    1. @Grey, Your experience is a great example. The unexpected can happen really quick. No matter where you live…

      Living where I live, I always carry one sort of firearm or another with me when I’m out on the land. While odds are seemingly slim that I will have a potentially dangerous encounter, one never knows.

  11. Mr. is forever on the alert, All The Time. Even when it is a bit umm, unnecessary! However I have learned to be a bit more also. Once a Marine always a Marine. It was ingrained in him by getting a bucket put on his head, getting slapped down, getting 2 Purple Hearts and looking for the Viet Kong before they saw him. Several here seem to know the drill. So I listen. I also was married to a policeman at one time and my dad was an ATF agent. They all have seen the worst of man.

  12. I have learned alot from here. Being from a small town, it is easy to let your guard down. You know everybody and you feel safe. I try to be more alert now. I pay attention. But sometimes you get too comfortable.

    1. Texasgirl

      Lol, we must have been posting at the same time. Small town safety bias is a wonderful feeling.

  13. Pack mentality can be a scary thing, and yes, situational awareness is key. I have enough friends in this small community that my normalcy bias tells me that I am safe. I am always more vigilant about situational awareness in the city. Even in “safe spaces”, I tend to be hyperaware in the city. Increasing personal defense capability is at the top of my list right now.

    I wonder about my “pack” in a SHTF situation. I guess it would really be dependent upon the scenario. Would it just be close friends who also prep? The community at large coming together for mutual support and defense?

  14. Living in north Idaho,and spending 50 plus years wandering in the woods, I have had the opportunity to run into many packs and single predators. And I experienced a few scary close calls. I also lived in Chicago for a half dozen years on the south side. I don’t know which is scarier,the woods predators or the people predators. Either way I like to be prepared with some sort of defense. I think the people ones may be the worst.

    1. People are always the worst. With an animal you can basically predict their reasons. If you trap them they will attack,if they are hungry they will attack,if you get between them and their offspring they will attack. With humans you just never know. they may be looking for a fight,they may just be insane,they may be looking to rob or kill. Much easier with animals. I live in the sierra neveda mountains so I have encountered animals in the wild on many occasions and they scare me much less than humans.

  15. I live in the big city, and deal with young “urban” people every day. My personal appearance is my first line of defense. Situational awareness is second, and my demeanor is third. Too many stories of distraction while others are up to no good. Unfortunately the people in this town feel free (entitled) to act as they wish, and blame the police for “brutality” for reigning them in to face the consequences for there actions.

    I gotta get out of this place. Ugh.

  16. I just finished ‘No Blade of Grass’, sorry, I can’t remember who here recommended it, but thanks! It may be a little slow at the beginning, but picks up steam and becomes engrossing.

    A large part of this book is about predators and how to form a group for the best survival against them as a group travels cross country. Modern Throwback’s “Predators don’t always attack the weak, they often attack due to the situation that presents the prey as being in a weakened state (ie alone, stamina, situation)” is shown here many times.

  17. I live in a small town and consider it to be reasonably safe. While I do my best to be one of the good guys now, I have not always been on the right side of the law, so I know what people are capable of. We do have a considerable drug problem. When people get all jacked up on dope you never know what to expect. We have had some of the local addicts go on robbery binges and steal everything that’s not tied down. I try to keep my situational awareness up and definitely keep everything locked and secure. I also worked in the county jail for a while. Even small town USA can be a dangerous place.

    1. @car guy,

      “Even small town USA can be a dangerous place.”

      You are quite correct. Although on average the odds of crime may decrease in a small town, the fact is that it still can be a dangerous place. All it takes is once. So do not lull one’s-self into a false sense of security – keep your situational awareness up.

