Is Camping Safe? Avoiding Animals, Insects, and Injury

For some, the idea of sleeping in a tent under the stars might seem a little scary. If you’re just getting into camping, you might ask yourself, Is camping safe? It’s a reasonable concern, but the answer is yes. Camping is safe. By taking some basic precautions, being prepared with the proper gear, and using some common sense, you can minimize any risks and have a great time in the outdoors.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at some of the potential hazards of camping, including dangerous wild animals like bears and mountain lions, disease-carrying insects, extreme weather conditions, unpredictable people, and various injury risks. We will examine those risks in a rational and realistic way, to determine how dangerous camping is. I’ll also share some helpful camping safety tips.

I’ve been camping for my entire life. I’ve wild camped, backwoods camped, and camped in RVs and cars. Over the years, I’ve spent hundreds of nights in a sleeping bag. During that time, I have never had a serious safety issue. In this guide, I’ll share my experience.

Table of Contents

• Wild Animals- Bears, mountain lions, snakes, and dogs
• People- Hunters, robbers, and crazy people
• Injury– Trips, falls, burns, cuts, scrapes, etc.
• Insects- bees, mosquitoes, ticks, ants, and other critters.
• Sickness and Disease- Waterborne sickness, malaria, Lyme disease, etc.
• The Weather- Extreme hot and cold as well as storms and natural disasters

Is Camping Safe?

Yes. Camping is safe as long as you research your destination, prepare properly, and take some basic safety precautions, you can stay safe. Over 50 million Americans go camping each year. The number of major injuries or fatalities is extremely low. There are some risks to consider including the weather and wild animals.

Make sure your gear is appropriate for the environment. Always check forecast before your trip. Be sure to bring the correct clothing and shelter. Securely store your food and make sure you understand what to do in the event of an animal encounter.

Fire safety is also important. Keep campfires controlled and extinguish them properly before leaving camp. Bring plenty of water and a water filter so you can stay well-hydrated. Bring a well-stocked first-aid kit to treat minor injuries such as cuts and bug bites. Use bug spray and netting to protect yourself from insects.

Stick to marked trails to avoid getting lost. Make Bring maps, a compass, and a GPS device to help with navigation. Make sure you know how to use them. Use bug spray and netting to protect yourself from insects. These simple tips will help you stay safe.

Wild Animals- How to Stay Safe from Attacks While Camping

Many camper’s biggest fear is encountering a hungry wild animal. This fear is logical and legitimate. Large animals are always on the hunt. Life in nature is difficult. If an opportunity presents itself, an animal may attack.

Some wild animals pose a real risk to humans. Remember that you may not be on top of the food chain while camping in nature. With that being said, animal attacks while camping are pretty rare. The risk is lower than you may expect.

Regardless, before heading out into the woods, you should do a bit of research on your destination. Know which species are present, how to avoid them, and how to behave if you do experience an encounter.

Knowing how to avoid certain animals and how to react during an encounter could save your life. Some common dangerous wild animals that you may encounter while camping include bears, mountain lions, and snakes. Dogs can also be dangerous. In the following sections, I’ll outline each.

Bears

Probably the most feared animal in the woods, bears are at the top of the food chain. Luckily, they aren’t much of a danger to campers.

With all of the movies, books, and stories about bear attacks, you’d expect death numbers to be pretty high. While researching for this article, I was surprised to learn that only about 2 people die of bear attacks in North America per year on average according to this interesting article there are only around 40 bear attacks per year, worldwide. Between 2000 and 2017, there were only 48 deaths from bear attacks in North America. That’s fewer than 3 per year. That’s not very many considering how many millions of people go camping across North America each year. 

Even though the number of deaths is low, bears still pose a risk to campers. By taking a few simple precautions, you can reduce the likelihood of a bear attack to almost nothing. The most important thing you can do to prevent a bear from entering your camp is to properly store and prepare your food. A few tips to remember include:

• Store your food in a place where bears can’t get to it- That could be a designated food storage box, your vehicle, or hanging in the air from a pole or tree (you want your food to be at least 10 feet up and 4 feet from the vertical support so bears can’t reach it). Hanging your food should be your last choice. It’s not very effective unless you know what you’re doing. 
• Never cook or eat at your campsite- Do all cooking, eating, and washing at least 100 yards away. It seems far but bears have an excellent sense of smell. Better safe than sorry.
• Never bring any food into your tent- The smell can linger and draw bears into your camp. Even if you’re not camping in bear country, this is good practice to keep various other critters out.
• Don’t sleep in the same clothes that you cooked in- Again, the smell can linger on your clothes and draw bears.
• Avoid foods that have a strong odor- For example, bacon, cheese, fish, etc. The smell can get into your clothes and even on your body.

