Wolves are in general very shy, yet curious animals. Like most wild animals wolves typically try to avoid coming in contact with humans. Whenever a wild animal starts to lose its fear of people however through habituation they may be more prone to approach humans, human homes, and camping spots. Wolves that are fed by humans either directly or indirectly through tossing garbage around areas humans frequent, they are habituating the animals, and the wolves will then associate food with people. This may precipitate an attack on humans, by an otherwise naturally shy creature.
Having grown up in wolf /bear country literally, there were many things my family did in order to help prevent run-ins with wildlife.
I still live in the country, literally in the middle of a very large forest where bear, wild wolves, and other large predators cross through on natural routes. Whenever I am out in the bush I am always aware of everything around me at all times, I use my ears, eyes, and even smell.
The following are a few tips to help avoid such situations from happening.
- PLEASE do NOT litter! Throw all garbage into cans with secure lids. Growing up one of my favorite characters on T.V was an Owl and his slogan of "Give A Hoot Don't Pollute!"
- Do NOT feed wild wolves or any other wild animals, even feeding deer can attract wild wolves to your home as the wolves will follow their prey (food). Many people are not aware that even wild fox can become extremely aggressive if fed people food, quite a few fox in our National Park get relocated due to getting TOO familiar with human food.
- Leave no pet food outside!!! I hear MANY stories by other ranching neighbors how they had to shoot a racoon due to it getting into the cat and dog food, that was left out, That the animal had become aggressive. This is unfair, it is almost like setting animals up and taunting them to take the pet food.
- Do not allow pets (cats or dogs) to be unattended while outdoors, they are easy prey for wild wolves. If you are not with your dog keep them in a secure pen where they cannot escape to harass wildlife, or draw wildlife like wild wolves and bears to your doorstep. There are many an acreage dog and cat that goes missing around here, due to them being allowed to roam freely.
- Hang any feeders at least 7 feet above the ground (higher is preferable)
- Install motion sensor lights, it may act as a deterrent to scare any wild animals away. Out here in the country where I live motion sensor lights,aside from yard floodlights are just common sight to see.
I have done a ton of camping over the years on canoe trips, these were all tips we used as a mantra when in the great outdoors. I learned the following rules from the time I was a young child.
When Camping Or Simply Out For An Outdoor Wild Adventure :
- Place any garbage in bear sealed containers, do not have food lying around your campsite and NEVER in your tent. MANY campsites up north here provide not only bear sealed containers but also platforms built up in the trees, a ladder is provided for campers to use to climb up onto the platform to place sealed containers. Then one simply moves the ladder away when not needed on site, or when walking away from camp.for a while.
- Cook, wash dishes and store any food items away from your sleeping quarters
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Suspend any food items, toiletries like toothpaste, and shampoos,and any garbage in camping bags with attached ropes to hang out high from tree branches. Wolves can leap 8 feet straight up into the air so I recommend the bags suspended quite high.
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We have often brought our dogs along camping, but be sure to keep pets close at all times, do NOT allow pets to roam around free unleashed. Wolves are territorial creatures and will kill any dogs they come across, especially if harassed. The dog may also lead any angry wolves straight back to you and your tent.
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When out on a trek, we have always clapped our hands saying something along the lines of "hear bear bear bear" *for noise* we also will bang sticks, or just chat to alert any animals we are in the area. There are also bear bells one can ring when out walking, or place on bikes when riding to help alert any wildlife.
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Always be aware of your surroundings when out in nature, look for signs of bears *scat, clawed up (marked) trees and logs, animal prints, various animal sounds. The photo I took below while on an excursion shows various prints including bear recently being there.. Listen, Look, and BE AWARE at all times, have fun but keep in mind you are in someone else' backyard, and it is a wild one.
BE AWARE WHEN OUT AND ABOUT; I TOOK THIS PHOTO WHILE ON A TREK, THERE ARE BEAR TRACKS HERE
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