For us, the only difference in the security we feel in a house vs. the security we feel at camp is that we sometimes feel more vulnerable at camp. Yet, he feels perfectly safe at home, just as I feel perfectly safe at camp. There are lots of things to do to keep animals away, even if they approach, but it makes sense that our most vulnerable time is when we are sleeping, especially in a tent since there is little that separates us from the outside. It makes me look past the cheaper models that have reported issues with rusting out in about a year. The fresh air, the sounds of nature, bushwalks and the escape … Sometimes I truly envy those folks who can call up their pals and within minutes have a convoy of rock-crawlers ready to roll out for a weekend, each ready to assist when one of them rolls over and gets half-destroyed. Just because the danger is remote, it’s still important to take every sensible precaution.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'decideoutside_com-leader-2','ezslot_8',120,'0','0'])); You are more at risk for certain animals depending on where you are. For more detail specifically if snakes can harm you while in your tent, check out our article specifically on this subject here. Camping is a fun-filled activity, which will provide you with the perfect opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. However, even though the chances of a wild animal encounter are low, it’s important to take precautions to prevent any mishap. Children become more confident as they learn new things and have first-time experiences. Dont think a feeling will save you if danger comes your way. We’ve camped within earshot of a couple that spent the evening screaming at each other, there have been a handful of times that random people have strolled up on our camp (usually lost or asking questions about the area) and we’ve passed by one naked guy doing laundry outside his RV in the middle of the woods. If you see a bear or a cougar from a distance, consider moving your campsite and avoiding the situation. At camp, you could go from not seeing a soul, to some random couple on their ATV pulling right in to your living space. At camp, you could go from not seeing a soul, to some random couple on their ATV pulling right in to your living space. I've seen a guy blow a hole in his foot, and also the cops are way more likely to come when guns are … They pull up in your driveway and you know they’re about to come to your front door. We acquired a heavier-duty vehicle to better handle the camper weight and allow more back road/off the beaten path adventure, but even the prospect of trying to unleash the spare 20-inch wheel and tire to change a flat is daunting. One of the popular articles I have written is about this very subject. link to Can You Wash A Sleeping Bag With A Top-Loading Washing Machine? You should hike only during the day and observe proper behavior if you come in contact with one. We laughed. We have never felt unsafe at camp. Snakes are dangerous when provoked or frightened. Do you actually feel … From the Department Of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, 7000-8000 snakebites happen every year, with only 5-6 being fatal, bringing the probability of a fatal snakebite to 1 in 50 million. Click here for more details if you want to make some money on the side! This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Or…what some might view as a creeper is really some guy living out of his van because he’s fed up with conformity and has chosen to live a simple albeit different life. On Wikipedia, a list has been compiled for fatal bear attacks since the 1900s, bringing the total of these attacks to 73 for fatal attacks in the United States. Many RV owners enjoy the security that comes with motion detector lights. Avoid clothes that show a lot of … From my personal experience, camping is safer without guns. We’ve done this on a couple of occasions. If you're camping for the first time, you may be a little nervous about what to pack and how to prepare. Keeping safe while camping is most important. What we do know are some key numbers from the 2017 Camping Report by Outdoor Industry. If you are camping in the west, particularly the northwest, find out if you are going to be camping in bear country. For instance, they’ve fooled me in to believing someone was stalking our camp in the middle of the night when really it was the breeze causing our tarp to slightly ripple in the wind. The further we are away from cities, the safer I feel too. Follow your normal bedtime routine to … Coyotes are not typically a threat, but they can be alarming when they howl in the middle of the night. Drink safe water from the campground tap. check out our article that goes into detail on this subject. When you get into any outdoors activity, sometimes it's difficult to find answers that make sense for your situation. Don’t leave valuables at the tent door If your campsite is close to where others walk by, seeing an item, set away from the rest of your gear could be too much for someone with theft on their mind. http://www.truckcampermagazine.com/newbie-articles/personal-safety-for-truck-campers-part-2. We smiled and said “no”. If you want to see more detail about coyotes and whether they are a threat or not, check out our article that goes into detail on this subject.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'decideoutside_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_7',113,'0','0'])); This article is getting in tents, isn’t it? Rolling An Ankle. eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'decideoutside_com-leader-3','ezslot_9',115,'0','0'])); Poisonous snakes can be found in every state, but in some states, particularly Arizona and Texas, lead the US in numbers of species of poisonous snakes. As an experienced campervan and motorhome traveller, I will still admit to only being completely free of angst upon the return of the vehicle in one piece at the end of the hire. Camping is already fun, but sleeping without a tent can make it even more exciting and adventurous. In addition to following all of the above tips for hiking (they also apply to camping), here are some key things to remember before and during your 2018 summer camping … I think it’s more about being afraid of the unknown and stepping outside our comfort zone. Tents are not a proven deterrent against attacks from large wild animals such as bears or cougars. Choose your camping location carefully, and be sure to always set up camp during daylight hours. Under the same thought process as above, if we conservatively say that 500 people have been fatally attacked by a cougar since the 1900s, then the chances of being attacked and killed by a cougar for people who camp are smaller than .000000851%, or 1 in 117 million. More: Wild Animal Safety for … It can even be an excellent idea for a unique date with a loved one. Inside a house, someone can’t just drive in to your living room. A tent, however, serves as protection while you sleep from insects and snakes.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'decideoutside_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',107,'0','0'])); I’ve wondered this myself, many times, as I’ve been camping in the wilderness and decided to do some research to help answer the question. Is this a good area? How to keep you and your motorhome safe should be your primary priority, even if you are only hiring it. These data above does not take into account probability based location. So the most common answers to find an answer to whether you are safer inside a tent are mostly opinion based. Seeing wildlife is not the same as being attacked by wildlife. It’s also handy to have someone to keep an eye on your stuff while you’re away. DecideOutside.