Imagine this: the sun shines warmly outside, the birds chirp peacefully, and the weather feels perfect for a pleasant walk! You take your dog on a stroll down the neighborhood or your local park. You decide to walk a little deeper onto the trail than you usually do. Before you know it, you encounter wildlife on your hike… Whether that be deer, raccoons, coyotes, or bears, wildlife and your dog do not mix very well. Despite the dangers, we have some helpful tips to prevent any escalations from happening and keep you, as well as your pets, safe on every deep-woods hike.
Use a Leash
The first key tip is to keep your pup on a leash. Using a leash is key to keep your pets safe. Always check with your local ordinances, as keeping your dog on a leash while outside might even be a requirement unless in specific areas (such as dog parks.) However, it is especially important to keep them on a leash where encountering wildlife is more likely to occur. This keeps you in more control of your furry friend and makes problems less likely. Not only can you find wildlife in the woods, but around your neighborhood as well. That is why it is necessary to always keep a close eye on your pup when outside.
Make Some Noise!
Animals are often easily frightened, and startling certain larger animals might trigger a fight rather than a flight response. A straightforward way to let the other animals know your presence is to put noisemakers like bells on your dog’s collar or talk/whistle to yourself while walking. Bringing attention to yourself gives the creature a chance to flee before a close encounter can happen. This is important in keeping your pets safe when outside.
Stay on the Path
Staying on the designated path for hikes is also a recommendation for you and your pet’s safety. We make paths so the native wildlife expect humans to cross these areas more frequently than other unmarked grounds. Simply staying on the path or walkways will increase your chances of staying out of the way of any unexpected fauna. This also preserves the surrounding ecosystems of any further disruptions from human activity.
Always Remain Calm
While these tips will prevent certain encounters, what happens if you do run into a large animal? Firstly, stay calm! For animals such as bears, running triggers a prey response, and it will lead them to believe they should chase you down. For most animals you might encounter, keep your dog close to you on their leash, and stand up big and tall. It is usually not worth a bear or coyote’s energy to fight prey it does not know it can overpower. So simply standing tall and calmly walking away increases your likelihood of them just walking away.
If the animal does not eventually walk away and acts abnormally, there is a chance it could be sick. Once you are safe from it, call your local wildlife authorities to alert them about a sick animal near your hiking trail or community. This will prevent future encounters and infections in your area.
Let’s Recap
In every unexpected wild animal encounter, remaining calm is the best thing to do to keep your pets safe. They are often more scared of you than you are of them. Stand your ground and back away slowly, minding your own business, and hopefully they will do the same. Always keep your dog on a leash, and heel them to you until you are at a safe distance. It can also be helpful to check in with your park rangers for any sightings, so you know whether it is a suitable time to go hiking out with your dog or not.