If you go camping often enough, you will encounter a bear sooner or later. They are fairly common animals in much of North America and Eurasia. If you do encounter a bear, the best thing you can do is to talk to it in a calm voice and slowly back away.

Don’t make eye contact. The bear may interpret that as aggression. It could trigger an attack. Don’t turn your back to the bear until you’re out of its sight. You want to be able to keep an eye on what the bear is doing. For example, if it begins to approach you, you need to be able to react. Most importantly, don’t run. If you run, the bear’s instinct tells it to chase after you. You are prey. Bears are faster than humans.

Most of the time, the bear will just glance at you and continue with whatever it was doing. In some cases, they may even run away from you. If, however, the bear begins approaching you, you need to determine the bear’s intentions. There are two types of bears you may encounter: defensive bears and predatory bears.

Defensive bears feel threatened by you. Maybe their cubs are near or maybe they think you’re trying to take their food. In this case, the bear will make loud noises, scratch the ground, and generally act in an aggressive manner.

The first thing to try if you encounter a defensive bear is to calmly talk to the bear and slowly back away. If the bear looks like it’s going to attack, play dead. You want to lay face down with your hand protecting your neck. Stay in this position until the bear goes away. This is the best response to a grizzzly bear encounter.

Predatory bears consider you prey. In this case, the bear will be quiet. It will approach you slowly without showing any aggression. It doesn’t fear you.

The best thing you can do in this situation is to act aggressively. Yell. Make yourself appear as large as possible. Throw rocks. Whatever you can do to show the bear that you are going to put up a fight. If you have bear spray, use it when the bear gets closer than 30 feet. You should only do this during a black bear encounter.

For more info on bears, check out my guide How to Avoid Bears While Hiking and Camping

Mountain Lions

Due to recent conservation efforts, mountain lion populations are growing and their territory is expanding. These beautiful animals that were rarely seen for decades are now commonly spotted near cities and popular camping spots like national parks. While this is great for the species it may be bad for campers. It’s a good idea to be aware of them and to know how to react if you see one while camping in their territory.

To reduce the likelihood of a mountain lion attack, you should:

• Avoid camping and hiking with kids or pets in areas where mountain lions are known to live- Mountain lions are much more likely to attack small prey than fully grown adult humans.
• Don’t hike during dusk and dawn- Mountain lions are nocturnal and hunt during this time of day.
• Don’t leave any food out- Take the same kinds of precautions you would in bear country. Store food away from camp and don’t or cook at camp. Hide food away from camp, etc.
• Travel in a group if possible- This greatly reduces the likelihood of a mountain lion attack.

If you do encounter a mountain lion while camping, you should:

• Make loud noises- Yell, clap your hands, bang objects together.
• Appear as large as you can- Raise your arms, pick up your kids or dogs if you have them with you, spread open your jacket.
• Make eye contact- You want to act as intimidating as possible.
• Fight- Throw stones or pick up a stick to fight with if the mountain lion is going to attack.

Mountain lion attacks are still incredibly rare. There have only been 27 deaths from mountain lions in the past 100 years in North America. Having said this, attacks may be on the rise. Check out this interesting article for more info on the frequency of mountain lion attacks. 

Snakes

Snakes inhabit all corners of the globe. You can encounter these creatures almost anywhere including deserts, forests, grasslands, or even your backyard.

The most dangerous type of snake you could encounter is, of course, the venomous variety. Snake bites are a legitimate concern for campers. According to the World Health Organization, 81,000-138,000 people die of snake bites each year.

Luckily for campers, antivenom is widely available in North America and much of the developed world. If you’re camping deep in the backcountry or in a developing country where antivenom isn’t as easily available, you’ll have to be a bit more careful.

Before leaving for your camping trip, do a bit of research on the types of snakes that are native to the region where you plan to camp. That way, you know what the risk is. You may even find that there aren’t any venomous snakes around.

Snakes can slither into your tent or sleeping bag without you even noticing. While climbing into your sleeping bag after a long day hiking, a snake can unpleasantly surprise you with a life-threatening bite if you’re not careful. Snakes can also hide under rocks or in tall grass where you can accidentally step on them while hiking or just setting up camp.

