Camping safety: 6 hazards to watch out for

“Make noise when you’re on trails or in the woods, so bears know you’re there and can avoid you,” says Parks Canada’s Ed Jager. With the caveat that each bear encounter is unique, he advises campers to back away slowly and avoid eye contact if they do meet a bear, because you don’t want your actions to be interpreted as a challenge to the bear. You can carry bear spray, a non-lethal capsaicin-based deterrent, or an air horn.

Your food will attract bears, so keep it in latched coolers or containers, or in the car. Dispose of garbage daily or lock trash away. Never feed bears, and if they aren’t behaving normally (the most abnormal behaviour for a wild animal is willfully approaching a human), contact a park ranger or land steward.