An Australian teacher is alive today because he had the presence of mind to poke a shark in the eye. Jason Cull was swimming off Middleton beach last week when the great white grabbed him by the leg and dragged him under. "I felt along it, I found its eye and I poked it in the eye," said Cull, "and that's when it let go." Most of us wouldn't even know whether this was a good idea or not. After all, you don't want to give a four-metre shark extra reasons to dislike you. But what about other animals? What is the best course of action if you're attacked?

Alligators There is a persistent myth that you should always run away from an alligator in zigzag fashion, because alligators can't turn corners. The truth is that an alligator isn't going to give chase on land for any distance, so it's best to move fast and in a straight line. If the gator does catch hold of you, you should, according to the Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook, attack its eyes and snout. In 2006, Corey Workman of Florida escaped from an alligator's jaws by sticking his thumb in its eye, something he had seen on the Discovery Channel.

Mountain lions, pumas and cougars A 1997 study of puma attacks stressed several useful tactics. Never turn your back on a cougar, puma or similar, and don't run away. Stand your ground, look the cat in the eye and try to make yourself look as big as possible by opening your coat or standing on a rock, or both. Bare your teeth and make menacing noises. If

the animal remains unimpressed, prepare to fight it off with a stick or by throwing rocks. If you're going to win, you need to act like the more aggressive predator.

Bears The general rule of thumb is: stay away from bears. Mostly, they will do the same for you, but a surprised bear, or a mother bear protecting her cubs, may attack what it perceives to be a potential threat. Running away from a bear won't do you much good - bears can run as fast as horses, and they can climb trees - but then standing your ground is unlikely to help either. Some experts suggest you play dead, although doing so would obviously require tremendous faith in their expertise.

Bees You'll be pleased to hear that when you're attacked by killer bees, you're allowed to run away. But don't swat at them; it just pisses them off. If you can't get indoors, run through bushes or undergrowth in order to slow them down. Don't jump into a pond or pool; apparently the bees will just wait for you to surface.

Wild turkeys A resurgent wild turkey population has caused problems in Boston, where the 1.5m-tall turkeys are known to chase joggers and schoolchildren, often in mobs. Wildlife officials advise fighting back with a broom or open umbrella. Don't be a victim. Be the dominant turkey.