Staying Safe During Outdoor Activities Around Wildlife

While seeing wild animals up close and personal can be an invigorating and exciting experience, it’s also quite dangerous. Wild animals are unpredictable and even if they seem friendly, you should still stay away. Animals that live in the wild tend to feel threatened by people or for that fact, other animals invading their space. Remember, you are on their territory now and that means you should show respect for the animals that reside there. If you happen to come across a wild animal while camping, hiking or exploring the great outdoors, you’ll need to know how to react calmly and quickly exit the situation. Below are some animals commonly found in wildlife and how you should handle encounters.

Bears. Bears are quite common to run into, especially while camping because bears can smell food from miles away. Bears that exhibit predatory confrontations, i.e. following, approaching or attacking you in your campsite or tent usually will respond to aggressive and loud behaviors, such as yelling and throwing rocks and sticks. If you’re camping you should also be carrying bear spray, which will emit a deterring blast. However, if you run into a defensive confrontation with a bear, that’s a whole other thing. These confrontations are a result of a bear protecting its space, cubs or latest food catch. If contact is made, or about to be made, immediately drop to the ground and play dead. Lie on your stomach and use your elbows to protect yourself from being rolled over, if the bear does roll you over, continue rolling until you land on your stomach again. A defensive bear will stop attacking when they feel the threat has been removed, therefore remain still and do not scream.

Mountain Lions. As much as people wish to admire mountain lions from afar, it hardly ever happens. However, more recently mountain lions have had encounters with humans in California and Colorado, because housing is being pushed into the lion’s habitat. However if you do spot a mountain lion, stay far away and give them a chance to escape. Most mountain lions try to avoid confrontation in the first place. Never, ever run. If you run it may stimulate a lion’s natural instinct to chase, and we all know who’s going to win that race. Also, do not turn your back and continue to make eye contact with a lion until it has left the premises. Avoid squatting and bending over, or else you risk looking like a four-legged animal, a mountain lions prey. You can also make yourself appear larger by opening your arms and any jackets or clothing you may be wearing. You can wave your arms and talk firmly, yet calm in your normal voice. The whole idea is to convince the lion that you may cause danger, not that you’re its next meal.

Snakes. In order to avoid snakes you need to pay attention to your surroundings. You’ll want to watch where you walk and place your feet. Never stick your hands in potential snake habitats, i.e., rocks, logs, bushes, burrows or holes. If you see a rattlesnake, walk around it. Make sure you and no one else in your party tries to pick up, kill or capture the snake. This is likely to result in a snakebite. If you’re camping, keep your campsite area clean. Also, store firewood away from your sleeping and eating areas, snakes often find new homes in firewood piles. Carry a snakebite first-aid kit with you on all wildlife adventures.

Wild animals are beautiful and somewhat mesmerizing in their natural habitat. It’s important to let wild animals be because most times they will view you as a threat. With the recent takeover of their homes and habitats by buildings, homes and cities, they’ve come to be guarded and apprehensive around people. Enjoying wildlife should be a celebrated site, but avoid tragedy by admiring the animal from afar.

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