How To Avoid Wolves While Camping
Everything you need to know about dealing with wolves while camping.
It sounds like something out of a movie. You are alone in the wild. You’re alone by the campfire eating a meal that you have just cooked on a cast iron skillet over the open flame. Suddenly, out in the darkness, you see a pair of glowing eyes and you hear a low growl as they slowly approach closer and closer. You may be thinking that this could never happen to you. You would be thinking wrong. Wolves are a real threat to campers and if you are not properly prepared, you might find yourself on the wrong end of an attack. In this article, we will examine the causes of wolf attacks and how you can prevent being involved in one yourself.
The Good News…
If you are living in North America, it is estimated that there are about 60,000 wolves. That might sound like a lot when you first hear it, but the fact of the matter is that this really isn’t all that many. In fact, the wolf population is so sparse that wolf attacks on campers, or people in general, are extremely rare. In fact, wolves are generally reluctant to interact with humans and they typically try to keep their distance from us. This means that your average wolf isn’t going to be aggressive toward humans. In fact, since the year 1950, about half of the documented human fatalities from wolf attacks involved wolves that were infected with rabies. That said, your chances of coming into contact with an aggressive wolf while camping
What Do Wolves Eat?
Wolves generally eat larger prey, typically hooved animals like deer and elk and wild boar, etc. It is because they seek out these larger animals that you typically see wolves hunting in packs (https://www.thelabradorsite.com/what-do-wolves-eat/ ). The diet of a wolf is a good thing for a camper because, unlike bears who area real threat to campsites, wolves are less likely to be enticed by human food being kept on a campground. However, this doesn’t mean that you are entirely out of the woods (no pun intended). Many people like to bring the family pet along for camping trips. Although a wolf attack is unlikely, you need to consider the possibility that a hungry wolf might attempt to make a meal out of your family pet. Additionally, if you are the type of camper that hunts and/or trap their own food while camping, game meats and in some cases fish are on the menu for a hungry wolf. Always be sure to store your meat far away from your actual campsite in order to avoid an encounter with a wolf.
How To Avoid Wolves While Camping
For the most part, wolves will generally do their part to avoid you while you are camping. This is NOT meant to indicate that wolves are completely passive or that you should view them the way you would a dog. Wolves are absolutely dangerous. However, the odds of you being stalked and attacked like something out of a bad horror movie are very slim. The best thing you can do is research the area you intend to camp in before you embark on your camping expedition. Many public parks and campgrounds have information on this exact topic on their websites. Research the wolf activity in the area you intend to spend your time in as well as the time of year in which you intend to do it. This is your first step toward avoidance of wolves while camping.
Additionally, there are steps you can take to minimize your chances of a wolf encounter during your camping trip (as opposed to before the trip). For one thing, you can keep an eye out for wolf footprints. This isn’t as difficult as you think. Wolves have very distinct tracks in that they are much larger than a dog’s and their pads on their paws are much more spread out by comparison. Additionally, wolf tracks will often have very prominent claw marks in comparison to a dog’s. The opposite can be said for a coyote which typically has a smaller, less prominent track than a wolf or dog. Bottom line: if you see a footprint while camping and you think to yourself, “That must have been a huge dog that came through here,” you might consider the possibility that you are actually looking at wolf tracks and you must be vigilant ( http://westernwildlife.org/gray-wolf-outreach-project/signs-of-wolves/ ).PICTURE from http://westernwildlife.org/gray-wolf-outreach-project/signs-of-wolves/ <<<<<<<<<
What To Do If You Encounter A Wolf While Camping
If you are in a situation where you encounter a wolf while camping, the first thing you must do is remember not to panic. Don’t go flailing around like wounded prey. This will only make the situation worse. Don’t run away. Relax and remember to breathe.
This next part might sound crazy but you are going to need to project an aura of dominance. Now, this doesn’t mean wagging your finger at a wolf and yelling, “Bad Doggy!” Absolutely not. However, animals communicate a great deal with body language. Therefore, to let an opposing wolf know that you are not to be trifled with, you will need to stand up tall, stick your chest out and make your body appear as large as possible. Always, maintain eye contact as well. This is essential for controlling the situation.
Once you have established yourself in this situation, the next thing you will need to do is SLOWLY back away from the wolf without breaking eye contact. DO NOT turn your back on the wolf. Just continue to back away from it. Be mindful of your surroundings and do not trip or fall. You definitely don’t want to lay on the ground injured while a wolf approaches.
BEWARE: Signs of aggression in wolves are seen when they hold their tails up high when their hackles are raised, when they begin to bark or howl at you, or any physical activity directed toward you other than simply leaving. If a wolf becomes aggressive toward you then you will need to show the wolf that you are not something that it wants to interact with. You can do this by throwing objects at the wolf-like rocks and sticks. Also, be sure to make loud, intimidating noises. This will show the wolf that it has underestimated you and, hopefully, it will change its mind about attacking you.
If despite your best efforts, you are still attacked by a wolf after all this preparation, you are going to have to fight back. Wolves will bite and claw and rip you apart if you let them. There really isn’t any “correct way” to fight off a wolf. However, it is possible for you to block the wolf with one forearm and attack with your other. This might result in the wolf biting down on your defending arm. If this happens then you will have a brief opportunity to use your free arm to hit the wolf with a stick or rock using your other hand. If you weren’t lucky enough to find a weapon to fight off the wolf before it started attacking then you can use your free hand to punch the wolf or gouge at its eyes. Once you have gotten the wolf to run away, you will need to get your self to a hospital immediately. Remember, a high percentage of wolf attacks occur in wolves that are sick or rabid.
What Is The Best Way To Defend Against An Attacking Wolf While Camping?
If you are going to be camping anywhere near populations of wolves or even bears or mountain lions, the best thing you can keep on you during your camping trip is a good old can of bear mace. The active ingredient in this substance is effective against virtually everything with tear ducts. With that said, it shouldn’t just be limited to situations involving bears. This mace can be used to ward off attacking wolves when necessary. Be sure to pick up a canister of bear mace before you go on your next camping trip.
Additionally, wolves can be intimidated by loud noises. An air horn can be a good accessory to bring on a camping trip as a non-lethal means to ward off wolves and various other predators. These devices are also good to have around in case you get lost or injured and need to signal for help. Not only will an air horn alert a search party of your location, but it will also scare off any would-be threats while you await your rescue.
Ultimately, its all a matter of educating yourself prior to going camping. Research your intended campsite for possible threats (like wolves). Find out if any encounters have been reported recently and be sure to get the details of any alleged encounters. Where the animals aggressive? Were they actually seen or where their tracks merely found. Just because a wolf is spotted, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you cannot camp in that location. Just be cognizant of your situation and stay alert and you will have a fun camping experience.