Tails from the trail and tips on training your human

There are various wild animals that abound in nature. These animals are seen in different environments, including deserts, forests, and mountains. To give you an idea of what you should expect, these animals include the likes of cougars, bears, snakes, and moose.

5 Wild Animals You Come Across While Hiking

Here are some animals you may see on the trails and how to deal with them.

1. Mountain Lion

While you’re on the trail, the last thing you want is to come across a mountain lion. From Alaska to California, mountain lions are found all over the United States (mainly in the western region). These cats are also known as cougars.

When it comes to size, male cougars weigh between 115 and 220 pounds; on the other hand, females weigh between 64 and 141 pounds. In addition, they can be 6.5-7.5 feet tall.

Cougars are ambush predators, and they prefer rocky breaks and forested areas to sit and wait for the right time to attack.

How to Deal With a Mountain Lion

According to experts, surprisingly, mountain lions are much more afraid of humans than humans are of them. Nonetheless, encountering a cougar on the trail is something every hiker would want to avoid.

In case you come across a cougar (or cougars) on terrain, make sure you follow the steps mentioned below:

Stand tall and firm so that you may seem large to them.
Wave your arms.
Don’t couch or pick anything in front of them.
If they charge toward you, protect your head and the neck since they mostly attack those areas.
Try to make loud noises.
Make sure you act as a predator and don’t roll into a ball, and play dead to avoid looking like prey to them.

2. Black Bear

Though black bears are mainly found in Alaska and California, some breeds also live in Florida, Arkansas, North Georgia, and Maine. Their size and weight may vary depending on the parts of the U.S they reside in.

While an adult male weighs between 150 and 500 pounds, a female black bear weighs between 90 and 370 pounds. However, adult males may weigh around 750 pounds in some rare cases.

The black bears are typically omnivores, mainly eating roots, vegetation, and berries. On top of that, some black bear breeds have different colors, including dark brown and grayish brown.

How to Deal With a Black Bear

Though black bears typically tend to avoid humans (if they encounter them in the wild) and attack them only when they’re hungry, it’s no secret you’d still want to avoid facing them.

That said, if you come face to face with a black bear on the trail, make sure you follow these steps:

Always carry a bear spray.
Before spraying it, make sure you know how to use a bear spray.
Only spray when black bears charge toward you – not sooner than that.
If they don’t spot you, retreat slowly without alerting them.
If they spot you, avoid eye contact since it can provoke them.
Don’t run or climb trees since black bears are good at climbing.

3. Grizzly

The grizzly is a type of American bear that is much more dangerous than a black bear. Grizzlies are also bigger than the black bears in size, making them North America’s largest bears.

Unlike black bears, grizzlies have a shoulder hump when it comes to appearance. They are found in Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Yellowstone, Montana, and Western Canada.

Male grizzlies weigh around 400-800 pounds, while female ones weigh between 275 and 400 pounds. However, there have been rare cases in which they reached 1,400 pounds.

Grizzlies are known for being aggressive, especially female ones, while protecting their cubs.

How to Deal With a Grizzly

Encountering a grizzly on the trail is something you should avoid as much as possible. But how can you do that? During your hiking excursion, look for signs of their presence. These signs include bear poop, scratched trees, etc.

Unfortunately, if you somehow come across them, follow these steps:

Avoid eye contact and retreat slowly and quietly since loud noises provoke them.
Never turn your back, run, or climb
Use bear spray if they charge toward you.
Given their size (twice as larger as black bears) and strength, you can’t fight them. Therefore, lie down and play dead.
While doing so, make sure you cover your body’s vital parts, such as the neck and head.

4. Moose

You might be surprised to see moose on our list. However, not to forget, moose are a force to be reckoned with. They can sometimes get aggressive for no particular reason. They are found in the Rocky Mountains, Alaska, Northeast, and the upper Midwestern states of the U.S.

When it comes to size and weight, a male moose can weigh around 840-1500 pounds; on the other hand, a female moose can be between 440 and 800 pounds.

In addition, they can be seven feet tall while having antlers that are six feet wide. They injure more hikers than bears.

How to Deal With a Moose

Moose are usually more active in summer when cows raise their calves. Therefore, you’re more likely to encounter them if you go on hiking during summertime.

If you come across a moose on the terrain, try these steps:

Look for warning signs they give before charging, such as urinating, tossing their heads, or smacking their lips.
If they charge, back off calmly since they only want to scare you.
Hide behind a large boulder or tree to deter them.
If they knock you down, get up and run since their hooves are more dangerous than their antlers.

