Photo by Tammy Oates / Getty Images
The days have grown a bit shorter, the air a bit crisper, and the leaves are beginning their colourful journey at the end of a growing season. Fall is coming – and many hikers and runners will rejoice the slightly cooler temperatures while enjoying trails and pathways across Canada.
We at The Fur-Bearers love autumn, too, so we’ve put together six safety tips that can help prevent negative encounters with wildlife while taking in nature during the pumpkin-spice season:
1 Get to know the locals. Knowing who lives in the ecosystem you’re hiking or running through helps you prevent surprising (or being surprised by) local wildlife. Check with your municipality, local naturalist’s groups, or hiking/running groups to find out who else calls the trail home. Learning the basics of the local wildlife’s behaviour can also help you understand the situation if you encounter animals.
2 Keep dogs leashed. Even dogs with excellent recall and behaviour can surprise or frighten wildlife, which can lead to negative encounters for everyone. Keeping dogs leashed unless in designated zones can help prevent problems from arising.
3 Make some noise. Often, negative encounters with wildlife stem from the animals being surprised by the presence of people. Talking out loud while in natural areas is the best way to let local animals know you’re around and give them time to create space between themselves and you.
4 Be aware of your surroundings. It’s hard to get a good groove on a run without rhythm from music, but wearing earbuds or headphones can block your senses and prevent you from hearing the movement of wildlife and other people. Always keep at least one ear open and avoid sunglasses that block your peripheral vision.
5 Never feed wildlife. Feeding animals – even incidentally – can change their behaviour. This may lead individual animals to take bigger risks than they normally would, like crossing roads, approaching people or pets, or not avoiding dangers. It can also contribute to ecosystem imbalances. Click here to learn more about how feeding impacts wildlife.
6 Don’t approach wildlife. We respect wildlife enough to allow them to be wild; even if an animal appears calm, give them space and continue moving. If you worry that an animal is sick or injured please contact your local wildlife rehabilitator for advice on how best to proceed.
Do you have amazing wildlife stories or tips to share from past fall hikes or runs? Let us know by emailing info@TheFurBearers.com or commenting on our Facebook, Instagram, X, or YouTube pages!
