This means knowing where specific animals like to make their home. I generally just carry a pistol or revolver, but occasionally will bring the shotgun along. How to Protect Food from Animals While Camping. You know how to choose the right spot to make camp. For example, camping in a cabin provides you with full beds and bunk beds, while sleeping in a tent will require you to bring an air mattress, sleeping bag or other accommodations. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return. Shout often and avoid thick brush. Clean up any pet food or animal feed on or near your property Since mountain lions bury their meals, stay away from carcasses while hiking. The easiest way to prevent carbon-monoxide poisoning while camping is to always keep stoves and grills outside of your tent and away from your shelter. Be certain that shiny objects like aluminum foil, tin cans, jewelry, keys, and cutlery are stored out of sight, as they can attract raccoons. Camping Advice For Dealing With Wild Animals Near The Campsite. Step 4: Bears will stop at nothing to get your food. When we venture into the wild, and into the habitat of black bears and grizzlies, it’s important to take a few precautions that will protect us and bears. Here’s a list of 10 things you can do to keep your family camping trip safe and secure from potentially dangerous animals. Dampareas are natural homes for insects, and bears like to eat the vegetation that grows there. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. How to protect yourself from wild animals ... a couple encountered a cougar while hiking in California's Sequoia National Park and another cougar was spotted in a neighborhood in Tooele. If your cooler is on its last leg and you are looking for an upgrade, there are always certified bear tested coolers that are sure to keep your food and beverages cold and the bears locked out. When brushing your teeth, make sure that you don’t spit anywhere near your campsite. 2. Wild animals have an specific diet and feeding them with food they are not used to could affect their health. Don’t bury your trash because animals can dig it up, but don’t burn it either — burning can produce toxic smoke and leave behind toxic residue. If you want the best protection, keep your clothes layered. When it comes to snakes, be particularly careful if  you move logs or brush as most snakes get to moving when their environment is tampered with. Staying on the path and in … Snakes aren’t attracted to the smell of food, but flies, toads, and mice are. If snakes are a high concern of yours in a particular area, consider wearing sturdy boots and gloves when moving such things. Pack freeze-dried food and avoid cooking meat if possible. Of course you should study the area and stock up on gear, but you should also know how to keep animals away when you make camp for the night. Keeping your provisions safe will decrease the risk of animal attack, and make your journey out into nature a fun experience. Hang the cooler at least 20 feet off the ground and at least 8 feet from the trunk of a tree. Cooking food with strong smells can attract bears from far away since their sense of smell is much more acute than ours. The best way to keep animals away from your campsite is to pick an ideal place to camp. Flashlights can always be useful to help find things and point you in the right direction when walking at night. 1. This will keep it safe from skunks, racoons, snakes, bears, and other animals. For information on the wildlife in the area, you can seek out tips from the local park ranger or wildlife official. Wild animals generally do not come close to the light. I have found after research that a battery powered strobe light keeps the animals and critters away after my fire has burnt out and I am asleep in my tent. An easy fix is using unscented towelettes to wipe yourself down. Never use the same tree as other campers — this will make it a target. Human voices — leaving a radio on while you sleep can keep them away. Run Away. Wear different clothes cooking and to bed. Enclosed areas can make them feel trapped and cause aggression. Always make noise while hiking. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. An open area will also protect you in case an animal wanders in. Their behavior is sometimes unpredictable. Try to get distance slowly, step by step, until you are at a resoanably safe distance. If a big animal comes around on the other hand, the general rule is to keep away. Sign up to learn about new products, upcoming events, and other news from the, The GORE-TEX Brand may use my email address, provided above, to send me relevant marketing communications, based on my preferences. 