The first thing I noticed was the Rottweiler.

I was scouting a spot along the Sabine River where I hoped to target bowfin, known to many Southeast Texas anglers as grinnel. The area looked promising. There was good access to the water, plenty of cover and all the ingredients that usually get a fisherman excited about coming back with a rod and reel.

Before I ever made it to the shoreline, though, I noticed movement near the edge of the woods.

A large Rottweiler stepped into view. Then I spotted a German shepherd. A pit bull appeared a few seconds later, followed by what looked like a Labrador mix. The dogs were muddy and looked like they had been spending a lot of time outdoors. Whether they had been abandoned, wandered away from nearby homes or simply found their way there, I couldn’t say.

What I did know was that I wasn’t getting out of the truck.

After decades spent hunting, fishing and exploring wild places, I’ve learned to trust my instincts. Sometimes a situation doesn’t feel right, and there is no reason to ignore that feeling just to prove a point.

A week later I returned to the same location.

Two of the dogs were still there.

That bothered me more than the initial encounter because it suggested these weren’t simply pets passing through the area. At least some of them appeared to be living there.

As I drove away, I found myself thinking about a question most outdoorsmen never ask. What if a teenager had come there to fish alone? What if a family had stopped to explore the shoreline? What if someone walking a trail suddenly found themselves face-to-face with animals that no longer viewed people the way a household pet does?

Most people don’t think about dogs when they think about outdoor dangers. They think about alligators, snakes, sharks or wild hogs. Dogs occupy a different place in our minds because they are part of our lives. We hunt with them. Fish with them. Let them sleep in our homes.

Yet the numbers tell a different story.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, approximately 4.7 million dog bites occur annually in the United States. Hundreds of thousands of people require medical treatment each year, and children account for a significant percentage of the injuries. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also documented a substantial increase in fatal dog attacks over the last decade.

Put another way, the average American is far more likely to be injured by a dog than by many of the animals that dominate outdoor safety discussions.

That reality became impossible to ignore last year when a man was killed while walking on a public trail near Katy, Texas. Authorities said multiple dogs attacked the victim during what should have been a routine walk. The incident shocked people because it happened in a place where families exercise, jog and spend time outdoors. It wasn’t some remote wilderness area. It was a public trail in a heavily populated part of Texas.

The attack made headlines for a few days before fading from public conversation, but it highlighted an issue that extends well beyond a single tragedy.

Dogs are among the most adaptable animals on earth. Their ability to live alongside people is one reason they have become one of the most successful species in human history. Unfortunately, that same adaptability allows them to survive when people abandon them.

And that is where the story becomes more complicated.

Over the years, I’ve interviewed wildlife biologists, game wardens, ranchers and hunters who all shared a common concern about feral dogs. While the public often focuses on coyotes, bobcats and other native predators, many wildlife professionals consider free-ranging dogs one of the most overlooked threats on the landscape.

Hunters frequently report seeing dogs chasing deer. Ranchers deal with attacks on calves, goats and other livestock. Along parts of the Gulf Coast, free-ranging dogs have been implicated in attacks on nesting birds and sea turtle nests. Trail cameras regularly capture images of dogs moving through remote areas where most people would never expect to find them.

Unlike coyotes, bobcats and other native predators, dogs did not evolve as part of North America’s natural ecosystems. When they become feral, they often behave in ways that disrupt wildlife populations and create conflicts that native predators typically do not.

Researchers studying free-ranging dogs around the world have linked them to impacts on hundreds of wildlife species. In some regions, they are considered one of the most significant invasive predators on the landscape.

The root of the problem is not the dogs themselves.

The root of the problem is human irresponsibility.

Dogs do not choose to be abandoned near parks, boat ramps, hunting leases, wildlife management areas or back roads. People make those decisions. Every year unwanted animals are left to fend for themselves, and while some are rescued or adopted, others learn how to survive on their own.

That survival can come at a cost.

A dog that spends months or years living without human supervision is no longer behaving like the family pet sleeping on a couch. It may become territorial. It may become increasingly wary of people. It may begin relying on scavenging or hunting to survive. When several dogs begin operating together, those changes can become even more pronounced.

That doesn’t mean every stray dog is dangerous.

Far from it.

Many abandoned animals are frightened, hungry and more likely to run away than confront a person. But one of the biggest mistakes outdoorsmen can make is assuming every unfamiliar dog will react like a pet.

I’ve had two separate encounters with aggressive dogs while spending time outdoors. Neither resulted in injury, but both reinforced an important lesson. Situational awareness matters.

The decision to leave that Sabine River location wasn’t based on certainty that the dogs posed a threat. It was based on recognizing that I didn’t have enough information to know whether they did. There were plenty of other places to fish, and no bowfin was worth taking unnecessary risks.

That same mindset applies to outdoor safety in general.

If you encounter a group of unfamiliar dogs in a remote area, pay attention to their behavior. Create distance whenever possible. Avoid approaching them. Don’t attempt to feed them or interact with them. If the animals appear territorial or aggressive, leave the area and notify local authorities or animal control if possible.

Many outdoorsmen choose to carry personal protection while fishing, hunting, hiking or exploring remote locations. Depending on local laws and personal preference, that may include pepper spray, bear spray or a legally carried firearm. Whatever option you choose, understand how to use it safely and responsibly before you ever need it.

Check out this chilling episode from the Dark Outdoors® podcast archives. It tells the tale of terrifying feral dog encounters.

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Most importantly, trust your instincts.

I never did fish that particular spot along the Sabine River. Maybe those dogs eventually found homes. Maybe they belonged to someone nearby and simply liked roaming the area. Maybe they were completely harmless.

I’d like to think so.

What I know for certain is that the encounter reminded me that not every outdoor threat comes with scales, tusks or a fearsome reputation. Sometimes the most overlooked dangers are the ones we’ve become so familiar with that we stop seeing them for what they can be.

Most dogs will spend their lives being loyal companions, hunting partners and beloved members of the family. Unfortunately, when people abandon them and leave them to survive on their own, the consequences can affect wildlife, livestock and, in some cases, people.

That’s a reality worth remembering the next time you pull into a remote fishing spot and see something that doesn’t quite feel right.

Chester Moore

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Email Chester at chester@chestermoore.com.