Wildlife Safety 101: Tips and best practices for recreating near wildlife

Conservation Northwest staff share some tips and best practices for avoiding negative encounters with wildlife. From wildlife safety items to include in your pack, to how to deploy bear spray and set up a wildlife-safe camp, these proactive measures can keep both you and wild animals safe. Wildlife encounters can be rare, and most will be a positive, special experience. However, on extremely rare occasions, an animal may become aggressive if it is surprised or feels threatened. If you do come across an animal, remember the golden rules: (1) Stay calm, (2) Let animals know you're human, (3) Be loud, (4) Be big, (5) Don't run, (6) Don't turn your back, and move away slowly.

This video was created to be used during a Wildlife Safety 101 presentation during Refuge Outdoor Festival, a 3-day camping experience geared toward people of color. Video produced by Keiko Betcher, Heather Hutchison and Laurel Baum of Conservation Northwest.

Additional Resources:
If you are hiking in bear country, we don't recommend relying on bear bells alone. Human voices are the best way to alert bears of your presence. More information here: https://www.backpacker.com/news-and-e...

Wildlife body language: https://www.backpacker.com/survival/w...

Bear body language: http://westernwildlife.org/grizzly-be...

Mountain lion body language: http://westernwildlife.org/cougar-out...

How to set up a food hang:    • How to Hang a Bear Bag - Backpacking Food ...