When you're running around without any weapons, getting away from the wildlife is pretty straightforward once you know the tricks. The easiest way to lose them is jumping onto anything elevated, even small rocks or nodes work perfectly, and if you've got a teammate nearby their head can actually work as a platform in a pinch. A neat thing about the ai is that it gets confused when you jump against walls or quickly place down barricades, which gives you time to escape. Moving in zigzag patterns really throws them off their game, and they'll usually give up chasing pretty quick.

Something to keep in mind is staying away from the more dangerous areas until you've got proper equipment, especially spots where wolves pack up or bears hang around. Always keep an eye out for anything you can climb while exploring, like boulders or trees, since they'll be your best friends when things get dicey. The animals might look scary at first, but their pathing isn't very smart when it comes to dealing with height changes or obstacles, and that's exactly what you want to use to your advantage.

Good to know if you're quick enough with building, dropping a foundation can work just as well as finding natural high ground, though you'll need the resources ready to go.