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FIRST AID AND EMERGENCY HEALTH CARE » WILDERNESS FIRST AID Co-authored by:
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How to Survive an Encounter with an wikiHow Staff Writer

Ostrich Co-authors:
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Last Updated: November 20, 2022 References Approved

Imagine you're face-to-face with one of the most

METHODS 92% of readers found this article helpful.
1 Fighting an Ostrich
dangerous birds on earth—the ostrich. Extremely 5,500 votes - 92%
2 Evading a Charging Ostrich
fast on foot, these massive birds can run up to 45 3 Avoiding Encounters
Click a star to add your vote

mph (72.5 kph).[1] Not to mention, ostriches can OTHER SECTIONS

deliver mortal blows by the sheer force of their legs Video
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and lethally sharp talons. Although they don’t prey on Related Articles
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humans, ostriches have been known to injure and kill
Article Summary "This is the most vital information I have ever
when provoked. So how should you react? The best received in my life! I will probably never even
thing you can do is steer clear and keep your see an ostrich..." more
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distance. If that fails, ducking for cover and hiding works best. As a last resort, you may even
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have to fight them. Wondering how to beat an ostrich? Read on for the ultimate ostrich-attack
survival guide.
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1 Use a long weapon. If you are forced to defend yourself against an ostrich, avoid
close-quarters combat. Keep as far out of reach of its legs as you can, since ostriches How to
can kick hard enough to kill a lion. Use the nearest, longest object that could be used as a Survive an
Encounter with a How to
weapon, such as a pole, rake, broom, or branch.[2] Crocodile or Survive a Shark
Alligator Attack
If you have a gun and need to use it, aim for the ostrich's main body to better
ensure hitting your target. Although they will be attacking with their legs and/or
beak, their legs and neck are very thin and easy to miss.

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2 Keep to the ostrich’s side. Consider yourself at the most risk when the two of you
are face-to-face. Remember that an ostrich is only able to kick its legs directly in front
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of it. Stay behind or to the side of the bird as much as possible to keep clear of its most
powerful weapon.

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3 Aim for the neck. Consider this to be the ostrich’s weakest body part. Strike it where Android or iPhone Blades

it is most vulnerable and least protected to defeat it more quickly. Failing that, aim for
its breast. Concentrate your efforts between the two as opportunity affords. Continue to
strike until it quits and runs away.[3]

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4 Damage its wings. If the ostrich refuses to give up despite your attacks to its neck,
aim for its wings when given the opportunity. Know that an ostrich uses its wings not
for flight, but to alter course more smoothly when running, just like a ship’s rudder.[4] 2 Easy Ways to
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5 Go for its legs. If you find yourself behind or to the side of the ostrich with an easy
shot to one of its legs, take it. Know that the ostrich’s center of gravity depends
entirely upon those two skinny legs.[5] If given the chance, deliver one or both a blow to Sebaceous
How to Filaments: What
upset its balance, speed, and striking power. Keep a Straight They Are & How to
Face Reduce Them

Method
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1 Run for nearby cover. Expect ostriches to attain speeds of 43 mph (70 km) over
open ground.[6] If there is dense vegetation or woods close enough for you to reach
before the ostrich reaches you, sprint for that.[7] Prevent the ostrich from attaining optimum
speed so it has less chance of outrunning you.
If there is more sturdy cover than vegetation (such as a car or manmade structure),
go for that. A kick from an ostrich’s leg can hit you with an impact of 500 psi, which
is enough to kill a human.[8]
If you don’t think you can make it, DO NOT attempt it. Ostriches are extremely fast
and will attack by kicking you in the back as soon as they catch up to you.[9]

2 Conceal yourself. Rest assured that, while ostriches do eat meat, they stick to
insects, small reptiles, and rodents.[10] Understand that a provoked ostrich will chase
humans primarily because it feels threatened, not because it wants to eat them. At your first
opportunity, duck behind cover that conceals you from its view, rather than risk a prolonged
chase.[11] Expect the ostrich to lose interest once it thinks that you are gone.

3 Elevate yourself. Remember that an ostrich is incapable of flight.[12] If no hiding

places are to be found on ground-level, climb a tree, fence, or other structure. Wait for
the ostrich to lose interest and leave before coming back down.
An adult ostrich typically stands 7 to 9 feet tall (2 to 3 meters). Although it has no
teeth, it may jab at you with its beak and potentially upset your balance. Seek a
higher elevation to keep out of range.

