Wildlife Safety Tips | Trekking Nest

Many people love going outside to see wildlife. Spotting a big bird flying high in the sky or a group of bison-eating grass can make a simple trip feel like an exciting adventure. However, getting too close to animals can be a problem—that way you need to know about wildlife safety tips & prevent dangerous encounters. For example, a small mouse might steal your food, or a big grizzly bear could be dangerous if you meet it on a trail. It’s best to keep a safe distance to protect both you and the animals.

This article gives tips on how to avoid unwanted encounters with different animals and explains what to do if you meet black bears, grizzly bears, cougars, bison, mountain goats, moose, elk, and snakes.

 

How to Reduce Wildlife Encounters

Here are some tips to help you stay safe around wildlife:

Store food and scented items properly: 

Don’t leave food or anything that smells good out in the open. This includes empty food containers, trash, cookware, toiletries, lotions, and other scented items. If you’re camping in a car, keep food in a cooler or your car during the day. At night, put everything in your car or a metal bear locker. In the backcountry, use a bear canister, bear bag, or metal food locker, or hang your food in a bag from a tree or pole.

Keep smells away from camp: 

Cook your food and wash your dishes away from where you sleep so animals aren’t attracted to your campsite.

Give animals space: 

Most animals won’t attack unless they feel threatened. Stay a safe distance away to avoid scaring them. If an animal moves because of you, you’re too close. For example, stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves, and 25 yards away from other animals.

Stay aware: 

Use your eyes, ears, and nose to stay alert. Don’t wear headphones while hiking so you can hear what’s happening around you.

Make noise while hiking: 

To avoid surprising animals like bears, make noise while you hike. You can shout, talk or sing loudly, clap your hands, or strike your trekking poles together. Some hikers use bear bells, but they might not be loud enough.

Avoid hiking at dawn or dusk: 

Animals, including bears, are most active at these times. In cougar country, avoid hiking after dark.

Follow Leave No Trace principles: 

Dispose of waste properly to avoid attracting animals, and respect wildlife by observing them from a distance and never feeding them.

Research the area: 

Learn about the wildlife in the area you’ll be visiting. This will help you know how to prevent encounters and what to do if you see an animal. Websites for national parks and other land management agencies can be very helpful.

 

What to Do if You Encounter a Bear

Knowing how to react when you see a bear depends on whether it’s a black bear or a grizzly bear, so it’s helpful to know the differences.

Black bears: live in many parts of the country. They don’t have a shoulder hump and their faces are straight.

Grizzly bears: live in places like Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Alaska, and western Canada. They have a noticeable shoulder hump, small rounded ears, and a face that looks a bit like a dish.

Both types of bears can be different colors, from blonde to black, which can sometimes make it tricky to tell them apart.

 

What to Do if You See Any Bear

1. Never approach a bear: Always keep your distance.
2. Stay away from cubs: If you see baby bears, be extra careful. Mother bears are very protective.
3. Back away slowly: If you see a bear before it sees you, slowly back away while keeping your eyes on it.
4. Give the bear space: Move away to give the bear plenty of room.
5. Get your bear spray ready: If you have bear spray, prepare to use it.

 

What to Do if You See a Black Bear

1. Make yourself look big: Raise your arms and make lots of noise by yelling and banging pots together. Throw things to scare it away.
2. Secure your food: If you have food out, quickly put it in a bear canister or carry it with you as you back away. Don’t let the bear get your food.
3. Move away if the bear follows: If the bear keeps coming after you and seems more interested in your food, leave the food and move away.
4. Scare it off: Even if the bear seems harmless, try to scare it away and move.

 

If a black bear attacks:

1. Don’t play dead: Fight back using sticks, rocks, or your fists, aiming for its eyes and nose.

 

What to Do if You See a Grizzly Bear

1. Stay calm: Don’t look like a threat. Back up slowly and don’t make eye contact.
2. Handle a bluff charge: If the grizzly charges but stops, stay calm. The bear will be huffing and its ears will be up. Talk to it in a friendly voice. Get your bear spray ready but don’t run. If the bear leaves, keep backing up.

 

If a grizzly bear attacks:

1. Signs of an attack: The bear’s ears will be flat and its head low. Use your bear spray when the bear is about 30 feet away. Don’t panic and spray too soon.
2. Play dead if you don’t have bear spray: Lie flat on your stomach with your backpack between you and the bear. Cover the back of your neck with your hands. If the bear rolls you over, keep rolling until you’re back on your stomach.

