The Call Of The Wild Creatures
Keeping Your Puppy Safe At The Campsite and Hiking Trails
Summer time is hiking time for me and my Beagle Oakie. Being urban dwellers we can’t wait for the longer warmer days so that we can pack up the old truck and head for the wilderness to do some camping and hiking. I carefully pick my wilderness destinations learning as much as I can before I go. Currently living in California I have an abundance of choices. I use the Ranger Service websites for local information, and also read online postings about the area so that I can pick up on information that may not be in the brochures.
What I primarily try to avoid is crowds, having enough of them where I live. I just want my wilderness experience to be as much about experiencing nature in its wildness and natural beauty, rather than bumping into people at every turn in the trail. With that in mind I tend to choose less developed campsites that are slim in home comforts, and are likely to not attract many people because of the lack of amenities. I base myself at the campsite for a few days at a stretch, and go on local day hikes into the wilderness areas. Much as this is the general plan, sometimes I cannot avoid staying in some of the “Camptropolis” because they happen to be closest to the trails that I intend hiking with my Beagle Oakie.
The biggest negative to the developed large scale campsites is that if you are in Bear country, then likely the Bears are going to raid the site for easy pickings. This unfortunately is very common and can lead to some un-natural behavior from the wild bears, as natural foraging skills and wilderness survival instincts have been replaced by trash foraging and cooler raids. The down side of this of course is that the Bears no longer can survive in nature and rely heavily on human interactions and encounters in order to survive. They can tend to be more aggressive than they would otherwise be in nature, and encounters can sometimes lead to bad outcomes for both Bear and human and pet.
I usually take the following precautions if I am camping in one of these large scale developed campgrounds to avoid issues.
- After setting up camp the first thing that I do is pay a visit to the camp host and ask about Bear Activity within the campsite.
- I keep all my food and Oakies food in a cooler and I put the cooler behind the front seats of the truck. I then cover the cooler with a dark colored blanket. This I learned from a host ranger a few years back. Bears that raid campsites are opportunists and look for the easiest target. They are visual creatures and have learned over the years the shape of a cooler and what it contains. If they can’t see it then usually they will move on to the next easiest opportunity. Just a trick that has always worked for me.
- If the Rangers provide a bear proof locker then by choice I will use this over storing food in my truck.
- When I eat meals I also feed my dog at the same time, and when finished I take the food up and lock it away.
- I do not let water out to drink at the campsite for my dog as I would at home. Water attracts all kinds of wildlife, insects, and birds. I will give it water only when it needs a drink.
- I use a stake tie out with a fifty foot leash attached to it, and keep my dog Oakie tethered to it at all times in the campsite. Never let your dog roam free.
- I use disposable plates for feeding including feeding my puppy, this way I do not have an issue with cleaning utensils, and can dispose of the paper products immediately, thereby reducing the risks of visits by unwanted critters or insects.
- I never leave the puppy by itself while at the campsite, even when I need to toilet, I will take my puppy into the stall with me just for safety sake.
- I keep my dog with me in the tent at night to sleep.
- When my puppy toilets, I immediately pick it up and dispose of it in the Bear proof trash bins if provided. If not I will walk a little distance away from the site and bury it about a foot deep. Never burn it in the campfire, the scent will travel for miles and may have some unfortunate consequences.
- While sitting at the campfire I keep my Beagle leashed at all times.
While on the trails.
Before I leave the campsite on a hike, and after preparing everything to bring along which should include:
- Plenty of water
- Snacks …… I do not bring kibble or treats for my puppy to eat on the trail. These can be highly scented which can carry and attract some unwanted visitors. I have found over the years that my dogs are just too excited by the new strange surroundings and lose their appetites while hiking.
- Portable water drinking bottle for the dog.
- Knapsack with a lightweight rain jacket.
- Whistle (I Know……but useful to warn off animals, and also useful in an emergency to summon help)
- Trail maps.
- A human hiking buddy………never hike alone.
The typical creatures that I encounter on the trails are usually shy of humans, and but for a fleeting glimpse, usually avoid any contact. Marmots and squirrels are the most common, and fun to chase for my Beagle. Lizards are also abundant and great sport. Rabbits can be plentiful depending on the terrain. I have encountered numerous coyotes without issues, and they usually pass off the trail without a second look. But caution does need to be exercised when you do encounter a Coyote. Usually wary of humans and will not attack a full grown person, depending on how hungry they are and the availability of their food sources, they well may attack a small dog. I have encountered three cougars at different times over the years on trails, and some bobcats, and despite their reputations for attacking humans and dogs on occasion, I have found that they run off immediately rather than having any contact with a human. But of course if you do meet a cougar on the trail (four legged wild kind) and it seems like it will not give way, then just backtrack on the trail in a quick walk, do not run, and just pay attention to what the cat is doing. When you think it has moved off the trail, then proceed with caution until you are sure that it is gone. I have only encountered one Bear on the trail in the wild, and it moved off quickly when it saw me without issue, How-ever I have witnessed many Bear raids in “camptropolis” that I have stayed in, and usually carelessness or indifference by other campers have led to issues. The advice that the rangers give is still the best, don’t let food out, dispose of garbage immediately in the provided containers, and do not use hygiene products that are overly scented. Make as much noise as possible if they do raid, and usually they will go to the next easiest opportunity.
Typical Camping Equipment That I Use.
- Tent
- Groundsheet
- Sleeping Bag
- Old sleeping bag for the dog.
- Battery powered lamps
- Flashlights
- Camping cooking stove and cooking equipment
- Coolers
- Tupperware containers with sealable lids. (Food Storage)
- Prepackaged food (Human and Dog)
- Plenty of fresh water
- Hiking knapsack
- Portable Raingear
- First Aid Kit
- Dog supplies like leashes, harness, tie out, and some grooming equipment.
Optional equipment that may prove useful depending on the dog and hiking adventure.
- Dog backpack
- Whistle
- Dog Life vest
- Dog toys
For the most part camping trips combined with hiking is perhaps one of the most fun summertime activities, and if you apply just basic common sense, then your trip should be safe and the experience can be a cherished memory for years to come.
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