Wildlife Safety Guide - Top Tips

One of natures greatest thrills is encountering wildlife in its natural habitat. Whether it’s a majestic moose in the Rocky Mountains or a stoic black bear in the Appalachians, viewing these animals can often create memorable experiences for everyone to enjoy! 

However, we must always remember that when we meet these creatures in the wild, we’re on their turf. Often times, they can be extremely territorial which spells disaster for any unprepared spectators. Here’s what you need to know to stay safe and out of harms way during your next wildlife encounter.

Do Your Research

Before heading out on your adventure, be sure to research what local wildlife you could encounter. This will prevent surprises and also help prepare you for what to bring. There are many great sites that provide information on what to do if you come across certain animals. The National Park Service has specific and well researched tips for each of its parks on their websites making it the best place to start with. 

“A wild animal bite has a chance of causing infection and spreading bacteria to other parts of the body which will require medical treatment.”

Don’t Feed The Animals

While this may not seem like a big deal, feeding a wild animal can be potentially dangerous for them as well as for you. For the animal, they may have some type of adverse reaction from eating an unnatural food that can be harmful to them. 

For you, the last thing you want is to get bit. A wild animal bite has a chance of causing infection and spreading bacteria to other parts of the body which will require medical treatment. This can definitely be the case if you’re bit by smaller animals like squirrels, raccoons, or bats.

Trying to feed a larger animal like a bear or moose has its obvious dangers, but people still do attempt it, so it’s worth mentioning that it’s a bad idea. 

Keep Food In Protected Containers 

The scent of unprotected food is a like a beacon for all wildlife. You can prevent their arrival by properly storing these items in secure containers that are specifically designed for this purpose. This includes not just food but other scented items like trash, toiletries, and cookware. 

A few options you have for a safe storage container would be a metal food locker, which are provided at some campgrounds or backcountry campsites, or a bear canister or bag. With a bear canister, ensuring you screw the top on correctly will be the most important step to preventing bears or other animals from getting in. 

Bear bags can also help stop wildlife from finding your food, as they are made of high-density polyethylene that can’t be torn open. If none of these options are available to you, hanging your food can be an effective method for keeping it safe. You can either use a sturdy tree limb too do this or some campsites have tall metal poles installed for this specific purpose.  

Keep Odors Out Of Camp

Going along with keeping you food protected, it’s also important to take preventative measures to stop scents before they can get to your campsite. Cooking and washing your dishes away from where you’ll be sleeping is the best way to accomplish this. 

Preparing food at home before heading out also helps to cut down these odors as pre-cutting your meats and veggies will reduce the time needed to cook outside. Using a small amount of unscented soap when cleaning your dishes is another way to keep animals as far away as possible from your campsite. 

(You can also check out more tips on camping essentials and picking a camp spot.)

“Making loud noises every so often will let wildlife hear you well before they see you.”

Make Noise When Hiking

Out on the trail, it’s important to make your presences known. Making loud noises every so often will let wildlife hear you well before they see you. The last thing you’ll want to do is startle one of these creatures as they’ll be more prone to attack if they feel threatened. 

If you’re hiking with a group, talk loudly to each other or shout every few minutes to warn nearby wildlife that you’re coming. When you’re hiking alone, you can make noise by clapping or hitting your hiking poles together regularly. The goal is to make sure no animal is surprised by your arrival. 

Keep Your Distance

As previously said, wildlife is more likely to attack if they feel threatened–they rarely attack willingly. With this in mind, making sure you give all of these animals space is important to prevent them from feeling provoked. It’s okay to observe the wildlife, just as long as it’s done safely and respectfully. 

Often times, the National Parks have recommendations for how far away you should be from an animal such as 100 yards for large animals likes bears, moose, and wolves and 25 yards from smaller animals like squirrels and chipmunks. If an animals moves because of where you’re standing, you're probably too close.  

Be Aware Of Your Surroundings

Keeping an awareness of your surroundings is important for helping you anticipate any potential problems. This is a skill you’ll need to learn especially for any backcountry camping where wildlife has little contact with humans. Make sure to periodically scan for any dangers by watching, listening, and smelling your environment. 

Looking for things like animal scat or claw marks on trees and listening for nearby movement will all help prevent any surprise encounters. Wildlife can often be good at camouflaging itself so dense brush can be a spot where an animal would be hiding. 

“In general, trails are created to keep visitors on the safest possible path and away from danger.”

Stay On Posted Trail

While this may not apply to those who are bushwacking in the backcountry, if you’re on a designated trail, don’t veer off the path. In general, trails are created to keep visitors on the safest possible path and away from danger. Of course, you may encounter wildlife on one of these pathways, but animals are often aware of high-traffic locations and tend to avoid them. 

It’s also a good idea to avoid trails at dawn and dusk since this is the time predators like cougars and bears are the most active.  

Conclusion

What you may have picked up on is that the best way to stay safe from wildlife is with prevention. With these tips, you’ll be prepared for any problems that may arise and be able to keep yourself and others safe!