Flight Distance

Perhaps one of the most important things a person working with exotic animals should know is:

Flight Distance

“the distance that agricultural and wild animals like to keep between themselves and a threat of danger. The distance varies with the degree of wildness of the animals and the circumstances. Called also the circle of safety, critical, fright or guard distance. Important in planning animal handling facilities, yards, zoos and the like. Neglect of the need to provide adequate space in which an animal can escape will lead to them damaging themselves by running into fences”.
~Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary, 3 ed. © 2007 Elsevier, Inc.

Flight Distance Diagram Above:
To properly describe flight distance a picture is used to illustrate the invisible lines used by an animal in any flight or fight circumstance.

The outer circle is the flight distance. When an animal’s flight distance is approached and invaded, the animal will automatically retreat to maintain the distance. So, if I were to step a foot within the outer ring, the animal will retreat a foot in order to maintain comfortable proximity.

The inner circle is the fight distance. This is usually only breached if an animal is cornered or taken by surprise. The animal has no option for flight and will therefore attack.

Every species has its own flight/fight distance, much of which depends on the type of animal. These are a few things that are important to know:

Is the animal is generally described as predator or prey?
Is the animal solitary or does it belong to a group or herd?
Does the individual have any blind spots?
What type of mobility does the animal have?
Is the animal a female, perhaps with young?

Ultimately, any animal will fight if it feels that it has no other option. We, as humans are generally not considered prey within the animal kingdom.

For example: the vast majority of snakes know that you are too big to eat. It does not want to waste its venom on something it cannot possibly consume. Most snake bites occur when people venture unknowingly into the fight zone.