Why You Should Never Feed Wildlife
Feeding wild animals might feel kind, but the National Park Service warns that it creates serious problems for both people and animals. According to the NPS’s guidance for campers, feeding wildlife teaches animals to expect food from humans in the future. This learned behavior can make animals persistent and sometimes aggressive, and it often draws them closer to campsites where conflicts are more likely.
Leave No Trace explains the broader consequences. When animals get used to human food, they may stop looking for their natural food sources and instead rely on campers for meals. This damages their health and exposes them to dangers such as busy roads. The organization also notes that animals that lose their fear of people often end up relocated or euthanized, an outcome that is entirely avoidable if every visitor respects wildlife.
Storing Food and Scented Items Safely
The National Park Service stresses that food storage is critical for the safety of both you and wildlife. In its cooking guide, the NPS advises keeping food in airtight sealable bags, containers, and coolers. This keeps food fresher and reduces odors around your campsite and on your gear. Smelly, odorous foods can attract wildlife, and bears have an especially keen sense of smell.
Leave No Trace points out that the right storage method depends on the animals in your area and local rules. In places where only squirrels, birds, or bugs are a concern, a plastic storage tub might be enough. In bear country, whether you are dealing with black bears or grizzlies, you must store food, trash, and anything with a scent, including toothpaste and deodorant, in a bear canister, a locker, or a locked vehicle. The NPS adds that some campgrounds require the use of food storage lockers, while others may permit storing food in your car. Always ask local land managers what is required.
One rule is universal: never take food inside your tent. The NPS is clear that even a midnight snack can attract wildlife to your sleeping area. For backcountry trips, the agency recommends storing food in a sack hung by a rope above the ground and away from the tree trunk, or using designated bear boxes, cables, or poles. In bear country, the NPS cooking guide states that food should be stored 100 yards away from your tent. Another NPS page on setting up a campsite mentions a distance of 200 feet between food and sleeping spaces. Both distances aim to separate you from the smells that draw animals in. For a deeper look at these practices, see our camping food storage and safety guide and our food storage and safety section.
Keeping a Clean Camp
A clean camp is a safer camp. The National Park Service advises collecting all food packaging and scraps in a waste bag and disposing of it in the campground’s receptacle before you turn in for the night or leave the site. When you finish a meal, clean the area right away to stop insects and animals from becoming a nuisance. Check picnic tables, fire rings, fire grates, and the ground for anything that might attract an animal.
The NPS also recommends washing, rinsing, and sanitizing dinnerware and utensils. At a frontcountry site, you can use three bins: one with warm water for washing, one for rinsing, and a third with a water-bleach solution for sanitizing. In the backcountry, use biodegradable soap and rinse thoroughly. Spilling food on your clothes can also be a problem. If you are camping in bear country and your clothing picks up food odors or smells from cooking, the NPS suggests changing clothes before you go to your tent for the night. For more on organizing your cooking area, visit our camp cooking skills page.
Keeping a Safe Viewing Distance
Watching wildlife is part of the joy of camping, but getting too close is dangerous. Leave No Trace recommends observing animals from a distance and never following or approaching them. Even if an animal does not seem bothered, it can be unpredictable. Getting close could cause it to harm you or injure itself while trying to flee. The National Park Service adds that your park may or may not have specific recommended viewing distances for certain wildlife; check with a ranger or campsite host for local guidance.
Leave No Trace also highlights times when animals are extra sensitive to human presence. During mating, nesting, or when raising young, animals may abandon their offspring or become more aggressive if they feel threatened. In winter, causing an animal to run uses up critical energy it needs to survive. During these seasons, give wildlife even more room than usual.
Staying Safe Around Bears
Seeing a bear is exciting, but the National Park Service reminds visitors that bears in national parks are wild and their behavior is sometimes unpredictable. Most bear encounters end without injury, and following basic guidelines can help reduce the threat.
Avoiding an Encounter
The NPS states that most bears will avoid humans if they hear them coming. Pay attention to your surroundings and make an effort to be noticeable if you are in an area with known bear activity or near good food sources such as berry bushes. Hiking and traveling in groups helps because groups are noisier, smellier, and more intimidating to bears.
If a Bear Notices You
Once a bear is paying attention to you, the NPS recommends identifying yourself by talking calmly so it knows you are a human and not a prey animal. Remain still, stand your ground, and slowly wave your arms. A bear may come closer or stand on its hind legs to get a better look or smell; this is usually curiosity, not a threat. If the bear is stationary, move away slowly and sideways so you can keep your eyes on it and avoid tripping.