4 Dive into a thorn bush. Opt for getting pricked by thorns instead of being
disemboweled by the ostrich’s razor-sharp talons. If no other hiding spots are
available, jump straight into a thorn bush. Wait for the ostrich to leave before climbing
out.[13]
Expect the ostrich to refrain from poking its head in after you, in order to protect its
large eyes.

5 Lie on the ground. Resist the urge to run for cover or elevation if it is too far away.
Instead, play dead as a last-ditch effort. Press your stomach to the ground. Cover the
back of your head with your arms to protect your skull. Brace yourself for the ostrich to toy
with you. Wait for it to tire of this and leave before getting back up. Be aware that this
method may still result in injury.[14]
The risk of injury from the force of impact of an ostrich’s kick is dramatically reduced
when you lay down. The ostrich kicks forward, then downward, with most of its
force spent in the forward motion.
The talons still do pose a danger. Lie on your stomach to better protect your
organs, since the ostrich may rake you with its talons.
The ostrich may stand or even sit on you before it tires. An adult ostrich may weigh
between 198 and 350 lbs (90 and 159 kilograms).[15]

Method
3 Avoiding Encounters

1 Be aware of your surroundings. Whenever you are in an area that may be home to
ostriches, evaluate the landscape. Avoid open areas. Stick close to cover and note
which areas would be the most safe to retreat to should you encounter an ostrich that
charges you.

2 Avoid close contact. Maintain your distance when you spot an ostrich in the wild.
Consider any distance less than 110 yards (100 meters) as too close. If an ostrich
advances toward you, back away, even if the ostrich appears calm. Never back one into a
corner, since this will trigger a “fight” response instead of a “flight” one.[16]
Although images of people petting, kissing, and even riding ostriches may lead you
to believe that it is safe to approach them, note that such images are of tamed
ostriches from farms. Even these birds should be treated with the same caution and
respect as wild ones to avoid injury.

3 Beware ostriches during breeding season. Consider them to be at their most

easily provoked at this time, especially males, who are tasked with protecting the
female’s eggs. Since ostriches tend to roam in pairs or alone at other times of the year,
recognize breeding season by the presence of herds numbering anywhere from 5 to 50
ostriches at a time.[17]
Identify males by their black feathers, white wingtips and tail plumes, and the red
flush that appears on the front of their legs.
Distinguish females by their brown feathers and gray wingtips and plumes.[18]

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References

1. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/list/6-of-the-worlds-most-dangerous-birds
2. ↑ https://www.livescience.com/27433-ostriches.html
3. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-to-survive-ostrich-
attack_us_55f57458e4b077ca094f5dbb
4. ↑ http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/ostrich/
5. ↑ http://www.livescience.com/27433-ostriches.html
6. ↑ http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/ostrich/
7. ↑ http://studioknow.com/2011/04/how-to-survive-an-ostrich-attack/
8. ↑ http://netvet.wustl.edu/species/birds/ostrich.txt
9. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-to-survive-ostrich-
attack_us_55f57458e4b077ca094f5dbb

More References (9)

About This Article

Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff
wikiHow Staff Writer

This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers
validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team
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trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 1,255,018
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Co-authors: 81
5,500 votes - 92% Updated: November 20, 2022
Views: 1,255,018

Categories: Featured Articles | Wilderness First Aid | Wild Birds

In other languages:

Español: sobrevivir a un ataque de avestruz Bahasa Indonesia: Menyelamatkan Diri dari

Português: Sobreviver ao Ataque de um Serangan Burung Unta
Avestruz Nederlands: Een ontmoeting met een
Italiano: Sopravvivere a un Incontro con uno struisvogel overleven
Struzzo ‫اﻟﻧﺟﺎة ﻣن ھﺟوم ﻧﻌﺎﻣﺔ‬:‫اﻟﻌرﺑﯾﺔ‬
Русский: пережить столкновение со Tiếng Việt: Sống sót khi chạm trán đà điểu
страусом 日本語: ダチョウと遭遇した時に身を守る
Deutsch: Die Begegnung mit einem Strauß Türkçe: Deve Kuşu Karşısında Hayatta
überleben Kalmak
Français: survivre à une attaque d'autruche 中文: 在野外路遇鸵鸟时生存下来

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