Camping season is officially upon us. The gorgeous sunny weather makes summer one of the most popular times for campers and tourists to explore the national parks and stunning scenery in Wyoming.
Being in the outdoors means sharing these natural spaces with wildlife. Wyoming is filled with an abundance of species, including elk, moose, deer, pronghorns, bears and mountain lions.
Although seeing these animals in their natural habitats is exciting, it’s important to respect their space both for your safety and theirs.
One false assumption that tourists can make, is that wildlife is docile. But, they might not be and startling them can result in serious injury. This can be avoided by not approaching wildlife and keeping your distance.
Wild animals can also be harmed if they become too comfortable with the presence of humans. Since national parks and camping sites are typically populated areas, the surrounding wildlife might become used to the influx of people.
This can lead to the consumption of human food, which is unhealthy for wild animals. A great rule to follow while camping or visiting a national park is to never feed the wildlife, no matter how close they are or how tame they seem. Campers should thoroughly clean up trash after picnics and meals to avoid animals consuming leftovers.
It’s also important to keep your furry friends on leashes when exploring the outdoors. Loose pets can both spread or contract diseases from wildlife and leaving them unattended poses a risk to their safety. Keeping pets on a leash protects both them, and nearby wild animals.
Along with pets, campers and tourists with small children should ensure that they are being supervised while hiking or exploring. Kids are easily excitable, especially by new animals, so keeping a close eye on them is a great safety measure to take.
Many wild animals had babies this past spring and are still acting very protective over their young. This is another good reason to keep all pets on leashes and supervise children.
Seeing animals in their natural habitat is an exhilarating part of camping and visiting national parks. However, it’s important to respect the wildlife in Wyoming and give these creatures their space.
These majestic animals are best observed from afar.
To learn more, visit the following article to learn more about wildlife safety. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/watchingwildlife/animals.htm