2. To keep your food, supplies and gear away from bears, there are several different ways to keep them out of a bears reach. All it takes is one wrong move in the woods and you could have an unwanted guest at your campsite. While these circumstances are extraordinarily rare, it is better to be prepared than to make a wrong move. Here are 2 tips on how to protect yourself from bears when camping. It might seem strange, but being loud will keep many of the furry creatures out of sight. An alternative to always holding the other end of the leash is buying a spiral stake to put in the ground to keep the pup close by while granting him or her a little freedom to roam. It is easier to use, with a larger effective range than those keychain pepper sprays, and if it will stop a charging bear, it should stop a charging human. Do not hike off the trail or at night! Wild animal encounters cannot be avoided when you’re out in the wild, and when you’re camping outdoors too. Tall grasses are good homes for snakes and insects. A place with some elevation will be helpful in case it rains. One of the sharpest tools you can have up against wildlife is knowledge and familiarity with the woods you will be setting up camp in. Here’s a list of 10 things you can do to keep your family camping trip safe and secure from potentially dangerous animals. While camping in the desert you'll want to keep a watchful eye out for these creatures. The only time you should run from a wild animal is when you are certain you can make a getaway. Fallen trees, piles of locks, leaf piles, and rocky areas are friendly to snakes and insects. Stay Away From Cubs and Piglets Perhaps the most potent threat to most wild animals is when humans and other animals, in general, get too close to their babies. All that’s left to do is enjoy your trip! Sing, clap your hands or talk while you walk. Ensure that all food, clothing, trash, toothpaste, etc., are packed away, especially when night falls. Keeping animals away from your campsite. Whenever you head out in the wild you are literally at the mercy not only of the elements but also the different creatures or wild animals you should be cautious about that make the wilderness their habitat. If you can find a place with a constant breeze, that will help keep insects away. To keep it real, this means they can smell your dog. Continuously making an effort to scrub pots and pans and picking up trash throughout the day’s adventures will work wonders in making it less of a task to keep your site pest free. Definitely not necessary, but it is a precaution that might be suitable for some. Bring a weapon for self-defense Even if you think the landscape is safe and asked the veterans if there are wild animals in that area, always be prepared. The same happens in the wilderness. In addition to finding animals (and the law) a concern, your other concern is hunters. Knowing this, here are some tips for choosing the best campsite possible. 9. 3) Under no circumstances feed wild animals wild camping. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners. These cookies do not store any personal information. You’re aware of how to handle food while camping, and you know the extra steps to take to make sure you can sleep undisturbed by fauna. You can use these tips for any kind of camping trip—from car camping to backpacking to hunting. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Mosquitoes are deterred by the following: Rodents, which includes squirrels, chipmunks, moles, mice, and skunks, are repelled by the following: These masked bandits are known for disliking: No one wants to wake up to the sound of a bear outside their tent. Play dead if you’re attacked by a brown bear. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. It will help keep the moisture away. Eliminate odors from food and supplies. Wear thick clothing to help protect yourself in the event that you do injure yourself, fall down a cliff, or get bitten by a wild animal. Seriously. Make sure to take a heavy-duty flashlight with you. Speaking of smell, wolves are extremely good at detecting other animals, particularly ones that aren’t part of their pack. 5 Walk in the center of trails and clearings. Lastly, when choosing your ideal camping site, try to go for a surface that is on higher ground, so that in case there is rain, you’ll be able to avoid excessive moisture, which often attracts wild animals. level 2. You could keep them in a hard-sided vehicle, a certified food storage container, or put it all in a bag and hang it between two trees at least 10 feet from the ground. Seeing a bear in the wild is a special treat for any visitor to a national park. Choose a flat, open area with low or no grass to keep snakes and bugs away. Get on the ground and lay flat on your stomach. With that said, I’m here to provide you with some solid camping advice on how to deal with wild animals near your campsite. To keep these pests away, bring items that repel them! Double-bag your trash and hang the bags as high as your cooler. Stop by the store and grab the basics. How to Keep Animals Away From Your Campsite. Although RVs and cabins offer more amenities and safety compared to tents, about 60% of campers still report opting for tent camping . Elk, deer, coyotes, lions, and feral hogs among other beasts are known to fight with their last breath as they protect their young ones. Keep your animals and pets safe while unattended. They aren’t your pets and they aren’t kind as kind as they can be cute and innocent-looking. This goes for the kids, too. It’s OK if you never learned that in class — we’ve got everything you need to know covered here. Yell, make a lot of noise, and stand your ground. Of course, the number one thing animals will be drawn to is your food. Be careful to not startle a female bear with cubs. Twyggy nailed this one, the best defense against animals is to understand them. If there isn’t a tree available, take your belongings away from camp and hide them in the woods, use a bear-box if one is available, or put it all in your. The bear spray, on the other hand, is a purchase that you most likely and hopefully will never use but is something worth having for that extra piece of mind when you hear rustling in the woods. Store your “cooking clothes” in an airtight bag or container to reduce the risk of any wildlife catching a whiff. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. If you go camping in a state or national forest, talk to the park rangers. Stock up your packs with flashlights and bear spray to keep in the tent at night. They can also cover the smell of food. This includes marshes, still water, and the bottoms of valleys. When we set off for a remote, forest-y location to spend the next few days relaxing with the RV or unwinding in a tent, there will be animals to look for while camping. Otherwise, your otherwise friendly encounter with a deer may end in disaster for you - and not from the deer. Here’s how to cook, eat, and clean up after yourself properly: There are a few other measures you can also take to avoid unwanted animal guests: Now you know all the tricks to keeping animals away from your campsite. A bright flash of light can spook off some animals. Cooking smells cling to fabric and can attract bears, making the clothes you wore while making dinner not the best pajamas. Eliminate odors from food and supplies. GORE-TEX, GTX, SURROUND, C-KNIT, PACLITE, OPTIFADE, CHEMPAK, CROSSTECH, PYRAD, PARALLON, GORE-SEAM, GORE WINDSTOPPER, GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY, and GORE and designs are trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates. If you aren't a gun guy, I would recommend bear spray. Keeping yourself cool and dry at your campsite is important if you want to avoid mosquitoes. Store your food in a locking cooler, then wrap it in rope for extra protection. These animals can attract snakes. Depending on the region you chose for your camping trip, you can encounter the following animals that could be dangerous: Cougar — Also known as mountain lion, albeit much smaller and less aggressive than the African cat. Seal uneaten food in airtight containers stored in bear-proof canisters, or suspend it from a bear wire away from sleeping areas. There should be a water source near enough for hydration, washing and cleaning, but far enough away to avoid the animals seeking it out — about 200 feet should be good. If you are wearing a jacket, raise it above your head. Once you’ve picked a campsite, there are other measures you should take to ensure that animals aren’t interested in visiting. If you can find a place with a constant breeze, that will help keep insects away. Good hunting and camping habits dictate that you should wear colored clothing. However, in the instance of getting a bit too close to a bear or other animal, you should brush up on what to do in the event that you are in a face-to-face situation. Animals To Look For While Camping. Many established campgrounds throughout the Blue Ridge feature bear resistant trash receptacles to reduce the chances of bears smelling any types of food odors. That’s why I encourage you to keep an eye on your pets when outdoors. If this isn’t something you can do, make sure to use anything with an artificial smell in the morning, so the smell has a chance to dissipate by. If it is a predator, do you best to never turn your back and run, this will trigger their predator instinct. Do not approach or surprise wild animals. As much as you may love and trust your pets to stay close by, it’s not worth the risk of letting them roam off on their own. Sign up to learn about new products, upcoming events, and other news from the GORE-TEX brand. Consider a bear proof cooler, especially for car camping. Black bears roam all over the Blue Ridge Mountains with a population of 300,000 in the U.S. alone, making them a common concern amongst campers. The latest on GORE-TEX products, events, and experiences. Find a spot at a distance from any trails, since animals use them as well as humans. Clasp your hands together behind your neck. Another part of campsite cleanliness is making sure that you don’t leave any of your things out at night, even if they don’t contain food. To decrease the risk of tick bites, choose a camping spot in a dry, sunny location. Wooded areas are good homes for mosquitoes, other insects, snakes, raccoons, and bears. This will leave your campsite smelling as much like nature as possible. Watch your food. To deter these creatures, consider the following repellents: Most animals dislike the smell of fabric softener sheets, the kind you use in your dryer. After you pack up your food, garbage and clothes, wash your hands meticulously to get rid of lingering odors. The flashlight will provide you protection during night time. Once you’ve picked a campsite, there are other measures you should take to ensure that animals aren’t interested in visiting. It is common for hunting season and camping seasons to overlap. I understand that I can unsubscribe from these communications at any time. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Employment: Jobs at Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine. Remember that you are not the only one camping and animals can be affected as well with human waste. Never eat inside your tent, as the scent of food can linger, and never leave food unattended, even if you’re only going to be gone for a few moments. If you’re having trouble doing this with one tree, you can hang a rope between two trees at least 16 feet apart. Do not get close to an animal carcass. Most animals will scare off easily from a far distance. Learn how to keep animals out of your campsite here! We're committed to innovation in life sciences, aerospace, and beyond. For additional relevant details, I can review the. Make sure there are trees nearby so you can hang your cooler, backpack, and garbage bags. You can get a couple of animal sprays such as bear sprays. To keep your food protected while camping out in the great outdoors, try bringing along a cooler, a cloth or nylon sack, a sock, some rope, and sealable, waterproof plastic bags. Have you ever gone to a restaurant and can distinctly smell the food even hours after you’ve left? You can make sure to pack things that ward off specific animals (hint: ammonia does the trick for most of them!). Here are five tips to protect yourself from wild animals in the forest. Tie each end of the rope to a rock so it’s easy to throw over a branch. How To Protect From Dangerous Animals While Camping. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Make sure to be incredibly clean. Spread … With that said, if you have close-by neighbors, don’t cause a full out ruckus. You won’t get scratched up as much if you do happen to fall, and an animal will have a much harder time piercing your skin if it tries to bite you. The sounds of the campfire crackling, voices, and other man-made sounds like car engines usually do the trick in scaring off wildlife. Camping can be a great experience, but you don't want to share it with the local wildlife. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. They have a lot of information about the animals in the area and usually have very good two or three sentence explanations of … It’s not only trash that will attract a bear; toiletry items such as toothpaste, soap, lotions, deodorant or bug sprays (especially citronella) should be secured from bears as well. Set up your tent or sleeping area at least 200 feet from where you cook, store items with artificial smells, or where you drain the water you wash in. Blue Ridge Outdoors is your guide to fly fishing in the Southeast, moutain biking in the Blue Ridge and adventure travel from the Highlands to the Piedmont. In case an animal does come to your camp, you want to make sure you have something to protect yourself. While it is an exciting moment, it is important to remember that bears in national parks are wild and can be dangerous. When camping or hiking, don’t let them wander off. Also, it is strongly recommended you keep fire close to the camp. To avoid attracting animals, store all your food … If the smaller wild animals come around, the general rule is to not entertain them. Fire — it also eliminates moisture and darkness, Light (for nocturnal rodents, like skunks). 7. Getting outdoors for a camping adventure is an enjoyable, freeing experience that is almost never dangerous, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to be prepared in the event of an unlikely guest. Even if you've brought weapons along to protect yourself, it's usually better just to give these animals a wide berth. Many bugs are attracted to body heat and sweat, so keeping cool while camping can go a long way toward making yourself less attractive to insects. Your campsite, that is. Thoroughly wash all cooking utensils after use. Black bears roam all over the Blue Ridge Mountains with a population of 300,000 in the U.S. alone, making them a common concern amongst campers. Animals You May Encounter While Camping. Hitting the Trails: A Quick Guide to Getting into Trail Running, How Your Landscaping is Affecting Your Energy Consumption, Camping and Snakes: The Complete Summer Survival Guide. It's unlikely you'll be killed by a wild animal if you keep a safe distance. Raccoons and bears are attracted to the smell of peppermint. Other hand, the best defense against animals is to not entertain them wire away from your campsite ’. Leaving a radio on while you navigate through the website to function properly park ranger or wildlife official will... Or worse away from your campsite here camping habits dictate that you don ’ t lower your guard because are! With that said, if you ’ ve got everything you need to know covered here items that them. Not be avoided when you ’ re out in the how to protect yourself from wild animals while camping you 'll want to avoid mosquitoes container. 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