Pick up small children immediately, the NPS advises. Never make loud screams or high-pitched squeals, which a bear might mistake for the sound of prey. Do not run, because bears can sprint as fast as a racehorse and will chase fleeing animals. Do not climb a tree, since both grizzlies and black bears can climb. Never allow the bear to access your food, and do not drop your pack; it can shield your back and stop the bear from getting your supplies.
Bear Attacks and Species Differences
The NPS is explicit that bear attacks are rare, but its response guidelines differ by species. If a brown or grizzly bear attacks, leave your pack on and play dead. Lay flat on your stomach with your hands clasped behind your neck and spread your legs to make it harder for the bear to flip you over. Stay still until the bear leaves. If the attack does not stop, fight back vigorously and aim for the bear’s face.
If a black bear attacks, do not play dead. Try to escape to a secure place such as a car or a building. If you cannot escape, fight back using any object available and concentrate your kicks and blows on the bear’s face and muzzle. If any bear attacks you inside your tent, or stalks and then attacks, the NPS says to fight back because this rare behavior can mean the bear sees you as prey.
Bear Spray
The National Park Service notes that bear pepper spray is used to stop an aggressive, charging, or attacking bear. It is not the same as human pepper spray, and you should choose an EPA-approved product specifically made for bears. Bear spray is a defensive tool; do not apply it to your body or equipment. Check with your park to see if bear spray is recommended or permitted for your planned activities.
Pets and Wildlife Safety
Dogs can make camping more dangerous in bear country. According to the National Park Service, dogs can attract curious bears, and encounters between the two often lead to conflict that puts both the pet and the owner at risk. Leave No Trace adds that wildlife may see pets as predators and may injure them in self-defense or while protecting their young. Pets can also spread diseases such as rabies.
The NPS pet guidelines stress that you should always keep your pet restrained and check them for ticks. Never leave a pet unattended, especially in a hot vehicle. Before bringing a pet, check if the campground allows them, and verify that your pet is in good health, up to date on vaccinations, and protected against fleas and ticks. Many parks prohibit pets on hiking trails or boardwalks, so confirm park rules before you go. For broader safety advice, see our camping safety hub.
Small Wildlife Hazards: Ticks and Mosquitoes
Ticks and mosquitoes are small but can carry diseases. The CDC explains that ticks live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, and even in your own yard. Walking a dog, camping, or gardening can bring you into close contact with them. The CDC recommends using EPA-registered insect repellents and treating clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. If you use both sunscreen and repellent, apply sunscreen first.
After you come indoors, the CDC advises checking your clothing for ticks and tumble-drying clothes on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any ticks on dry clothing. Shower within two hours of coming indoors; this can reduce your risk of Lyme disease and offers a chance to do a full-body tick check. Carefully examine your gear and pets too, since ticks can ride inside on them. For more on handling outdoor risks, explore our camping safety basics article. Always seek medical help if you have concerns about a tick bite or illness.
Situation and Response Reference
| Situation | What to Do | Source |
|---|---|---|
| A bear notices you and is paying attention | Talk calmly, wave arms slowly, identify yourself as human; do not run, scream, or climb a tree | NPS Staying Safe Around Bears |
| A brown/grizzly bear attacks | Leave pack on, play dead flat on stomach, hands behind neck, legs spread; remain still until bear leaves | NPS Staying Safe Around Bears |
| A black bear attacks | Do not play dead; escape to a car or building, or fight back targeting the face and muzzle | NPS Staying Safe Around Bears |
| You have food or scented items in bear country | Store in a bear canister, locker, or locked vehicle; never keep food in your tent | Leave No Trace Respect Wildlife, NPS Cooking in Camp |
| You are camping with a dog in bear country | Keep pet restrained; be aware dogs attract curious bears | NPS During Your Stay, NPS Camping with Pets |
| You return indoors after being in tick habitat | Check clothing and body for ticks, tumble-dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes, shower within two hours | CDC Preventing Tick Bites |
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep food in my tent if it is sealed?
No. The National Park Service states clearly that you should not take food inside your tent. The NPS says that while it is tempting to keep a midnight snack on hand, it will attract wildlife. Store all food, trash, and scented items in a vehicle, a food locker, or a bear canister, keeping the storage location well away from your sleeping area.
What should I do if a bear enters my campsite?
Do not run or approach the bear. The National Park Service bear guidance is to identify yourself by talking calmly, stand your ground, make yourself look as large as possible and never let the bear get your food. The NPS also asks visitors to report all bear incidents to a park ranger immediately.
Are all insect repellents safe for children?
Not all repellents are suitable for young children. The CDC notes that EPA-registered insect repellents are safe when used as directed, but products containing OLE or PMD should not be used on children under three years old. Always read and follow the product label instructions and apply sunscreen before repellent.
For more on staying safe around animals during your trip, visit our wildlife awareness section.
