Submitted by Jamie Strand
A camping trip is void of emails, phone calls, and other distractions people face in a normal day. In 2016, roughly 37 million households in the U.S. took at least one camping trip to unplug and enjoy the outdoors. While camping, you must be responsible and follow guidelines about having a campsite and being near wildlife in order to keep yourself and the wildlife safe.
Animal Safety
The forests provide habitats for many wild animals. “Always keep your distance, and avoid direct interaction with all wildlife,” says the United States Department of Agriculture. This protects you and the animals. Getting too close can upset a wild animal, which can result in the animal becoming unexpectedly aggressive, or the animal may be harmed by its efforts to avoid you.
If you come upon wildlife, keep a safe distance and don’t block their line of travel. Instead, change your route so that you move away from the animals without disturbing them. Don’t feed any animals. This can result in aggression, harm to the animal's digestive system, or even death of the animal. Remember that animals don’t always show specific gestures and warning signals before attacking. They can ignore you, look calm, or appear friendly, but suddenly charge or strike out without warning.
Campsite Safety
To avoid attracting wildlife to the campsite, keep it clean, making sure to wipe down tabletops after eating. Properly dispose of food scraps and garbage, and never leave food or garbage inside fire rings, grills, or around your site. Don’t bury trash or food scraps. Food and coolers should never be left unattended. Stay at least 100 yards away from your camper van when eating and cooking, and don’t sleep in the clothes in which you cooked.
Following fire safety guidelines is one of the biggest campsite responsibilities. When making a fire, use an existing campfire ring if possible. Only charcoal or untreated wood can be used as fuel. Either place your match in the fire or hold it until it’s cold. Never leave a campfire unattended. To extinguish a fire, drown the fire with water, ensuring all embers, coals, and sticks are wet. Stir the remnants, add more water, and stir again. Use dirt if water isn’t available.
When building a campfire, place it away from overhanging branches, steep slopes, and rotten stumps, logs, dry grass, and leaves. Dig a hole that’s three feet deep (including the surrounding rocks) and four feet in diameter. Remove all litter, duff, and other burnable material within a 10-foot diameter circle. Extra wood should be placed well away from the fire.
Bear Safety
Bears are a common concern to those who camp or hike. While bears typically avoid humans, they may attempt to access the campsite for food. Food and garbage should be stored in bear-proof containers, inside a vehicle or camper trailer, or hung at least 10 feet off the ground and 4 feet from a tree or limb. Bears are also attracted to cooking pots and utensils, cooking oils, fuel for stoves, unopened cans, and anything with a strong odor, such as toothpaste, bug repellent, or soap.
Always carry EPA registered bear pepper spray when camping or hiking. When a bear is observed nearby, immediately pack up food and trash and make noise to avoid surprising the bear. Look for signs of a bear when camping or hiking, such as scat, claw marks, digging, or logs or stumps that are torn apart. If a bear approaches, move away slowly and get into your vehicle. Never attempt to run away.
Hiking Safety
Hiking is a fun and popular activity to enjoy while camping. Because injuries can occur from hiking or animal encounters, avoid hiking alone, never stray from the group, read all signs at the trail head, stay on the trail, and don’t hike in the dark. Bring along an emergency kit, and tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll return. Remember bear safety guidelines.
While camping offers many fun aspects like roasting marshmallows, spectacular views, and fun activities, there are also some dangers you should try to avoid, like fires and animal attacks. As a camper, you’re the guest in nature, so take special care to not to disturb or harm any wildlife or their habitats, which will also keep you and other campers safe.
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