Art Bell speaks with wildlife expert and outdoor writer Don Zaidle about his book "American Man Killers," which documents the alarming increase in animal attacks on humans across North America. Zaidle explains that more predator attacks have been recorded in the past decade than in the preceding hundred years combined, driven by growing animal populations, more people venturing into wild areas, and animals losing their fear of humans.
The conversation covers chilling accounts of mountain lion predation, including children snatched from yards and hikers found in kill beds. Zaidle describes how coyotes have attacked toddlers in suburban neighborhoods from Lake Tahoe to Los Angeles. He argues that even domestic dogs are responsible for millions of injuries annually and recounts cases of family pets killing infants and feeding on deceased owners. Ferrets, deer, and bears all receive attention as potential threats that the public vastly underestimates.
Zaidle challenges the popular perception of animals as harmless creatures, criticizing organizations like PETA for fostering dangerous misconceptions. He contends that many missing persons, particularly children, may have been killed and consumed by wild predators, a possibility that officials routinely suppress to avoid alarming tourists and undermining wildlife funding.