Luckily, there are a few ways to reduce the risk of getting bitten.

• Don’t pitch your tent where snakes could be living- For example, in tall grass, near a hole in the ground, near fallen trees, etc. Sometimes these spots are impossible to avoid, but if you have the option, find a different campsite.
• Always zip your tent closed when you’re not inside- Don’t give snakes a chance to enter. Even if you’re just getting out of your tent for a few minutes to go to the bathroom, zip it shut.
• Make sure your tent doesn’t have any holes- If it does, patch them or tape them shut. Snakes can enter through the tiniest of cracks.
• Check your tent and sleeping bag for snakes before crawling in- Give your tent a good shake to warn the snake that you are entering.
• Keep all food out of the tent- Snakes aren’t attracted to human food but they are attracted to animals that eat human food. For example, maybe a mouse enters your tent to nosh on your cookies. The snake enters the tent to eat the mouse.
• If you’re camping in an open bivy sack or under an open tarp- Consider sleeping on a large plastic tarp or groundsheet. Snakes don’t like slithering over unfamiliar materials.
• Use a stick or trekking pole to poke around before stepping- If you’re camping in a particularly risky area, probe for snakes before stepping.

What to do if you Encounter a Snake While Camping

Humans aren’t snake prey. They won’t chase after you. If you see a snake, just stay out of its striking range and walk around it. Don’t approach it or try to move it.

If the snake feels agitated, it will strike. That is its only defense. If a snake bites you while camping:

• Remove your jewelry- You don’t want it to get stuck and cut off circulation when swelling begins.
• Clean any debris from the wound- Brush off any dirt. Pick any twigs or grass out.
• Apply a bandage with a bit of pressure- not too much pressure.
• Do not attempt to suck the venom out- Everyone has heard this trick. It doesn’t work.
• Do not apply a tourniquet- Again, you don’t want too much pressure on the bite. This can speed up the effect of the venom.
• Don’t flush the wound with water- You can remove any debris that got into the wound.
• Get to the hospital as quickly as possible- You may need antivenom. 

Dogs

While not wild animals, dogs are one of the more common and vicious animals that you can encounter while camping. Particularly if they are in a pack. While bicycle touring, I’ve been chased after by dogs a number of times. I’ve also encountered some aggressive dogs that were off-leash on hiking trails. Luckily, I haven’t been bitten yet.

If you encounter an aggressive dog while camping, stop moving. Some dogs stop chasing if you stand still. If you’re on a bike, get off and put the bike between you and the dog. Most of the time the dog stops in its tracks. Also, try to talk nicely and try to calm them down. Some dogs calm down and become friendly if they see that you are a friend and not an enemy. They are domesticated animals afterall. 

If these don’t work and the dogs are still acting aggressively, you should:

• Yell at the dogs- Return the aggression. Show them that you are going to put up a fight.
• Pick up a stick- Be prepared to fight them off if they decide to attack.
• Throw rocks- This often scares them away. If there are no rocks around, you can try pretending to throw rocks. This sometimes works as well.
• Use bear spray- If you are carrying it, this stuff is extremely effective against dogs.

If you get bit, it’s a good idea to go straight to a clinic to start a series of rabies shots. While catching rabies is unlikely, the disease is extremely deadly if left untreated.

People- How to Stay Safe From Humans While Camping

Probably my biggest safety concern while camping is other people. Humans are the most unpredictable species. You never know what we’re going to do. People can be friendly one moment and turn violent the next.

With that being said, campers and hikers are some of the most friendly people I’ve ever met. Everyone you come across is generally like-minded and in a good mood. Probably because they’re enjoying the outdoors. It is unlikely for your fellow campers to try to harm you.

There are some dangerous types of people you can encounter while camping including hunters, robbers, and vagrant people. In the following sections, I’ll outline how to avoid dangerous people while hiking.

Hunters

When it comes to human encounters, the biggest danger for most campers is accidentally getting shot by a hunter. An overeager hunter could mistake you for a deer and fire before confirming what he’s firing at. While hunting accidents are pretty rare, they do happen occasionally.

