What are some tips for dealing with wildlife when camping?

Question

I'm not worried about raccoons or wildlife like that, but I'm more worried about poisonous snakes and bears. I camp alone occasionally and I would like some safety tips.

I know the basics about keeping food and other scented items away from the campsite (for bears). But I guess I'm looking for tips while hiking. What signs to be aware of, and what to do if I spot a bear or snake while hiking? Even worse, what if they spot me?

Answer 1

Bears are pretty easy. Don't happen on them accidentally. Make a lot of noise, sing, talk loudly back and forth. some people suggest banging on pans. Bears will usually avoid you if they know you're there. I've done quite a bit of packing over a lot of years and have never encountered a bear. Watch for bear scat, footprints, fur on trees (a lot of animals scratch themselves on trees). Oh, don't approach that cute cub. Back out and go the way you came.

When I did a lot of camping, I used to carry a .22 pistol on my hip. I had a long rifle cylinder in it and loaded alternating with bird shot and hollow point. I found that the bird shot would knock a snake down and I could kill it with a hollow point. I've run across a few snakes and I've never been bitten. Some people favor a long stick. I don't know if I'm that brave.

Oh, carry a snake-bite kit... just in case. But even then you need to get yourself out. Packing alone isn't probably the most intelligent endeavor.

Answer 2

Walk with a walking stick - about 4 or 5 foot long, comes in great with using to deal with snakes. You can deal with bears with some bear mace

Answer 3

You don't need to worry at all, and should consider yourself lucky to encounter one of those beautiful wild creatures. The rattlesnake I saw at the lake the other day wasn't interested in me; it kept about it's business of lurking next to a tree and we enjoyed our BBQ picnic not twenty feet away. The bear I saw in Yosemite didn't care about my food, it was trying to cross the road without getting hit by a car and while my friends in the car with me lazily napped, I was the only one to see it. Lucky me!

Answer 4

talk to the park rangers they are the best source of info the area, or the game wardens in that area they can help you in the area you will be in. as far as snakes always watch where you step,sit or put your hands if you see one leave it alone go around it back away slowly.

Answer 5

If you hear a rattlesnake, back up slowly in the direction you came. For bears, retreat slowly and yell at the bear and make as much noise as you can. If it charges (beware false charges) curl into a fetal position, because back scratches are better than face and chest.

Answer 6

I got tons of bear information on my website.

Please "Save a bears life"

10 Easy Steps to Tie Your Food Up in a Tree

1. Put a rock into a Ziploc bag and tie bag to rope. Locate a tree with a suitable branch that will hold your food.

2. Try to fling bagged rock over branch and avoid hitting someone with rock, repeat as often as required.

3. Bandage head of kibitzing bystander. Try Step #2. again.

4. (a.) Tie one food sack to one end of rope and hoist into the air.

(b.) Discover your branch choice was a bit to flexible or not high enough.

5. Find better branch. Re-fling rock over branch (Step #2.) (Try to avoid Step #3.) Then repeat Step #4. (a.)

6. Tie second sack as high as possible. Discover the weight of each sack was not as even as you thought, untie bags and sort food, repeat as needed.

7. Hoist second sack and push it up even higher, with a little fling. Observe that both sacks are now totally out of reach of the bears …and you.

8. Finally go to bed and spend the night worried about your food, and jerking awake at every noise because you just KNOW that’s the sound of your food being destroyed, because the NPS has told you that: “hanging your food is not considered effective”.

9. When bears, mice, chipmunks, porcupines, marmots etc. or rainfall have destroyed your food, then gather the remains and packaging trash and place the entire mess in a garbage bag and carry to the trailhead for proper disposal.

10. Buy new food locally (at outrageous prices) or cancel the rest of backpack outing.

3 Steps to Using a Bear Canister

1. Put food in canister and secure lid.

2. Walk 50 feet outside of camp and put canister down.

3. In the morning walk 50 feet outside of camp, open top and get food. Secure lid.

kib•itz intr.v. kib•itzed, kib•itz•ing, kib•itz•es. Kib’itz•er n Informal

1. To look on and offer unwanted, usually meddlesome advice to others.

2. To chat; converse.