Most people you encounter on mountain trails are pretty level-headed individuals, but every now and then you come across someone who is decidedly on the paranoid side of things. They tend to be hyper-aware of anything and everything that could potentially be dangerous from spiders and poisonous plants to bears, rattlesnakes, and mountain lions. While it is true that accidents can happen and sometimes a wild animal might attack a human, these are not exactly common events. It's much more likely that something harmful might occur while driving to a trailhead for a hike than for something harmful to happen during a hike. There might even be statistics available which prove that assertion, but as with most things it's easy to get carried away with fear of the unfamiliar and to exaggerate dangers in certain situations. That being said, it's always a good idea to be prepared for the worst case scenario!