5. Snake

Snakes are found all over the United States, with the majority residing in the country’s northern part. Though it is recommended to avoid any snake on the trail, keep your distance from the most venomous ones: Coral snakes, copperheads, and rattlesnakes.

These snakes usually hide beneath the rocks and logs, waiting for the right time to attack.

How to Deal With a Snake

If you somehow come face to face with a snake on the trail, follow these steps:

Give them space. Move away slowly and quietly.
Look for signs if they seem provoked. For instance, rattlesnakes give an extra warning through their signature tail rattle.
Wear high-top boots and use trekking poles.
Check rocks and logs before settling down.
If they bite you, immediately seek medical assistance.

Final Words

While hiking might be an exciting experience to get into good shape and explore nature, it comes with its own risks. One of those risks is encountering wild animals on the trail. There are five dangerous wild animals you may encounter during your hiking excursion, from moose to snakes. If you ever encounter these wild animals while hiking, make sure you’re well prepared to deal with them.

by Bobby J Davidson

We are in business to provide great products for the outdoorsy hikers, campers and their dogs; and to help clean our parks, rivers and oceans for a better planet earth for hikers and their dogs.

Parks Clean

Parks are high-traffic areas in most cities. This means that trash is bound to show up in and around your park and playground.

When discussing ways your family can help clean your local park, don’t overlook a literal cleanup! Picking up trash will make a huge difference in the appearance and vibe of your park. A clean area will encourage others to keep the park pristine. When picking up trash and debris, make sure to wear gloves to protect yourself, and put trash in appropriate receptacles or lawn bags. You can also contact your local trash company to schedule a pickup when you are finished.

Rivers Clean

The storm drain on your street collects the water from your roof, driveway, and sidewalk and funnels it directly in your local lake or river. Nutrients from grass and leaves, pet waste, and fertilizers “enrich” our lakes and streams — feeding algae blooms and harming fish. Chemicals from washing your car in the drive and household chemical spills add up, taking a nasty toll on our favorite swimming areas and fishing spots. Soil can also be picked up by runoff, reducing the clarity of water and hurting fish.

So as you prepare your lawn and garden, here are a few helpful tips to keep our lakes and rivers beautiful and safe for all of us.

Use mulch and vegetation to keep soil from washing away.
Sweep or rake grass and leaves away from street curbs.
Mulch and compost grass clippings and leaves.
Keep paved surfaces to a minimum.
Capture water runoff with a rain garden and rain barrels.
Wash your car on the grass, where the water will get filtered.
Keep chemicals away from storm drains.
Collect your pet’s waste.
Aim your rain-gutter downspouts onto grass.

Beaches Clean (do it for the ocean)

In 2007, the United States Senate and House of Representatives passed the National Clean Beaches Week Resolution to recognize the value of beaches to the American way of life and the important contributions of beaches to the economy, recreation, and natural environment of the United States.

Clean Beaches Week, celebrated annually July 1-7, offers the perfect opportunity to encourage stewardship and volunteerism along our coastlines. But where do you even begin? Follow these tips to get started.

Identify a clean-up site. Choose a place that needs some TLC, making sure that volunteers can safely access the site. Get permission, if needed, for your clean-up event, perhaps from the local parks agency.
Choose a site coordinator. (That might be you!) A beach clean-up takes a lot of work and needs an organized person to keep everything on track before, during, and after the event.
Visit the site in advance. The coordinator will need to know where to set up a volunteer check-in station, where to leave trash and recyclables, and what area(s) volunteers will clean.
Gather supplies. Depending on your location, you’ll need supplies such as trash bags, a first aid kit, hand sanitizer, wipes, and large coolers of water. You should also provide (or ask volunteers to bring) items such as reusable work/garden gloves, reusable water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray.
Plan how to handle the recyclables. Reach out to recyclers in your area (and perhaps your community’s solid waste departments) to make arrangements for accepting any glass, plastic, and aluminum that you collect.
Line up event partners. Contact local businesses for donations of drinks, food, and supplies. Ask a local solid waste hauler to donate their services for trash removal.
Plan for handling hazardous waste. Determine how you’ll dispose of any medical and sewage waste you might find. One solution: A wide-mouth container with a tight-fitting lid, such as an empty laundry detergent bottle. Clearly label that it contains hazardous waste.
Get volunteers to help. Recruit friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. Create an event on Facebook and ask volunteers to sign up online. This will give you an idea of how many people to expect and will help communicate event details.
Stay safe. Be prepared for a variety of health emergencies, from minor cuts and scrapes to heat stroke.
Take photos! Post pics online to share the success of your event and recognize volunteers for their hard work.