One of the more popular RV forum topics concerns safety on the road, and various schools of thought are always discussed, including the wisdom of whether or not to carry a gun for self-protection. Given the ongoing pros and cons of that topic, I’ve seen some heated arguments that often result in the forum administrator closing the thread.
Dogs: an Early Warning System
Rarely does anyone mention the inherent safety factor of camping with dogs. Dogs are probably the best early-warning system there is, unless one were to surround their camp with an electrified hot wire, as some do in bear country (as well as some Canadian campgrounds, such as the one in the town of Louise in Banff).
(Actually, not to get sidetracked, but my fear of grizzlies is enough to make me want one of these systems—the charger runs off solar power—but I find it’s easier to just camp in campgrounds where people serve as a deterrent when in grizz country).
Guns vs Dogs
But back to guns. If you carry or own a gun, you should know how to use it, but if you have a dog, you can be assured that (unless your dog is deaf), you’ll be aware of anything unusual long before you would otherwise. Dogs have a keen sense of hearing and smell and can detect things even through the closed windows and walls of a trailer.
For example, when I’m camp hosting, my dogs will sometimes be asleep in my trailer and suddenly come unglued, growling and sometimes barking and generally telling me something’s amiss.
The Problem with Dogs
Of course, the problem with dogs is that things that are amiss to them aren’t always things we consider amiss, so you sometimes have to take what they’re saying with a grain of salt.
Often, when they’re barking I’ll look out the window to see a dog in the general vicinity, and sometimes it’s not even that close. I’m always amazed that they can detect another dog when the windows are closed, they can’t see out, and said dog is maybe 100 feet (or more) from us, making no sound.
False Alarms
These same senses that can irritate us with false alarms are also the ones that tell us something’s near in the night (usually a coyote). Not only do our dogs wake us (and size is irrelevant, little dogs are just as effective as big ones), but if someone really is out there, the sound of dogs growling or barking is a good deterrent.
Going Outside to Check Things Out
I read a comment on a forum where the commenter was amazed that people always go outside to check things out when they think there’s a problem, possibly putting themselves in danger. In general, this does seem to be true. The commenter was questioning the wisdom of our need to know, which takes us from the safety zone of our RV into the possibly unsafe zone of the unknown.
I’ve done this myself more than once, opening the door with a flashlight in hand to see what’s going on outside. One time, it was a coyote, and Weezee promptly slipped out and chased it, which is not good, as coyotes will lure dogs out to the pack, which will then kill them. Some people project dog-like behavior onto coyotes and other predators, thinking they’re being friendly and wanting to play when they come near a dog.
I quickly jumped into my truck and turned on the lights so I could see better, then began honking the horn, which is my signal for the dogs to jump in. I could see Weezee and the coyote in the headlight beams, and Weezee turned back and the coyote ran off. Another lesson learned, and fortunately not the hard way. After that, she never got another chance to slip out, as I was more careful.
Dog is the Best Defence
Some RV forums have extensive discussions on how to properly arm oneself for any possible situation, using guns, mace, bear spray, and even things like fire retardant and wasp spray, but I truly believe the best defense one can have is a dog.
After several decades of camping, usually solo, I’ve never had one incident with our greatest predator—other humans—and I’ve always had dogs. Of course, add in a good dose of common sense, such as not camping in sketchy spots like rest areas by freeways, and your odds of staying safe go up.
Bear Safety with Dogs
There is one danger that a dog may acerbate and actually make worse, and that’s the danger of bears. First, let me reiterate that if you camp anywhere, never leave your dog unattended, whether tied or not. When tied or left alone, your best friend becomes prime bait for a predator. Don’t be lulled into complacency by the fact that there may be other campers nearby. As we humans invade every place, predators are becoming more brazen and less fearful, usually from necessity.
Black Bears
Bears are a topic I love to read about, probably because I’m afraid of them. I’ve seen black bears on Colorado and Utah mountain trails, and I even had the unique and treasured experience of once coming upon a yearling black bear who didn’t see or smell me.
I stepped behind a tree and watched as it rolled in the dirt and scratched a fence post, but once it started coming up the trail towards where I was hiding, I announced my presence and the bear and I quickly parted ways, each going a different direction.
Grizzly Bear
Had that been a grizzly, I would have immediately turned back, and yet black bears kill and injure more people than grizzlies, though this is probably because there are more blacks and they have a wider range.
I once had an older gentleman from Alaska tell me that he was less afraid of grizzlies than of blacks. “Grizzlies are gentlemen and will generally leave you alone,” he explained, “while blacks will come into your camp and tear everything up looking for food.”
Not having been around grizzlies, I’m not sure about what he says, but I do know my Alaskan relatives won’t give a grizz the benefit of the doubt and always go inside when the great bears come around their houses near Fairbanks. One actually had a grizz try to break into their cabin in the remote Brooks Range, but the bear left when it realized a human was inside.
