Photo by Jillian Cooper / Getty Images
Warmer days and more sunlight are bringing more people out to trails, sidewalks, and greenspaces – and that could lead to encounters with wildlife who also use those corridors. Whether you’re heading out for a hike, walking the dog around the block, or spending time in a local park, it’s worth taking a few small steps to protect yourself, your pets, and the wildlife who call these places home.
Here are five simple ways to help:
1 Keep dogs leashed – even the well-trained ones. Your dog might be friendly, but that doesn’t mean wildlife will see it that way. Bears, coyotes, raccoons, and other fur-bearers can feel threatened by off-leash dogs, especially during baby season. A surprised coyote defending a den, or a bear just trying to get by, doesn’t want an interaction—and neither do you. Keep dogs leashed and close when on trails; find a nearby designated off-leash area where wildlife have learned to keep away. It’s safer for everyone, and it helps animals stick to their natural behaviour.
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2 Stay present. It’s easy to throw in headphones or scroll on your phone while walking—but that limits your awareness. If you can’t hear birdsong, you might not hear a rustle in the brush. If your sunglasses are too dark, you might miss a coyote quietly moving off trail.
Try this: keep one earbud out, turn the volume down, or just pause and listen. Wildlife notices when we’re paying attention—and it gives them a chance to avoid us, too.
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3 Don’t get too close. Seeing a wild animal on a trail or in a park can be amazing. But it’s not an invitation to get a better photo or see how close you can get. Many negative encounters begin when animals feel cornered, can’t get away, or have their young nearby.
If you see wildlife: stop, stay calm, speak in a steady voice, and back away slowly. Give them space to leave on their own. Don’t run, and never offer food.
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4 Check before you head out. Wildlife activity changes with the season. Bears might be foraging near berry patches, coyotes could have dens nearby, or animals might be moving closer to trails as human development pushes them out of other areas. Before you go: look up local trail reports, pack the basics (leash, water, flashlight), and consider avoiding trails and forests if you know bears are active in your area.
Photo by Jillian Cooper / Getty Images
5 Be the person who speaks up. Coexistence isn’t just about what we don’t do—it’s also about what we do. If you see garbage bins left open, people feeding wildlife, or dogs off-leash in sensitive areas, say something. Kindly. Or report it to park/municipal staff. We’re all learning, and a small heads-up can prevent a big problem later.
Spring is a season of new life—and that means more activity, more movement, and more chances to do right by the animals with whom we share space. Staying aware doesn’t take much. But it goes a long way.
