Wildlife Safety Tips for Campers and Hikers
Precautions to Take for Encounters with Wild Animals in Canada
May 19, 2009
As summer approaches, people flock to campgrounds across Canada, looking to experience the great outdoors with their families. Many are excited about the possibilities of seeing wild animals, and don’t think about the safety concerns involved in such sightings. A little bit of preparation can keep everyone safe on the family camping trip.
Encounters with Wild Animals
Wild animals are usually wary of human beings and "more inclined to flee than to attack" (Robert Elman, The Hiker's Bible, Doubleday & Co, 1982). However, in places such as campgrounds and national parks, where there are lots of people in the same areas that animals like to hang out, animals get used to human presence. This is when the trouble starts.
Remember that any wild animal, even a white-tailed deer, can be dangerous. Give them their space. Move slowly around or away from them. Parks Canada advises, “Resist that impulse to get close, reach out, or call out to wildlife.”
Take pictures, but use a zoom lens or enlarge the picture later—don’t try to move closer to the animal to snap a better picture. If you plan to do a lot of wildlife viewing, bring a pair of good binoculars or a telescope.
Campground Etiquette
Keeping campgrounds clean isn’t just about making it look good. A clean campground is also safer for the animals and, as Elman notes, "Fastidious housekeeping is the best way to avoid attracting undesirable wildlife to a campsite."
Never feed any animals, including birds or squirrels. Robin Tawney Nichols, author of Hiking with Kids (Morris Book Publishing, 2007), says that wild animals "get all the nourishment they need naturally.” Human food to them is like junk food—very unhealthy. Nichols adds, “When wild animals become dependent on human food, they become aggressive towards humans. A marmot or a tiny chipmunk begging to share your lunch might just mistake your finger for a carrot.”
Food should be stored in sealed bags or in a cooler. Place the cooler and any other food stuffs, including utensils, in the vehicle or in the food storage bins provided in the campground. Parks Canada warns visitors that coolers are not bear proof; do not leave them sitting around your campground.
Try to eliminate any smells that might attract animals. Elman explains, "By making sure that no food odors linger on your tent, bedroll, sleeping clothes or any gear in the sleeping area, you can reduce the chance of a more menacing invasion by a skunk or bear."
Campgrounds may have cook shelters with sinks or drains for dishwater; otherwise, throw the dishwater down the toilet or outhouse. Pick up all garbage and use the garbages provided or, if you are camping in an unmaintained campground, take the garbage with you to dispose of properly.
Park Offices and Campground Information
Make use of local resources, such as any information that the campground provides about local animals and campground etiquette. Observe the notices posted on bulletin boards. If you are camping within a Canadian national park, check out the park office for brochures or to talk to the warden.
Following these tips and being aware of the animals around you can help make your summer camping trip safe and enjoyable.
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