Ontario's many parks and natural areas enable us to enjoy and discover the outdoors. With a mixture of open fields, forests and wetlands, these natural areas are home to many wild animals. When people spend time in natural areas, parks and cottage country, they may come into contact with wildlife.
Preventing conflicts at your camp or cottage
When enjoying Ontario's beautiful outdoors, think ahead and take appropriate precautions. Proper waste management and other practices will help prevent wildlife encounters on campsites or cottage property.
- Never feed wildlife or try to approach them – admire them from a distance.
- Properly store all food in wildlife-resistant containers.
- Clean up around your campsite or cottage and properly dispose of garbage, or take it to the dump frequently.
- Do not leave pet food outdoors, since this will attract wildlife.
- Remove grease from barbecue grills, including the grease cup underneath, after each use.
Handling conflicts in your camp or cottage
While many people enjoy seeing wildlife at their camp or cottage, you may feel threatened if large or aggressive animal enters your campsite or cottage area. Encounters with wild animals can be dangerous. Although extremely rare, people can be injured. If you encounter an animal at your camp or cottage that approaches you or remains in the area:
- Stop. Do not panic; remain calm.
- Do not turn your back on or run from a wild animal. Slowly back away from the animal while raising your arms and keeping your eyes on it.
- Stand tall, wave your hands and make lots of noise.
- If you are near a building or vehicle, get inside as a precaution.
- Warn those around you that a wild animal is in the area.
Read more on how to handle conflicts with specific wild animals near your camp or cottage property.