To avoid getting involved in a hunting accident:

• Know when hunting season is- This varies by region and depends on the game. Before heading out into the woods, you should check whether or not hunting season is open. Deer season is probably the most dangerous for campers. Luckily, this is in the late fall and winter in most places. Most people don’t camp in the winter.
• Check where hunting is allowed- If you want to camp during hunting season, you could just go somewhere where hunting is forbidden. For example, in the U.S. the National Park Service prohibits hunting in most national parks. There are a few exceptions, however.
• Make human noises- Talk, sing, whistle, etc. Just make some sounds that indicate that you aren’t an animal.
• Wear bright colors- You want to be easily visible to hunters. Generally, orange is best. You could also wear high-viz clothing. Whatever you do, you don’t want to wear earth tones that blend into the terrain. You also don’t want to wear colors similar to the animals that are being hunted. For example, don’t wear white during whitetail deer hunting season.
• Keep an eye on your dog- Always keep them on a leash. Consider tying a bright colored bandana around their neck. You don’t want a hunter to mistake it for game.
• Respect hunters- They have the same right as you to be there as you, as long as they’re hunting legally. Try not to ruin their hunt by scaring away the animal they may be stalking.

Again, the chance of getting shot by a hunter is incredibly low. You do hear about an accident every once in a while though. A hunter would have to be pretty careless to shoot a human. That would mean that they shot without even confirming what they were looking at was even legal game.

Crazys, Vagrants, Drunks, Etc.

You meet some strange people while camping. Particularly in rural areas. People who live out in the boonies are just different. Some are real characters and some just come off as a bit creepy. You have to try your best to be a good judge of character while camping.

If you meet someone who feels off, try not to let them know where you’re camping. People are unpredictable. You just never know what they are capable of. They could come in the night and rob you, assault you, or worse.

One of my biggest fears is encountering a crazy or violent person while camping. I know this fear is irrational but pretty much everyone’s wandering mind imagines encountering a crazy person out in the woods. Maybe I’ve just watched too many horror movies.

Injury While Camping

Overall, camping is a pretty low impact activity. Major injuries are uncommon. Having said that, there are a few minor injuries that you will probably sustain if you camp often enough. Fortunately, most of these can be patched up with a basic first aid kit. A few ways you can injure yourself while camping include trips, falls, cuts, scrapes, burns, blisters, and joint injuries. In the following sections, I’ll outline how to avoid getting injured while camping.

Trips and Falls

While camping in the woods, it’s easy to trip over a stone or branch and take a spill. Walking around camp in the dark can also be dangerous. If you take a fall, you could easily scratch yourself up or even break a bone. To prevent trips and falls while camping, you should:

• Use trekking poles or a walking stick- When negotiating difficult terrain, trekking poles help you maintain balance.
• Wear a headlight or use a flashlight while walking around camp at night- You could easily trip over your camping gear or a tent guy line and injure yourself.
• Wear sturdy shoes or boots- If you end up stepping wrong or slipping, good footwear can save your ankle. Hiking boots or trail runners are good choices. Check out my guide to waterproof vs non-waterproof hiking shoes for more info.
• Know basic first aid- If you plan to camp in a remote area, learn how to treat minor injuries. The knowledge could save your life. Also, carry a first aid kit.

Cuts and Scrapes

Minor cuts are fairly common while camping. Maybe you took a fall and scratched up your knee. Maybe you walked into a sharp tree branch. Whatever the case, it’s important to carry a small first aid kit so you can patch yourself up.

Simple treatments like applying antibiotic cream and bandages prevent small cuts from getting infected and turning into more serious problems. It is easier for small cuts to get infected while camping because you just can’t stay as clean as back home. Take the time to patch yourself up no matter how insignificant the wound seems.

If your wound is serious or if it gets infected, go to a clinic to get it checked out and treated. An infection can quickly get out of hand and turn into a serious condition. Your first aid kit is meant for minor wounds.

Burns

You can accidentally burn yourself with camp stoves and campfires pretty easily. The best thing you can do is to simply be careful around fire.

If you do burn yourself, clean off the wound with cold water. It’s a good idea to carry some burn ointment and bandages to apply as well. This should be in your first aid kit. If the burn is severe, go to the hospital.

Joint Pain

While camping, you may be carrying a heavy backpack which puts additional strain on your back, shoulders, and knees. You’re probably also sleeping on the ground which doesn’t help either. It’s a good idea to carry some mild pain relievers.

I hate taking medications, but sometimes a couple of ibuprofen are necessary to get me through the trip if I’ve had a long day or if I slept wrong on my back. Ace bandages can help with knee pain. Some people get relief from muscle pain relief creams like Bengay or Icy Hot.

