Safety in numbers?
Photo by: Phanuphong Paothong (Stock Exchange)

Welcome, one and all, to the AllCampgrounds.com blog! Today we’ll be talking about one of the most important parts of getting by at all campsites: managing your presence.

We’ll look at a few of the keys to making sure you and your fellow campers leave nature as you found it.

Consider this a review for old hands and a great way for newcomers to camping to learn the ropes.

“Leave No Trace”: Learn It, Live It, Love It

The old dictum has actually been expanded into a pretty useful website on environmental ethics courtesy of The Leave No Trace Center. Of course, it’s not really possible to leave NO trace at all; humans and animals are bound to leave footprints and small signs of passing that no one can control. For everything else, there are a few simple rules that anyone can master …

A Checklist for “Doing Right” by Mother Nature

Know your stuff about foodstuff. Just ask any resident of New York City what happens when an animal species becomes all too familiar with humans and their food: they get surly, demanding, and eventually, aggressive. One of the easiest and most common ways to provoke a negative encounter with wildlife is with improper cooking and storage of foodstuffs.

If you’re cooking in an area where larger animals are known to roam, do it a reasonable distance downwind from your camp. Leftovers and waste should be safely stored in a tamper-proof container that seals tight to prevent scents from attracting animals. Don’t forget that small animals, such as raccoons, can be just as persistent as larger ones about getting into your dinner! Never bury food waste, as many animals can still smell it.

Most importantly, never, ever feed any wild animal.

Be extra vigilant of your dog. The number of camp grounds that allow domestic animals such as dogs and cats is on the rise, and virtually all campsites welcome service animals. But be aware that, no matter how well trained, your dog can agitate the local wildlife if left unchecked. In the wild, your dog answering the “call of nature” could be interpreted as a hostile scent marker, so remove all waste as soon as you can. Likewise, if your animal gets loose, he or she can lead other creatures right back to your campsite, so be sure to leash like you would in any public space.

Don’t disturb or remove anything: It’s fun to observe nature, but if nature is observing you back, you might be too close. Don’t succumb to the temptation to interfere with the local habitat. Even simple parts of the ecosystem like plants, berries, pine cones, and logs have plenty of significance to the creatures that use them for food or nesting. If activities like bird-watching are on your agenda, bring equipment like binoculars and cameras that will allow you to keep a safe distance. Fishing enthusiasts, consider catch-and-release.

Don’t leave anything behind. Be especially sure to double and triple-check your doused fires, ensuring there are no live embers left behind. Smother flames completely with water, sand, or dirt to be completely sure. Take away everything you bring in, and dispose of waste at approved dump sites. Anything that is left behind could act as “signposts” for curious animals, making camp grounds less secure in the future.

At all campsites, awareness and respect are the keys to getting along with nature. Make a little extra effort to know the land, and you might find a second home in the wild that will be “just the way you found it” for years to come.

Chipmunk, Lake Tahoe, CAPhoto by: Alpeviolen (Stock Exchange)

A few years ago, right before we went on our annual camping trip, the news was full of stories about children getting attacked by bears while they were camping. In fact there seems to be an up rise in the occurrence of bears attacking people over the last decade. The really scary part is that several of these attacks did not take place in the backcountry wilds, but in established camping areas, parks and other recreational facilities. I will admit that I was particularly diligent the first night and slept with one eye open. Fortunately nothing larger than a chipmunk hopped up on the sugar from a stolen Oreo visited our camp.

So lets talk about chipmunks. Aren’t they cute and they look so friendly you just have to feed them, right? Don’t! Not only do chipmunks carry diseases that can be spread to any unsuspecting human that they bite or scratch, but also their presence may attract other bigger and more dangerous animals. Some of the wildlife may want to eat the food you are trying to give the chipmunks; some may want to eat the chipmunks. Believe it or not it is a sometimes a little traumatizing if your young child is watching a cute little chipmunk eating a cookie, and some large bird suddenly snatches the little fellow up and carried off to chipmunk heaven. Of course if you have teenage boys this same incident could be deemed the coolest thing that happened on the entire trip.

Now onto squirrels. Squirrels are funny, cunning and often sneaky animals. I once knew a boy who was chased by a squirrel. He was walking along and there it was. He had some candy in his pocket and held out his hand to feed it. The squirrel actually took the candy, but one piece was not enough. The squirrel started following him. He started to run and the squirrel ran after him, following him right to his tent and scratching on the side trying to get in. Personally I think they were both a little nuts!

Seriously though, chipmunks, squirrels, skunks, opossums and other small animals can be dangerous. Rabies is still a big problem in some areas. But you are in the woods so how can you protect yourself from these wild animals?

1. Do not feed them.
2. Do not leave food out for long periods of time. Put snacks in a cooler or animal safe container. Put coolers in the car at night. Do not leave food out at night. Many animals that are bigger than chipmunks may come to visit. Nighttime is also when skunks and raccoons like to eat everything they can get their little paws on.
3. Do not leave garbage out over night. Animals have a much stronger sense of smell then people. They will smell that chip back, or hamburger meat wrapper form far away.
4. Teach you children the same rules.

Snakes are another big problem in many camping areas. Yes, there are poisonous snakes out there and occasionally they do bite. Learn what snakes inhabit the area in and surrounding the campgrounds you visit. (Snakes eat chipmunks by the way.) Show your children pictures of these snakes and make it clear not to touch or try to pick up any snakes they may find.

Bears are also attracted by food and garbage. Personally I would much rather be attacked by a chipmunk than a bear, but it is better to avoid any wild animal attacks at all. I will say here that just because you see a bear or other wild animal does not mean it will attack you. Just don’t do anything to give it cause. Many campers say that if you stand up tall and make a lot of noise it will scare the bear away. Just don’t make a noise like a chipmunk because I am pretty sure bears eat chipmunks too. The point is, keep a clean campsite and it won’t attract wild animals.

There are many other wild animals out there that may visit your campsite. The key to avoiding any problems is to be aware. Know what wild animals live in that area and what may attract them. Oh, and remember YOU are the one who has invaded their territory. Don’t harm them unnecessarily because you subscribe to the get them before they can get you theory.

by Sandra Webster