Respect Wildlife
We share the outdoors with a variety of animals who make the forest their home. Remember, these are not pets. Keep a safe distance from them and be careful not to disturb their habitat.
Snakes live in a wide variety of habitats including forests, swamps, grasslands, deserts and in both fresh and salt water. Some are active at night, others during the day. Snakes are predators and eat a wide variety of animals, including rodents, insects, birds' eggs and young birds. Snakes are cold-blooded and must move to a suitable surrounding environment to regulate their body temperature. They can't survive extreme summer heat for more than 10-20 minutes and are rarely found in the open. They hibernate in the winter and may also be inactive periodically during hot summer weather. Most snakes that you may encounter are not poisonous. Venomous snakes that are found in the United States include rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths/water moccasins, and coral snakes. Before venturing out, familiarize yourself with the snakes in the area where you plan to spend time.
Snakes in Northern California
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake are common and may be observed during the warm months. This is a venomous snake native to Northern California.
- It's a subspecies of the Western Rattlesnake.
- They are known for their ability to blend into their surroundings, making them difficult to spot.
- Their venom is potent and can be dangerous if a person is bitten, requiring immediate medical attention.
Other Snakes in Northern California:
- While rattlesnakes are the only venomous snakes in California, many other snake species, including the California kingsnake, gopher snake, and garter snake, are non-venomous.
- The California kingsnake is a popular pet snake and is known for its constricting abilities, not venom.
- Gopher snakes are common and harmless, often found in yards and gardens, playing a role in controlling rodent populations.
- Garter snakes are also non-venomous and can be identified by their vertical stripes.
How to avoid snake bites:
- Leave snakes alone. Do not handle, tease or harass them.
- Keep a distance of at least six feet between you and the snake.
- Stay on trails and watch where you place your hands and feet, especially when climbing or stepping over fences, large rocks and logs or when collecting firewood.
- Stay away from tall grass and piles of leaves.
- Avoid climbing on rocks or piles of wood where a snake may be hiding.
- Wear long pants and proper foot gear, especially at night.
Signs or symptoms from a snake bite may include:
- A pair of puncture marks at the wound
- Redness and swelling around the bite
- Severe pain at the site of the bite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Labored breathing (in extreme cases, breathing may stop altogether)
- Disturbed vision
- Increased salivation and sweating
- Numbness or tingling around your face and/or limbs
How to treat snake bites:
- Call 911 and seek medical attention immediately.
- Keep the snake bite victim still, as movement helps the venom spread through the body.
- Keep the injured body part motionless and just lower than heart level.
- Keep the victim warm, calm and at rest.
- Do not allow the person to eat or drink anything.
- Cover the bite with a clean, dry dressing.
Do NOT do any of the following:
- Wait for symptoms to appear if bitten, seek immediate medical attention.
- Apply a tourniquet.
- Slash the wound with a knife.
- Suck out the venom.
- Apply ice or immerse the wound in water.
- Drink alcohol as a painkiller.
- Drink caffeinated beverages.
Remember: You are responsible for your own safety and for the safety of those around you.
Keeping bats safe from you
Bats are a very important part of our ecosystem. They are the primary predator of a vast number of pests that cost farmers and foresters billions of dollars annually. Bats also pollinate flowers and disperse seeds that make the rain forest grows and the deserts bloom. Wherever they are, they are critical elements to the health of our natural resources.
But bats, too, have a bad reputation among some people. They are often associated with vampires and are feared carriers of rabies. However, few people will ever be exposed to a rabies-suspect animal or need medical intervention due to potential exposure while camping. In fact, most bats don’t have rabies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the outdoors, bats use trees, cliffs, caves, buildings, water, bridges and mineshafts in a variety of habitats. Seeing bats outdoors is common. If you notice bats where you are recreating, you should
- avoid any physical contact;
- use screens or mosquito netting to prevent them from getting into your outdoor living space; and
- do not touch a bat that cannot fly, see during the day, or flying in the winter; that bat might be sick. Stay away but also notify a forest ranger.
When it comes to bats, the biggest threat could be you.
In many national forests and grasslands, caves are off limits because millions of bats are dying from white-nose syndrome. Scientists believe the disease has caused the most dramatic decline of North American wildlife in more than 100 years.
The disease is spread from bat-to-bat, from soil to bat and from humans through transmission of spores on clothing and equipment.
Here is how you can help bats:
- Stay out of caves and mines where bats are hibernating and honor cave closings.
- Following the National WNS Decontamination Protocol to clean and disinfect clothes, footwear, and equipment used in caves or mines.
- Report bats showing signs of white-nose syndrome, and bats that are dead, dying, or appear diseased, to a forest ranger.
- Spread the word about the need to save our bats.
Learn more:
Bat Conservation International
Sources: U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and Centers for Disease Control
Remember: You are responsible for your own safety and for the safety of those around you.