      1. Ken,last year I mentioned a security issue a local group encountered during a monthly scenario exercise. I wasn’t able to discuss it then but I can write about it now.
        During the exercise a cable company subcontractor van parked very close to one of their hidden listening post locations. The men inside proceed to prep then fly a commercial type drone over the surrounding land.( Most belongs to this group.) Needless to say that a response happened rather quickly!( Military/lEO’s in this group.) They found that this guy and his Brother in law had been video recording with commentary on all possible assets on property all over the surrounding area.Commercial warehouses,store roofs,gun stores too.They had been doing it for over 6 months.people had seen the van all over but just figured THEY BELONGED THERE!!
        These two counted on complacency and normalcy bias from the public at large and they were not disappointed. They were smart enough to use ambiguous commentary in their descriptions.
        “Oh look! They have two tractors in that 1200 sq.foot barn! Looks like they have a 200 gallon fuel tank.That must be convenient.Wow,about 50-60 cows running around!Endless supply of cow manure! Ha ha!”(every description like that btw.)
        Plausible BS deniability but kept them out of trouble.
        Many lessons to be learned from this Ken!
        I expect this to be the hardest thing to protect you and yours from happening at your location. It is hard to defend against it.
        Maybe some thoughts from the group here…

        1. BJH
          Those whom you know, should have lent them to snake eaters in your area(if you have any).

          A “game” of catch me if you can without usage of their drones. Give many a ‘would be’ thief a different view of what it is like to be the hunted instead of the hunter. Beside snake eaters from what I understand love working on their outside skills. No matter how old their are…lol.
          (Escape & Evade)

        2. From over the Pond.
          Don’t forget Google Earth and Street View. Unless there’s a total collapse with no internet service, properties (especially isolated) can be viewed in Google Earth. Being surrounded by trees doesn’t help hide from The Eye in the Sky. No doubt the ne’er do wells are fully aware of this and will use drones to get updated information.
          I’ve just “driven” the Foothills Parkway, TN while sat sitting here in England. Observing properties, street furniture road/track junctions etc. And the scenery, at the observation points, along the route.
          Initially drones were considered a nuisance. It didn’t take long for them to become a threat. Wish I had a rifle.

  18. One thought, being aware is the opposite of being complacent. Being able to recognize body language, noticing a panel van parked next to your vehicle that wasn’t there when you parked, noticing the same vehicle in a single cross town trip.

    If you experience an uneasy feeling in a situation, go with your gut feeling, be polite but caution could spoil a potential robbery or harm to you.

    1. Many years ago I noticed a white panel van sitting a few houses down. No side windows, no logo. A few hours later it was on the highway about four or five cars back. We talked to the family we were living with at the time when they got back from vacation and they had no idea. They weren’t concerned. But when we moved out of that house and into a gated community it stopped. I’m still wary of white vans.

  19. Power in numbers is especially important. I see too often ‘lone wolf’ preppers that plan on shunning groups. While being self sufficient is important, a well trained group is always more resilient.

  20. We raised our kids in south Orange County, California,before we moved and left my native state. We always were hiking and biking in the Regional Parks, and numerous times we were stalked by mountain lions who, because of legislation their numbers have exploded in all of California. Several times we spotted the little kits with their mothers out “hunting” for prey and our kids and us looked like prey to them.
    I worked one of the most infamous mountain lion attacks on a lone female mountain biker who was killed by a mountain lion, who wanted her for food in one of our Regional Parks.(back in my law enforcement days)
    Mountain lions have even been documented to currently be living in San Francisco, among the most densely populated neighborhoods. Those mountain lions are NOT afraid of humans, large dogs or anything, because to them, we are the prey.
    Same thing with the thug demographic, if we are not aware of our situations all the time, we become “prey” to them, instantly. Lack of situational awareness, I believe, is, to a human predator,a “prey drive trigger”.
    Single or in a human pack, human predators I find to be THE most difficult to educate people on. Most folks simply refuse to believe that “THEY” will become prey at some point in their life. We all do. (just my subjective opinion is all)

  21. Lived in a large eastern citi, as a minority (white guy)… I found that thugs will not openly go after ” crazie white guy all talking to himself ,battling unseen forces around him” . Tested this many times…they want no part of your ” Bad juju”
    Have seen the the biggest, baddest & ugliest street corner dealer, reduced to a screaming little girl on a table …. By a RAT…
    “Acting the part ” is another TOOL for your kit…..

    1. Crazy is another issue entirely–people who act that way aren’t stable. The predators know (instinctively or from experience) that attacking such a person is totally unpredictable and they may end up on the losing end. They won’t risk it. Usually. I suppose there is always one.

  22. Ever watch a pack take down an antelope or zebra? They rarely lose. Predators do not care about your morality, or your kindness. They have one goal – to win! Predators love other predators, and make deals with them.

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