To help prevent joint pain in the first place, consider using trekking poles while hiking. They take some of the stress off of your knees and back. This reduces the likelihood of suffering joint pain during a long camping trip. 

Foot Pain

While camping, you spend a lot of time tromping around with a heavy pack. Your feet spend the day cooped up in big sweaty boots. This isn’t ideal for their health. A few common foot problems campers experience include:

1. Blisters- These come from your shoes or boots rubbing in a particular spot on your foot all day long. The most common cause is ill-fitting footwear. If you do get a blister, put a bandage over it to prevent it from getting worse. If it pops, keep it clean and apply fresh bandages as needed.
2. Athlete’s foot- This is a fungal infection of the foot. The infection usually begins when you allow your sweaty feet to remain in your shoes for too long without allowing them to air out. The best remedy is to give your feet a break and allow them to dry out. Anti-fungal ointments are also available.
3. Trench foot- This is an injury caused by prolonged exposure to damp and cold conditions. To avoid this, make sure your feet are kept dry and warm with appropriate socks and footwear. Try to take frequent breaks for your feet in order to allow them time to rest and recover from any existing injuries or soreness.

To keep your feet healthy while camping:

• keep them clean- Wash your feet off in a stream or lake once in a while.
• Change your socks often- Wearing sweaty socks for days on end allow the fungus that causes athlete’s foot to grow. Many campers like Merino wool socks because they dry out quickly, wick sweat, and breathe well.
• Wear sandals around camp- Give your feet a break from your boots. Let them air out. This helps with avoiding blisters as well. I like hiking sandals.
• Keep your toenails trimmed- This helps to avoid discomfort.

Broken Bones

One injury that you can sustain while camping that can be life-threatening is a broken bone. Imagine breaking a leg 20 miles deep in the backcountry.

This is one injury that your basic first aid kit can’t fix. It can, however, help you make it somewhere where you can get help.

Insects- How to Avoid Bites and Stings While Camping

One of the worst parts of camping is dealing with the bugs. An argument could be made that insects are more dangerous to campers than wild animals. They bite, sting, carry life-threatening diseases, and are just plain annoying.

To help keep the bugs away, you should:

• Use insect repellent- Make sure to use a repellent with a high concentration of DEET.
• Cover up while the bugs are out- Be sure to wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks to during the evenings to prevent mosquito bites. It’s also important to cover up when walking through areas where your skin comes into contact with trees, grass, shrubs, etc. to keep ticks away.
• Use a bug net when you sleep- Most tents have one built in. If you’re sleeping in a hammock or under a tarp, make sure you use bug netting so you don’t get bitten up during your sleep.

Before camping, you should do a bit of research on the types of insects you may encounter and the diseases that they may carry. In some regions, all you have to worry about is a minor bite or sting. Sometimes, insects carry deadly diseases that must be taken seriously. In the following sections, I’ll outline a few types of bugs you may encounter, the diseases they may carry, and how to avoid them.

Mosquitoes

One of the biggest dangers you face while camping is the mosquito. Not only are they incredibly annoying, but they also happen to carry a number of deadly diseases including:

• Malaria- This is the most deadly disease in human history. Even with recent advances in medicine, over one million people die each year from malaria. The disease is most common in tropical and sub-tropical regions around the world. The highest densities are found in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Zika Virus- This one is pretty uncommon but cases have been recorded all over the world. Zika made the news recently with outbreaks in South America.
• Dengue Fever- This is one of the more common diseases that campers catch. At this time, there is no vaccine or cure. Dengue is most common in India and Southeast Asia but cases have been recorded all over the world including the United States. For more info, check out this guide from the CDC.
• West Nile Virus- This is the most common mosquito-transmitted disease in the United States. Many victims show no signs or symptoms and no vaccine or treatment is available at this time.
• Yellow Fever- This is probably the most deadly mosquito-transmitted disease if you catch it. Yellow Fever is found mostly in Africa, Central America, and South America. Luckily, a vaccine is available. The vaccine is extremely effective. It’s important to note that a Yellow Fever vaccine is an entry requirement for many countries in Africa and some countries in South America.

The highest risk areas for contracting these diseases are generally in tropical and sub-tropical regions in Africa, Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and the Indian Subcontinent. The best way to avoid these diseases is to simply avoid getting bitten.

In Europe and North America, mosquitoes are mostly just an annoyance you must deal with while camping. Mosquito-transmitted diseases are much less common with the exception of West Nile Virus.