USA Wildlife

Bears. The US is home to two species of bear, the brown bear (also called the grizzly bear) and the black bear. Grizzlies prefer semi-open spaces in mountainous areas, while black bears stick to forested regions. If you see a bear, calmly walk (don’t run) in the other direction. The best way to avoid danger is to completely avoid the bear—bears will attack if they are surprised, threatened, or protecting their territory or cubs. Sing or talk loudly on the trail and hike in groups, if possible. If the black bear charges or attacks, the National Forest Service recommends that you stand your ground and fight back. For grizzly bears, the protocol for encounters is different. If you encounter a grizzly bear, the National Forest Service recommends that you play dead. Curl up in a ball facing downward, use your hands and arms to protect the back of your neck and face, and keep your pack on for added protection. Do not move or make noise until you are sure the bear has left the area. See the National Forest Service bear safety page at http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/wildlife/igbc/Safety/cwi/menu.htm for more information.

To avoid attracting bears, don’t leave food or other scented items (trash, toiletries, the clothes that you cooked in) near your tent. Putting these objects into canisters is now mandatory in some parks. Bear-bagging, hanging edibles and other good-smelling objects from a tree out of reach of hungry paws, is the best way to keep your toothpaste from becoming a condiment. Bears are also attracted to any perfume, as are bugs, so leave cologne, scented soap, deodorant, and hairspray at home.

Snakes. Poisonous snakes are hazards in many wilderness areas in the US and Canada. The two most dangerous are coral snakes and rattlesnakes. Coral snakes make their home in the Southwestern US and can be identified by black, yellow, and red bands. Rattlesnakes live in desert and marsh areas, and will shake the rattle at the end of their tail when threatened. Don’t attempt to handle or kill a snake; if you see one, back away slowly. If you are bitten, clean the wound immediately, apply a pressure bandage, keep the wound below the heart (to slow the flow of venom through the blood stream), and immobilize the limb. Do not attempt to suck the venom out with your mouth and do not ice the wound—studies have shown that cooling the wound makes it more difficult to extract the venom. Seek immediate medical attention for any snakebite that breaks the skin.

Moose. Mountain regions in the north are moose stomping grounds. These big, antlered animals have been known to charge humans, so never feed or walk toward a moose. If a moose charges, get behind a tree immediately and raise your arms in the air with your fingers spread (but don’t wave them) so that you appear larger. If the moose attacks you, curl up in the fetal position on the ground, cover your head with your arms, and stay still.

Mosquitoes. While mosquitoes are certainly not as dangerous as bears or snakes, they can be a camper’s main source of agony. Though these creatures start cropping up in spring, the peak season in the US runs June-August before tapering off at the approach of fall. Be especially careful around damp or swampy areas and at dawn and dusk. Mosquitoes can bite through thin fabric, so cover up as much as possible with thicker materials. 100% DEET is useful, but mosquitoes can be so ravenous that nothing short of a mosquito hood and netting really stops every jab.