by Jeffrey Ober

Created on: January 06, 2010

Wherever you go, you will encounter wild animals. They're everywhere, from the country to the cities. And in nearly every case, those wild animals are a lot more afraid of people than people are of them. Wild animals want to be left alone, and if you leave them alone, they'll almost always leave you alone. If you keep that in mind while you go camping, you can camp and share the forest with the animals, and enjoy the outdoors.

When you prepare to go camping, one consideration should always be the outdoor area where you are going. You should study up on the animals that live there as well as the potential dangerous plant life (poison ivy, poison sumac, etc). Take note of the possible dangerous animals so you are prepared, but do not let them scare you away.

Keep in mind that if you are going to an established campsite with running water, established fire pits, and other amenities, the danger from any wild animal is very low. In such a campsite, the presence of people on a regular basis will keep most of the animals away. The only time dangerous wild animals will even approach such a campsite is when their food supplies are dangerously low. And if they do come to the campsites, they are looking for food, not people.

If you go camping or hiking in an area that is known for dangerous wild animals, planning ahead can ensure that you are prepared for the animals and can avoid them. There are few wild animals that will attack people at all. In nearly every case, the animal only attacks because it is trapped or in great fear of the person. Often just backing away will appease the animal and ensure that it doesn't attack.

Camping can be a very enjoyable time and a way to get back to nature and just to enjoy nature. If you plan ahead and bring supplies and equipment suitable for the weather and the environment, you can have a truly enjoyable time. The odds of encountering dangerous wild animals is very low, despite the stories you might read in the news. Keep in mind that for every wild animal attack you read about, there are thousands of other campers who went camping and had no wild animal encounters at all.

Get outside, go camping, and have a great time. Bring your camera, maybe you'll be lucky enough to catch some pictures of wild animals to show to those who didn't make the trip!

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