Respect Wildlife
Our national forests and grasslands provide habitat for wildlife, including animals like bears and venomous snakes. Always keep your distance. Your safety is your responsibility. Animals that live in this forest are wild, even though they may look or act tame. Wildlife experts recommend keeping at least 100 yards away from bears and 25 yards from other large animals. As use of our public land grows and the pressure of civilization increases, it is all of our responsibility not to stress wildlife but to honor its wildness.
Additional wildlife safety tips
The consequences of approaching wildlife can be serious. You are responsible for your own safety as well as the safety of wildlife. Wild animals should be allowed to forage for food, care for their young, sleep and play without human disturbance.
- Don't leave your food, including pet food, out in the open when not being used. It could attract unwanted insects and wildlife.
- Never approach or feed wild animals.
- Wild animals are individualistic and unpredictable.
- Always maintain a safe distance.
Experts estimate the average weight of a black bear is 300 pounds and a grizzly bear to be 400 pounds. Bears by nature are opportunists. In the wild, they will feed on whatever is readily available. Food odors and improperly stored garbage will attract bears to campgrounds and picnic sites. Bears become habituated to human food if they find it available.
Although they are naturally afraid of humans, the animals lose this fear as they begin to associate human scents with the reward of food. Bears can become a threat to humans, property and themselves—a pattern that normally ends with death to the bear. Protect yourself and protect the black bears by storing trash and food in safe locations when you visit a national forest. Visit the Be Bear Aware website and How to be Bear Aware in Black Bear Country for additional safety information and how to tell the difference between a black bear and a grizzly bear.
- Avoid surprising bears at close distance; look for signs of bears and make plenty of noise.
- Never approach a bear or other wild animal.
- Carry EPA-registered bear pepper spray.
- Keep a clean camp site by properly disposing of food scraps and garbage. For more information, visit the Leave No Trace website.
- Do not leave food or garbage inside fire rings, inside grills or around your site; this includes pet food.
- If bear-proof containers are not available, store food and garbage inside a hard-top vehicle or trailer.
- Keep your sleeping area, tent and sleeping bag free of food and odors.
- If a bear is observed nearby, vacate the area as soon as possible.
- If necessary, attempt to scare the animal away with loud shouts, by banging pans together or throwing rocks and sticks at it.
- Never run away from a bear—back away slowly and make a lot of noise.
- Avoid crowding bears; respect their "personal space."
- Plan ahead, stay calm, identify yourself and don’t run.
- Never approach, feed or follow wildlife, especially bears. Always properly dispose of food waste in animal/bear resistant containers.
DO NOT RUN AWAY. Back away slowly and make a lot of noise.
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a sign displaying bear country regulations
Photo Credit: U.S. Forest Service photo by Josh Cowden
- Keep your pet under physical restraint at all times. Taking your dog camping can be a great experience, but there are a few considerations to remember. Dogs can get easily distracted by wild animals and lost while chasing them in the woods.
- In an outdoor environment, your dog will most likely experience an increase in physical activity. While you might not be bothered by your dog’s barking, other campers might be annoyed.
- Keep your pet on a leash and controlled at all times, especially in campgrounds and picnic areas where there could be a leash requirement.
- If you encounter wild animals, respect them by moving your dog away from the area.
There is a risk of mosquito bite every time you enter the forest, your backyard or around water. In addition to being uncomfortable, mosquito bites can cause illnesses, including West Nile virus. The chance that any one person is going to become ill from a single mosquito bite remains low. The risk of severe illness and death is highest for people over 50 years old, although people of all ages can become ill. Preventing mosquito bites is the best way to reduce the risk of infection from the diseases mosquitoes can carry.
- Apply an insect repellent as necessary. Read labels carefully and use as directed on children.
- Whenever possible, wear long sleeves, socks and long pants in mosquito areas.
- Avoid perfumes, colognes, hair sprays, lotions and soaps, all of which attract mosquitoes.
- Reduce exposure by staying indoors during peak mosquito hours (from dusk until dawn).
- Avoid lingering in places where mosquitoes lay their eggs, usually around standing water.
- Wash mosquito bites with mild soap and water.
Weather conditions seem to have the greatest effect on the tick population. After a mild winter, the tick population is high. Ticks are worse in early spring, when they climb into brush and wait for a chance to attach to a host and feed on the host's blood.
Ticks can carry a variety of diseases. Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease are two of the known diseases spread by ticks. Some diseases, such as Lyme disease, may affect pets and livestock as well as people.
- Tuck your pant legs into your socks so ticks cannot crawl up the inside of your pant legs.
- Apply repellents to discourage tick attachment. Repellents containing permethrin can be sprayed on boots and clothing, and will last for several days. Repellents containing DEET (also known as N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) can be applied to the skin but will last only a few hours before reapplication is necessary. Read labels carefully and use as directed on children.
- Stay on trails where the chance of picking up ticks is less likely.
- Avoid tall grass and brush.
- Routinely check your hair and body for ticks.
- Conduct a body check upon return from potentially tick-infested areas by searching your entire body for ticks. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body.
- Remove any tick you find on your body.
- If there is any indication of redness or swelling, go to a doctor immediately and take the tick with you in a plastic bag for identification.
Snakes live in a wide variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, deserts and water. Some are active at night, others during the day. Snakes are predators and eat a wide variety of animals, including rodents, insects, birds' eggs and young birds.
- Do not tease or harass snakes.
- Wear long pants and proper foot gear.
- Try as much as possible not to surprise a snake.
- Stay on trails and watch where you sit and where you place your hands and feet, especially when climbing or stepping over fences, large rocks and logs or when collecting firewood. Before venturing out, familiarize yourself with the snakes of your area.