When you go camping, you’re a guest in a wild animal’s home. That’s why it’s so important to be prepared and aware of your surroundings. You don’t want to risk a visit from an unexpected guest—whether it’s a bear or raccoon! Here, you can learn how to stay safe from wild animals while camping. It’s easier than you think!
1. Get the Necessary Camping Supplies
You don’t want to be stranded inside your tent without being properly supplied. So, before you go off to the wild and set up at a campsite, make sure you already have all the necessary supplies to deter wild animals.
One of the most useful tool is a flashlight. This device can help you navigate the dark if you feel like there’s a presence inside your tent. Not to mention, it can also help you find your way during nighttime.
Another compulsory item is bear spray, which can protect you from bear attacks. Bear spray is effective to stop the most aggressive bears 90% of the time. While black bears are generally easy to scare off, grizzly bears can be very dangerous, especially if a mother is protecting her cubs.
2. Avoid Odors and Keep Food Contained
To make sure you don’t attract wild animals, keep your campsite free of inviting odors, such as freshly cooked meat. Unwanted freeloaders will come to your area if they can smell your food.
To limit odors, keep your food supply inside a cooler or another airtight container. You might even consider keeping food inside a locked car.
3. Wear Different Clothing When You’re Sleeping
In the same vein as keeping your odors as minimal as possible, you should also change clothes after a day of activity. As you sweat, cook, and eat, you will accumulate a particular odor that can invite unwanted visitors.
That’s why it’s recommended that you change into a fresh set of clothes when you want to go to sleep. Don’t forget to store your used clothes inside an airtight container or plastic pouches so that they will not emit odor as well.
4. Keep Your Furry Friends at Close Range
If you bring your dog camping, remember that to wild animals, they’re not a pet. They’re a threat or potential snack. So, it’s in your best interest to keep your dog close by and on a leash––especially if you have a small dog, like a Dachshund. Most campsites require this anyway; off-leashed dogs aren’t safe for either you or your pet.
It’s also important to be mindful of your dog’s reactions while you’re on a hike or sitting around the campfire. For instance, if your dog begins barking excessively at a bush, take that as a hint that there’s an animal lingering (even if it’s a wild mouse). If your dog begins whining, growling, or baring their teeth, this could also signal that a wild animal is close to the campground.
5. Make Some Noise!
This might seem contradictory. After all, when you go out into nature, usually people want to experience the beautiful sounds nature provides, like babbling creeks or chirping birds. But if you are trying to drive wild animals away, loud noises should scare them.
Go and plug your speakers in and listen to music when you feel like it, or even bring your guitar for singalongs. If the campsite is already crowded, the noise of people talking and going about their evenings will drive the animals away.
6. Avoid Leaving Any Trash
Finally, always keep your campsite clean. Don’t leave food, drinks, packaging, or trash lying around. The odor and the consumables will provide an open offer to wild animals to come and get their share. Always keep your trash securely stored in bear-proof lockers or suspended from a tree far from your campsite. This also keeps your campsite free of pesky insects, including flies that love garbage.
You can keep your surroundings clean by:
- Keeping a tarp under your cooking site to catch any food or oil residue.
- Washing your utensils with a wash bin using biodegradable soap.
- Dump wastewater into the sink or toilet available on the campsite.
- Dispose of your trash inside an airtight plastic bag, and bring it with you when you finish your camping experience (or you can splurge a little and buy a bear-safe trash can to use).
