1. Admire Wildlife From Afar
While seeing wild animals can be part of the camping experience, it's best to keep your distance. Most animals stay away from people, only approaching when they smell food. Look for animal tracks before you set up camp. Tracks may mean you're in an area frequented by wildlife. Always remember that animals in the wilderness are wild. Never try to approach, pet, feed or take care of wildlife, no matter how cute. Animals often attack when scared, while others carry diseases that can make people sick. Keep your distance when wildlife passes through a campsite. If camping in a designated camping area, alert park personnel or campground hosts about bears or mountain lions near your camp.
2. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
When wildlife visits your campsite, they probably smell food. Put all food in animal proof airtight containers when not in use. Wild animals easily rip into plastic bags, and raccoons and bears are particularly adept at getting in plastic food containers too. If you're not sure a container is bear proof, take the added precaution of locking it in the trunk of your car. If this isn't possible, bag the food and tie it between two trees at least 12 feet off the ground and at a distance from your tent.
3. Clean Up Time
Keep your campsite safe from wildlife by keeping a clean camp. Dispose of all food scraps, drippings and garbage in an approved garbage can away from your campsite. If you can't, place food items in an airtight container locked in your trunk. Think twice before tossing garbage into a campfire. Clean all cooking equipment and grills well, disposing of dirty dishwater in a hole that you dig away from camp.
4. Stay Fragrance Free for Sleep
Change clothes before bedtime, particularly if you cooked or handled food in your clothing. Bag up clothes and anything else with possible food odors to lock in the trunk of your car. You may not like the smell of raw fish, but hungry wildlife loves it. If you don't want midnight visitors, keep food smells away from your tent and sleeping bags.
5. Bear it
If camping in bear country, you should know that bears can smell from very far away, and they're attracted to more than food smells. Any strong odor may bring a bear exploring. This includes soap and personal hygiene items like deodorant. Keep these items locked away from your tent. If, despite all your efforts, bears insist on visiting you, have bear spray at hand. Bears also don't like loud noises. Camps frequented by bears often use "bear guns." However, the only thing coming out of a bear gun is a loud noise.
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