 

What to Do if You Encounter a Cougar

Cougars, also called mountain lions or pumas, are shy animals that people rarely see in the wild. They live in many parts of the western U.S. and Canada, and sometimes in the eastern areas too. When cougars see people, they usually run away. Attacks are very rare. Here’s what to do if you see a cougar:

1. Never go near a cougar: Always keep your distance.
2. Stop and don’t run: Running might make the cougar want to chase you.
3. Protect small children: Pick them up or move them behind you.
4. Face the cougar: Keep looking at it and don’t turn your back.
5. Make yourself look bigger: Raise your arms, swing a jacket over your head, or stand on something to appear taller.
6. Talk firmly: Speak to the cougar in a strong voice while slowly backing away.
7. Scare it away: If the cougar acts aggressive and comes toward you, shout and throw things to make it see you as a threat.

 

If a cougar attacks:

1. Fight back: Stay on your feet and be aggressive. Use anything you can, like sticks, rocks, water bottles, backpacks, or your hands.
2. Use bear spray: If you have bear spray, aim for the cougar’s face.

 

What to Do if You Encounter Bison

Bison are the biggest animals that live on land in North America. They can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds! You can find them in wild places like Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Even though they might look calm and gentle, bison can be very unpredictable and super fast—they can run up to 40 miles per hour! Bison usually won’t attack unless they feel threatened, but you have to be very careful around them. In Yellowstone National Park, bison have hurt more people than any other animal. Here’s what to do if you see a bison:

1. Never go near a bison. Always stay at least 25 yards away.
2. Don’t try to scare or chase them.
3. Wait for the bison to leave, walk around them with plenty of space, or back away slowly.
4. Watch for signs that a bison is upset. These signs include snorting, tossing their heads, raising their tails, pawing the ground, making eye contact, and pretending to charge.
5. If you’re in a car and bison are on the road, drive slowly and they will usually move.

 

If a bison attacks:

1. If you can, get into a car or hide behind a big rock or tree.
2. Protect your head and neck.
3. Move away when you can.

 

What to Do if You Encounter a Mountain Goat

Mountain goats live in the mountain areas of northwest North America, like Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and parts of Canada like British Columbia and Alberta. They usually stay in high, rocky places. Mountain goats usually avoid people, but sometimes they come close because they want the salt from our sweat or urine. To help keep mountain goats away, don’t let them lick your sweaty clothes or gear, and never pee within 50 yards of a hiking trail.

Mountain goat attacks are very rare, but if you see one, here’s what to do:

1. Stay at least 50 yards away.
2. If a mountain goat comes toward you, slowly move away to keep a safe distance.
3. If it keeps coming, try to scare it off by yelling, making loud noises, waving clothes, or throwing rocks.

 

If a mountain goat attacks:

1. Move away and avoid its sharp horns.
2. If you have to, use anything you can to protect yourself and push the goat away.

 

What to Do if You Encounter a Moose

Moose are huge animals found in many parts of northern North America, like Canada, Alaska, upstate New York, northern New England, the Rocky Mountains, and northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Moose are usually calm, but if they feel threatened, they will protect themselves. Here’s what to do if you see a moose:

1. If the moose doesn’t see you, stay quiet and try to move away without being noticed.
2. If the moose sees you, talk to it softly and slowly move away.
3. Don’t be aggressive.
4. Watch for signs that the moose is upset like its ears laid back and the hair on its back and shoulders standing up. These signs mean the moose might be ready to attack.

 

If a moose attacks:

1. When a moose charges, it might be pretending, but you should still take it seriously. Get behind something like a tree or a big rock.
2. If there’s nowhere to hide, run away. Moose usually won’t chase you for long.
3. If a moose knocks you down, curl up in a ball and cover your head with your hands. Don’t fight back because this might make the moose keep attacking.

 

What to Do if You Encounter Elk

Elk are large animals—female elk can weigh 500 pounds and male elk can weigh 700 pounds. They can attack if they feel threatened, especially during mating season in the fall. Elk live mainly in the mountains of western North America. If you see elk, here’s what to do:

1. Keep your distance; stay at least 50 yards away.
2. Never touch or move elk calves.
3. If an elk comes toward you, back away slowly. Give it space and let it pass.

 

If an elk attacks:

1. When the elk charges, don’t turn your back.
2. Find protection behind a tree, big rock, or vehicle.
3. Protect your head and neck.

 

What to Do if You Encounter a Snake

Snakes are usually peaceful if you don’t bother them. Many snakes are not venomous and are not dangerous. But if you surprise a venomous snake, like a rattlesnake, or a snake you can’t identify, be careful. If you see a snake, here’s what to do:

1. Stop moving and stay calm.
2. Slowly back away.
3. Find another path that keeps you far away from the snake.

 

If a snake bites you:

1. Stay calm—moving around can make the venom spread faster.
2. Clean the bite with soap.
3. Try not to move too much and have someone help you if possible.
4. Get to a hospital as soon as you can for treatment.