With the grizzly expanding its range, one should be aware that the bears generally will avoid humans unless you come into their territory and present them with the smells of food or antagonize them by getting between moms and their cubs.
Dogs and Bears
But dogs are well-known for being bear attractants, and no one really knows why. Are the bears curious, or does the dog’s bark irritate them? Maybe both, but if you’re hiking or camping in bear country, keep your dogs leashed and with you at all times.
This is advice from a bear expert in Dubois, Wyoming who spends a lot of time guiding people into the Wind River Range, which is home to both grizzlies and blacks. He also adds, “Always carry bear spray, even when just camping and not hiking, as a bear might decide to come into your camp.”
And we all know to keep our food in bear proof containers or, at the least, in our vehicles. In Utah, the state hires hunters with packs of hunting dogs to harass bears, teaching them that humans are bad business.
Having said all that, the number of people and dogs harmed by bears is very small compared to the number of people and dogs who visit bear country, and most of those had provoked attacks in some way by not being careful with their food or by carelessly antagonizing or startling the bear.
And, of course, being rational about it all means you won’t let bears keep you from going where you want, places like Yellowstone, Glacier, and the beautiful provincial parks of Canada. It’s just good to be aware.
Coyotes, Mountain Lions, and Rattlesnakes
If you follow the rule of keeping your dog nearby while hiking, odds are good you will never encounter any predators, but if you do, odds are even better they’ll be coyotes. Mountain lions and rattlesnakes are much rarer. Wherever you go, coyotes seem to be the main concern when keeping your pet safe.
Coyotes and Dogs
Coyotes are everywhere anymore, but they’re also wary, and generally you’ll rarely see them, unless in the distance. But in some places, they’ve become less fearful and will snatch away your small dog or cat in broad daylight, and sometimes from the end of your leash, if reports coming from some Arizona locales are true.
But coyotes are usually not so fearless that they’ll come after your dog if you’re nearby, and they’re also more attracted to easy prey, like smaller dogs and cats. A larger dog can be prey to a pack, but not usually to a lone coyote. But where there’s one, there’s usually others, and even two coyotes can kill a large dog.
I’ve seen and heard enough stories about the wily coyote to know they’re very intelligent, as well as being resourceful. Some say they will observe people with pets and figure out their routines, then use that knowledge to their advantage. And people forget about foxes, which, though rarely seen, can be lethal to domestic cats.
Cougar and Dogs
Intelligence and resourcefulness also apply to the mountain lion, or cougar, but these will almost never invade your camp, though I did wake one morning to find tracks circling my tent. I had no pets with me, and having a dog would probably have deterred them from coming that close. I was in wild country where few people go, so I suspect the lion was more curious than hungry.
But the more humans encroach into their areas, the bolder lions become, once again, from necessity. They will rarely hunt humans, but your pets are fair game, as long as you’re not nearby.
Rattlesnakes and Dogs
Rattlesnakes are tougher, as one usually won’t know they’re there until you arrive at the same spot where they are. When in rattlesnake country, be aware, and some people carry a walking stick for dealing with them. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time in rattlesnake terrain, you can get your dogs inoculated against the venom.
Wear leather boots and long pants, and never use your hands to climb rocks without first scoping out where you’re putting them. Don’t let your dogs run off trail.
Snakes will strike only if they feel threatened, and bull snakes, which are quite common out West, will mimic the rattler if cornered, coiling and acting like they will strike, but they carry no venom nor rattles. Most snakes are active only in the early morning, late evening, and night hours, when it’s cool.
Appropriate Behavior
Various internet sites will educate you about appropriate behavior upon encountering a predator, but the main thing to remember is to never run, as this kicks in the chase instinct (except for rattlers, then run like crazy, as they can’t chase). There has recently been some argument for running when encountering bears in places like Anchorage, Alaska, where bears routinely see joggers and feel threatened only when someone stops.
Finally, if you’re afraid to go camping with your dog (or alone) because you’re afraid of critters, consider yourself the victim of irrational fears (to which I hope I’m not contributing).
After many decades of camping in about every possible environment, I’ve seen only one rattlesnake, which, like that bear, quickly went the other way, and my only encounter with a lion was the one that circled my tent, and I never even got to see it. I’ve had some close encounters with coyotes, but they always ran away.
Of all predators, coyotes are probably the ones most likely to endanger your pet, though I have heard that javelinas in Arizona can attack a dog. And keep in mind that your cats can be prime bait not just for coyotes and such, but also for flying predators like eagles and large owls.
Most wild animals are more afraid of and cautious of us than we are of them. Just be aware of your environment, protect your pet, and all will be fine—you can sit in your anti-gravity recliner, feet up, drinking a cold one, your pets nearby, while enjoying being what most critters consider the apex predator of the natural world.