Bears:
The only bear present in our forest is the black bear. Relatively small, this bear comes sometimes near human installations in seek of food. They are smart and can open a cooler. To avoid meeting one follow these steps:
1) If you are travelling with a car, keep your cooler inside of it and well hidden (bears recognise the blue and red colours and may try to get in the car).
2) Keep your campground clean. Store your food and garbage in your vehicle. However, if you are lost, or travelling without a vehicle, store your garbage at least 10m from the campground.
3) NEVER bring food in your tent. If you were cooking and your clothes smell food, leave them next to the garbage (unless you have no extra clothing).
Bears, like all other animals fear fire. Keeping a fire going would keep them at a safe distance.
When walking, if you encounter a bear, speak calmly and back away. Do not run, it could provoke an attack. If the bear decides to follow you and looks aggressive, yell and throw rocks or sticks at him, try to look bigger, bear are chicken-hearted and will run away.
If the bear is to attack, do not climb a tree, he will easily get to you. Simply lay on the ground motionless, your hands covering your neck. If you have a bag, keep it on you. After a moment, the bear will lose interest in you. Fatal black bear attacks are rare, only a few were recorded.
Raccoons:
Raccoons are present everywhere. They are the most common visitors during camping. They, just like bears can easily open a cooler. To avoid them take the same precautions listed in the "bear" section. They are night creature and most of the time won't show themselves to humans.
If you are to meet a raccoon at your campsite:
1) Do not touch or feed them, they look friendly and sometimes are almost domesticated, but raccoons are known to transmit rabies and other diseases.
2) To get them away, yell and use a burning stick to make them leave. Once they are in the woods, remember that they WILL come back. Hide your food in consequence.
If you are walking in the woods and you see one walking towards you without noticing you, get out of his way, he probably has rabies. Do not attempt to kill a rabid raccoon, they can be very fast and aggressive if bothered.
Wolves:
Wolves will never come to your campground. They fear humans more than anything. The chances of meeting a wolf, or a pack of wolves are very low.
During daylight, wolves usually lay down and sleep. If you are travelling in the evening, far away from civilisation, it is possible that you encounter a pack of wolves. If wolves are seen, back off slowly, you probably are in their hunting territory. If you see only one, and he is looking towards you, you are probably surrounded. In that case, panic would be fatal. To get away, follow these steps:
1) Don't look in the wolves eyes; it is a sign of challenge for them.
2) Don't take your eyes off of them; it is the only thing they are waiting for to attack.
3) Wolves usually don't hunt humans, it's not worth the meat, if you back off slowly, following step 1 & 2, the pack should not follow you and let you leave in peace.
4) If you are attacked, don't fight back, climb a tree, wolves are patient but will eventually leave.
5) If you have seen, or encountered wolves, leave the area. Wolves have a huge hunting territory that they defend. Off limits, you risk nothing.
6) If you have to stay in their territory, be sure to have a fire going on permanently.
Don't worry; wolves are not like they are described in horror movies. There is a good Latin expression that says: Homo Homini Lupus. This saying means that we are wolves to ourselves.
Squirrels and other small rodents:
Chipmunks and squirrels will always follow you. There is nothing you can do about them, they are small and easily scared off, but they will always come back. Too small to open a cooler, they are known to tear bags open and go threw everything. To avoid them, simply hide all of your food.
Don't pet or feed them; they as well carry rabies and other diseases.
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