Be bear aware
Being outdoors means being with wildlife. Many people never encounter a bear. But if you do, here's some simple advice:
- DO NOT RUN.
- Remain calm.
- Group together and pick up small children.
- Continue to face the bear and back away slowly, talking calmly to identify yourself as a human.
- If the bear continues to approach, try to scare it away by making yourself as large and imposing as possible by stretching your arms overhead and making loud noises.
- Carry and know how to use bear spray, which is available at many outdoor retailers and can be used to deter a charging bear.
Food Storage
Bears are always searching for food. Bears are curious, intelligent animals that have great memories. Their eyesight is similar to humans and their sense of smell is seven times more powerful than a blood hound’s, enabling them to smell food from miles away.
Food storage lockers are provided at many campsites and should be used at all times to store attractants (USDA Forest Service photo)
Those are the very traits that can sometimes get them – and us – into trouble. Most bears are wary of humans and try to avoid them. However, bears can learn to associate people with food and be tenacious in their pursuit of something to eat. Even if humans are around.
Everyone in bear country must do our part to store food and other attractants in bear-resistant containers at all times, and dispose of trash in bear-resistant dumpsters.
Bears remember and recognize familiar food sources like favorite berry patches, decaying logs swarming with delectable insects, and streams and rivers teeming with fish that provide much needed fat and protein.
But bears also remember human packs, campsites, and dwellings offer tempting options. While bears are attracted to any edible food, they also might try to feast on items we might not consider edible:
- toothpaste
- shampoo
- lotion
- soap
- cooking utensils
- empty cans
- wrappers
- coolers
- pet food
- bird seed
- garbage
- petroleum products (including fuel)
For more information on food storage, visit the Bear-Resistant Food Canister page.
Here are more tips to help you stay safe while visiting bear country. Know more about bear interactions by contacting the camp host.
Hiking in Bear Country
Sometimes wild animals, like this bear cub, can blend in with their surroundings. (USDA Forest Service photo)
- Do not feed bears or other wildlife.
- Visit or call the local Forest Service office to learn about special requirements or guidelines for the area.
- Let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return.
- Read all signs at trailheads.
- Stay alert, do not wear headphones and cautiously approach any blind corners in the trail.
- Carry bear spray such that it is easily accessible. Know how to use it.
- Hike as a group, keep children with you and dogs leashed.
- Make plenty of noise.
- For extended trips, keep food and other attractants in personal use size bear resistant containers.
- If you see a bear, maintain a safe distance and alter your route to avoid the bear. Never block a bear’s travel route.
- If you see a cub alone, don't approach. Momma bear could be nearby.
Camping in Bear Country
- Do not feed bears or other wildlife.
- Visit or call the local Forest Service office to learn about special requirements or guidelines for properly storing food while camping in the area.
- Keep a clean camp site.
- Do not store food or any scented items in a tent, including clothing with food residues.
- Do not leave food unattended at a campsite or in your vehicle.
- Use bear-resistant food lockers and dumpsters where provided or bring your own.
- Clean utensils and food prep area thoroughly after cooking.
- Do not store garbage at camp site. Use a designated dumpster.
- At an undeveloped camping location, cook and store food away from sleeping area.
Remember: You are responsible for your own safety and for the safety of those around you.
Your chances of encountering a mountain lion are small. However, mountain lion attacks have been on the rise as humans increasingly enter these cats’ territory. If at any time you spot a mountain lion, report the sighting or encounter to your local forest ranger station or visitor center as soon as possible.
Mountain lion facts
The mountain lion is also known as cougar, panther, or puma. Body coloration can range from tan to gray and cubs are usually covered with blackish brown spots.
Image
- Adult males may be more than 8 feet long (from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail), and can weigh between 130 and 150 pounds. Adult females can be 7 feet long and weigh between 65 and 90 pounds.
- Generally speaking, mountain lions can be found wherever deer are present. Their usual habitat is steep, rocky canyons or mountainous terrain.
- Mountain lions can be found in deserts as well as coastal forests, and from sea level to 10,000-foot elevations.
- An adult male's home range is typically more than 100 square miles and females generally use smaller areas, approximately 20 to 60 square miles
Hiking and camping in mountain lion habitat
- Do not hike alone. Go in groups, with adults supervising children.
- Avoid dawn and dusk excursions.
- Keep children close to you. Animals seem especially drawn to children.
- Pick up small children. The mountain lion will see small children as easier prey.
- Do not approach a lion. Most mountain lions will try to avoid confrontation, so give them a way to escape.
- Do not run from a lion. Running may stimulate a mountain lion's instinct to chase.
- Do not crouch down or bend over. A human standing does not resemble a mountain lion's natural prey.
- Do all you can to appear larger. Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you are wearing one. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice.
- Fight back if attacked. Mountain lions usually try to bite the head or neck; try to remain standing and face the attacking animal.
Remember: You are responsible for your safety and for the safety of those around you.