Staying Safe in Animal Country

Do you remember that scene in Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, when Snow White is lost in the forest and all the cute, cuddly forest animals come out to help her and comfort her? Do you ever wish your hiking trips could be like that? Well, too bad. Nature is not like a Disney movie! However, when you are out in the wilderness you can still coexist peacefully with the wildlife. In fact, it’s your responsibility to do so. You don’t have to avoid wild animals completely-you can still watch them and even get some great photos. Just follow the guidelines below to make sure that you are being a well-mannered houseguest while you’re in their home.

Rule #1- Don’t feed the animals. Feeding wild animals encourages them to associate people with food. This is not good for either the animal or humans. Animals that associate people with food are much more likely to come marauding through your campsite at night, tearing up your backpack and leaving you without any breakfast. In the case of a large animal such as a bear, this could lead to the animal either hurting a human or being trapped and slaughtered. Once animals get a taste of human food, they tend to prefer it to the natural food they are supposed to be eating. Human foods can cause some pretty familiar-sounding ailments in wild animals, including arthritis, tooth decay and ulcers. Come to think of it, perhaps we should stop eating “human food” too! Also, make sure you aren’t unintentionally feeding hungry forest creatures. Clean your campsite up before you leave, and pack out food scraps instead of leaving them at camp.

Rule #2-Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder. It is fine to observe wild animals from a safe distance, but don’t get too close. Try to stay at least 100 yards away from bears. If you have any common sense at all, you shouldn’t want to be any closer! For other large animals, such as elk, deer, or moose, stay at least 25 yards away. Getting too close to wild animals can frighten them, and you could end up getting injured. Also, rabies is a concern in some areas. Keep as much distance as you can between yourself and any animal that’s acting unnaturally, especially a normally nocturnal animal that’s out during the day. If you get bit, a series of painful shots is required to keep you from foaming at the mouth. The bottom line: if you want a close up, invest in a camera with a digital zoom.

 

Rule #3- Leave baby animals alone. Yes, they look cute and cuddly, and if you see a baby animal all by itself you may be tempted to think that it can’t possibly survive without your help. However, if you attempt to intervene you will probably do more harm than good. Humans rarely leave babies alone for any length of time, but many species of animals do. It’s not poor parenting, it’s just the way they naturally raise their young. Remember, many species of animals are single parents. Mom has to have time to get food for herself and/or her baby, and she can’t hire a babysitter. So, she leaves the young one hidden in a safe spot, and goes a short distance away to attend to her own needs. This is especially common with deer. If you play with or pet the baby, the mother may not continue to care for it when she returns. If you try to carry the baby animal out of the woods with you, you are basically creating an orphaned animal that may never get a chance to live a natural life. If you truly believe that a baby animal has been abandoned or is in danger, contact a forest ranger.

So, those are the three basic rules for interacting with wildlife, even animals of the cute, plant-eating variety. Most people are not afraid of deer, elk, or any of the smaller mammals that inhabit our wilderness areas. People are most frightened of carnivores like bears and poisonous creatures like snakes. Here are some specific guidelines for dealing with these creatures.

Bears- In the continental United States, you are most likely to encounter a black bear or a grizzly, depending on your location. Grizzly bears are much larger than black bears, and they have a reputation for being more aggressive. However, any bear that’s grown up past the cub stage can kill you with its bare paws, no matter what species it belongs to. Fortunately, human/bear encounters rarely end in this fashion. The media loves to publicize fatal bear attacks when they happen, but they are rare. For example, the Bear Conservation Center estimates that approximately 3 people are killed each year by bears, 2 by grizzlies and 1 by black bears. Unless they are sick, injured, or have been fed by humans before, most bears will try to avoid humans. To avoid becoming a statistic, make sure to follow the following rules in bear country:

§         Make some noise as you walk. If bears can here you coming, they will usually avoid you.

§         Hike with a friend-the more people in your group, the less likely a bear is to approach you.

§         If you are staying the night in bear country, put all of your smellables up in a bear bag at night. A “smellable”  is anything that a bear can smell, including food, utensils that have touched food, cosmetics, deodorant, etc. Also, you can purchase bear-proof canisters for these items. Store them well away from camp. Do not bring food items into your tent-this is the last place you want a bear to come looking for munchies!

§         Leave bear cubs alone.  They are not teddy bears!

§         If you do encounter a bear, don’t run! Walk away slowly. If the bear does try to touch you, drop the ground and assume the fetal position. Hopefully, he will see you aren’t a threat and move away. If you have pepper spray to use, aim for the face. You need to get the bear in the eyes and the nose for the spray to be effective.

Snakes- Snakes are slightly more of a danger than bears, if only because it’s a lot easier to accidentally step on one. Snakes love to hang out and sun themselves on trails, and many species are naturally camouflaged. To protect yourself, learn how to identify the species of poisonous snakes that are native to the area you are visiting. In areas with a lot of high grass or thickly piled leaves, sweep the area ahead of you with a long stick. Watch where you step, and if you do see a snake, give it a wide berth and try to go around it. If it appears aggressive, back away slowly. Snakes don’t really want to bite humans-it’s something they do if they feel threatened. Please a poisonous snake unless it is directly threatening you and you have no other option. They are not evil creatures, and should be allowed to exist in their natural environment.

Wolves/coyotes- Like bears, wolves and coyotes rarely attack humans. However, coyotes in particular may prey on small pets, and it’s not wise to leave children unattended in areas where wolves and coyotes are common. If you are approached, stand in a group, try to appear as large as possible, and throw rocks or sticks.

Big Cats- Bobcats, lynxes and mountain lions are generally shy and secretive. Bobcats and lynxes are really not a danger to anyone unless they are cornered. Mountain lions, however, may hunt pets and/or small children. To be safe, keep everyone together in a group-don’t let kids or pets become stragglers. If you see a mountain lion, stand tall and don’t turn your back. This will help signal to the mountain lion that you are not prey. If you do get attacked, try to stay on your feet. Fighting a mountain lion off with a rock or a stick is often enough to discourage it.

Remember, most wild animals are frightened of humans. We are used to being on top of the food chain, so it’s natural to be scared of animals that are capable of displacing us from that position. However, even top predators normally don’t want to eat people. A wolf or a bear does not look at a human and see prime rib. Only the weak, sick and desperate generally see us as food. In almost all circumstances, if you are respectful of animals and give them their space, they will be equally respectful of you.



Leave a Comment