ZOMBIE SURVIVAL Part III: Zombie Behavior

Let’s be honest.  We’ve never had a full blown ZA and we’re not likely to get a trial run.  Our intel on Zombie behavior is then “best guess.”  So let’s keep it to a few fundamental behaviors when assessing our foe.  As we engage them and learn more about their behavior through actual FIELD OPS we’ll expand upon this foundation.

Since most Zombie lore suggests they’re active only to seek food, we’ll consider this as their base motivation.  It is interesting to note that this base need is similar to our own (ala Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs).  First, let’s divide food seeking behavior into the style with which it is sought.  Do the Zombies appear to hunt or scavenge?  If Zombies hunt, they’re going to be more proactive.  They may stalk, set rudimentary traps, set kill zones, and ambush prey.  Scavengers are less proactive.  They’re not likely to chase you at first, because a scavenger prefers an easy meal.  But, they might chase you if you’re already week or hurt, or if they stumble upon you.

Second, do the Zombies appear to act with a pack mentality or are they acting as individuals without care for the others around them.  Packs are dangerous.  Even a semi-organized pack working in unison becomes a much larger threat than twice as many individuals.  And before you start whining and go all, “but Zombies are dead so their brains don’t work,” on me, consider the ant.  Not much of a brain there either but they sure do work and coordinate well as a group.  Assume the primitive (read survival) part of the brain is still functioning in Zombies.  Assuming a hive type of mentality in this scenario, looking for the Alpha Zombie may disrupt the pack.  If Zombies behave as mindless individuals, then we’re a bit safer.  Just don’t go pulling a large group into your field of fire if you can’t put them all down fast enough.

Third, let’s consider locomotion.  Do Zombies run, walk, or shamble?  Forget crawl you can step over them.  I’m hoping for shambling Zombies.  It seems to me all things considered, a slow awkwardly moving Zombie is as good as head cheese regardless of some of the other behaviors we’re considering.  So as long as we’re not grossly overweight and shambling ourselves (Zombieland Rule #1? CARDIO!), we should be pretty well ahead of the game.

Finally, how do the Zombies orient themselves to their surroundings?  More importantly how are they going to find us?  Do they use sight?  What about noise?  Can they smell?  Whichever they use or don’t use can be used to our advantage.  For example, if Zombies rely solely on sight we’re in a much better place than the Zombie using sight, smell and hearing to find food.  The former can be easily avoided.  The latter more easily makes a happy meal out of you.

Let’s recap: hunter vs. scavenger, pack vs. loner, runner vs. walker, vs. shambler, and senses used for tracking.  Do yourself a favor and start considering the combinations possible from what has been discussed.  Consider how to avoid, evade, and engage each threat.  If you can, practice each scenario.  Mental preparation is the first step.  Practical application is the nail in the Zombies coffin…so to speak.

Until next time.

Random Thoughts: "Gun Control"

I keep seeing that Pres. Obama is going to work with both sides of the gun control/ownership issue.  But I'm not sure where he stands. Or what ideas he is bringing to the table.

Gun control is an interesting topic and most folks seem to polarize when it comes to taking a position. My personal view is that any law abiding citizen who wants to own a gun should be allowed to own a gun. Further, I believe any of the latter, who are willing to train and prove a moderate level of competence, common sense and good judgement should be allowed to carry a concealed weapon. The second and third criteria seem to be in shorter supply these days but that's a topic for another day. My argument isn't based on any constitutional argument or God given right. It's based upon the idea that I should be responsible for defending myself, my family and my community, with deadly force if needed. I'm happy to give our public safety personnel, a group I greatly respect, the lead. And when it comes to conflict, I'll trust Grand Master Sun Tsu. He believed that if one could win by avoiding conflict one should. But that is not always possible and our public safety personnel may not be available to protect us at any given time.

So what does this have to do with gun control? It's a series of simple questions really. To whom do gun control laws apply? Who is going to abide by these laws? How do these laws protect us? My answers are: "all of us," "law abiding citizens," and "they don't," respectively. It's the answer to the second and third question that disturbs me. Law abiding citizens are going to follow these laws. But what of the people who don't? In my experience people who want guns are going to get them. Peace officers and citizens are assaulted almost daily, if not daily, by people with firearms. In California automatic weapons or weapons deemed to be of the "assault" variety are outlawed. But it hasn't stopped the criminals from obtaining them. And it is my honest belief that no law will ever accomplish keeping firearms from those elements. The outcome then is dangerous folks being armed while the rest of us are left to hope we are never confronted with the business end of a firearm. That just doesn't sit right with me.

Am I saying that everyone should be armed? No, absolutely not. It's a very personal choice. And anyone who asks me about it get's this question in return, "Are you willing to take another person's life to protect your own or that of someone you love?" If the answer is, "No," then don't arm yourself. However, if you're like me and the answer is, "Yes," then arm yourself and train, train, train.

All I want is the choice. The freedom of choice to do what I think is best for me and mine.

Dor

ZOMBIE SURVIVAL Part II: Where In Dodge Do I (We) Shelter?

It depends on where you started and the reasons behind the ZA.  Two things are for sure.  You’re on your own and you’re no longer at the top of the food chain.  Shelter where you can.  Practice noise and light discipline in case the Zombies are attracted to them. 

The choice you face first is shelter in a city/town versus rural area.  Each has benefits and dangers.  Best to consider it all and then make a choice.

Sheltering in a more densely populated area offers an opportunity to stay well supplied, have multiple safe zones prepared while moving about, and an opportunity to connect with other survivors (of course they might not be friendly).  What’s the down side?  There are more corpses to reanimate and come looking for you.  Areas with a sparse population basically have just the opposite issues.  High ground is your friend too.  High ground is more easily defended and provides a view of your surroundings.

Where ever you shelter be sure to familiarize yourself with the setting.  Safely hide and store your supplies.  If you’re scavenging supplies it’s likely others are too.  You may not take from other survivors but they may not have a problem taking from you.  Have at least a couple of exit strategies in case one is blocked during a bug-out.  A bank vault might seem like a safe place to ride out the ZA but if they get in, you’re just a meat piñata.  If you’re alone getting sleep is going to be difficult.  I don’t know if Zombies are good at stealthy approaches and I’m not willing to find out.  You’re going to have to find a place where you can safely sleep. For this I’d go with examples like those found in the films “Omega Man” and “I Am Legend.”  Defensible buildings that can serve as a base of operation, with multiple exits that are protected from intrusion but could be used as an escape.  A group could follow the same logic, but the group offers a greater opportunity to escape to where there are fewer Zombies.  Sleep and work can be shared and security assured against most surprises.  Of course all of the aforementioned depends on how our foe, Mr. or Ms. Zombie “behaves.”

Stay tuned for a brief treatise on Zombie behavior.