Desert CoyoteWhile you may not consider yourself the Grizzly Adams type, life in Montana means exposure to Mother Nature in all of her beauty and perils (after all, it’s why we live here). Wildlife awareness is almost second nature to us, and we often have personal stories with wildlife close encounters.

But wildlife safety takes a different turn when we are pet owners. Whether our cat is outdoors a lot or we love to hike with our dog, there are precautions to take.

The Basics of Wildlife Awareness

Even if you aren’t planning a camping or hiking excursion, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with species that have adapted to urban areas. And, it is not uncommon to run into coyotes, bears, skunks, foxes, and other wildlife.

One of the best ways of discouraging a negative encounter is to practice basic safety measures, such as:

  • Avoid letting your cat roam outdoors unsupervised
  • Keep your dog leashed when on trails and out for a walk in areas where wildlife has been spotted
  • Keep all trash inside wildlife-proof bins and in the garage, if possible, until the morning of pickup
  • Don’t feed your pet outside
  • While birds are lovely to watch at feeders, these feeders also attract animals to the deck, porch, or backyard
  • Use caution when walking at night – and avoid areas near trash bins, since bears and other animals will often do evening raids

    • What to Do if You Encounter a Wild Animal

    Of course, even if you wildlife-proof your yard, there might be times when you are away from home with your pet, camping, hiking, or simply visiting a natural area.

    First, remember that most wild animals will be more afraid of you and your pet.

    Dogs can also injure or kill many species, which is another good reason to keep him on a leash. This is their home, after all, and we are just visiting. Practicing responsible pet ownership outdoors means ensuring a pet doesn’t chase or kill wildlife or cause a negative impact on the environment.

    The best way to avoid wild animals is to make noise while you are out to alert animals to your presence. You may want to add some bells to your dog’s collar. If you do see an animal, here are some suggestions about how to safely get yourself and your pet out of the area:

  • Give the animal a wide berth by moving away from or around the location
  • Discourage your dog from barking (hopefully, he will be trained to respond to commands)
  • Coyotes may be curious about your presence, but will often scatter if you shout a firm “Go” or “No” with your arms extended, making yourself appear large
  • If your dog is a small breed, pick him up and carry him as you move to safety
  • Bears will also move away from the area if you make a lot of noise, but will attack a barking or charging dog (so, again, we stress keeping your canine on a leash)
  • When encountering bears, continue to make noise and back up slowly, moving away from the area
  • You may wish to carry bear or pepper spray and an air horn, and always let someone know where you are planning to hike or camp

    • In most cases, wild animals simply want to avoid being seen. However, it is wise to be prepared and to understand what to do if an encounter is unavoidable. Most encounters can be safely dealt with when you are prepared to respond quickly.