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The odds considering only the 18 noted above would be over 1 in 3 billion. My greatest fear is getting stranded somewhere with my truck camper broken or inextricably stuck off-road someplace I was ill-equipped to venture. Do you want to be close to a bathroom or bathhouse? http://www.nbcnews.com/id/38490599/ns/us_news-life/t/grizzly-bear-euthanized-after-triple-mauling/#.XMGcZehKg4k, https://www.deseretnews.com/article/665194630/Bear-blamed-for-boys-death-in-American-Fork-Canyon-is-killed.html, https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/article/grizzly-attacks-woman-gates-arctic-park/2008/08/29/, https://www.akfatal.net/Huffman%2006-25-05.htm, https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/05/27/Bear-kills-young-camper/6958675316800/, https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8K4yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-e4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1454,2744228&hl=en, https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mpAzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A4MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3689,5012369, https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TrASAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4vgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5165,1948896&dq=mary+pat+mahoney&hl=en, https://helenair.com/lifestyles/article_b0cc3914-5f13-11df-881e-001cc4c03286.html. I’d say the possibility of a bear or mountain lion encounter is the only thing that has ever put us on high alert. 17 April 2019; See and do; View comments ; Share: Be prepared on your next adventure in South Australia’s wild and wonderful national parks with these safety tips. Ideally, the branch should allow the pack to be 4 or more feet from the trunk, but this isn’t always possible. Snakes are typically encountered en route, and thus the best protection is to wear long pants (even though some bites this will not be enough) and to watch your feet. Remember that your chances of being attacked are worse than the chances of winning most lotteries. When in bear country, even the smell of food on your clothing increases your risk. This site is owned and operated by MindBuilders. Peter grew up going on long backpacking excursions with his family every Summer and now enjoys staying at the beautiful Texas State Parks and swimming in the amazing Texas Rivers. Click here for more details if you want to make some money on the side! The first question is to determine how many people should be a part of the numbers to calculate the risk of being attacked. Thanks again for bringing this important topic to your readers, too! Do you want to be close to other people or more secluded? Avoid getting intestinal infections by NOT drinking from rivers, lakes, streams. One defense mechanism is bear spray. We use the products we recommend and only recommend what we find useful and fun. Rolling an ankle can literally happen anywhere. Being in nature you’ll find out that a lot of little critters live out there, and they make a surprising amount of noise. If so, there are extra precautions you must take. Can You Hike With Jeans? Basic camping safety includes basic animal safety. Google’s My Maps Road Trip Routes and Tips. Part I However if you have no access to a tap, and you’re solely relying on Mother Nature for your fluid intake, make sure you treat the water with a water filtration system or treatment tablets. The more people in a group, the less likely an attack. If we only take into consideration the 73 recorded deaths, the probability is closer to 1 in 793 million of a fatal bear attack. Several of the accounts for those killed by snakebite involve people who pick up the snake up to either move or kill the snake. It’s completely understandable to feel nervous about camping. link to Can You Hike With Jeans? http://www.truckcampermagazine.com/newbie-articles/personal-safety-for-truck-campers-part-1, http://www.truckcampermagazine.com/newbie-articles/personal-safety-for-truck-campers-part-2, 10 elements to the perfect boondocking campsite | Two Happy Campers, Selling our house and buying a toy hauler, Why we chose a toy hauler for our next full-time RV, Embracing change & deciding to return to full-time RV living. Again, many of these fatalities did not involve camping at all–many of them were in areas where humans live where cougars were not expected.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'decideoutside_com-leader-1','ezslot_5',112,'0','0'])); According to Wikipedia, there have been an estimated 18 people killed by a cougar in the United States since the 1900s. It’s important to have sleeping bags, as they protect you from the cold weather, and also the insects and wasps … If a place feels creepy, leave. http://www.truckcampermagazine.com/newbie-articles/personal-safety-for-truck-campers-part-1, Part II Numbers don’t tell us everything, especially since we don’t have all the data. Do Animals Attack Tents? After all, it’s impossible to ask animals, and performing studies with people in tents vs. people out of tents for animal attacks would be completely unfeasible since attacks are so rare. In fact, just having a general safety plan as well as some general camping safety knowledge will go along way in keeping you and your family safe while camping. Have to break up the dry statistics talk. Many campers like to bring along their favorite adult beverage in a trusty flask. This was back when we first started camping and now I feel ridiculous for ever being concerned. Camp safety and staying safe while camping does not need to be a complicated endeavor. Let’s just avoid this situation. When camping,  if I had to choose between one form of protection and a first-aid kit, I’d choose the first aid kit, no question. My uncle that asked us about being scared when we camp, lives in LA, surrounded by millions of people. Copyright © 2020 Two Happy Campers | We love Divi by Elegant Themes. With that,  I say, stop worrying. While alcohol initially makes you drowsy, it interferes with your sleep during the latter half of the night. The idea of dropping $3-4,000 on a tranny or $8-10,000 on shot engine kind of sucks the joy out of a trip, at least for a fleeting moment. A motion detector light will detect … Check the weather. Hah. I can’t put in to words exactly why it didn’t feel right, but that is all we needed to move on. Making sure your food is away from you as you sleep is important wherever you camp to prevent varmints and other critters from getting into your pack, or more importantly, your tent. Do not shout, stress out, and/or get angry, because that won’t help you one bit. The spray is non-lethal and is thus safer for a camper to use on the animal, as well as around other humans. If you know who’s supposed to be in your area, it becomes easier to spot a stranger. It can also be difficult knowing how to remain safe during your trip. How to Stay Safe While Camping in 2018. Personal Safety in a Truck Camper But no matter what your preferred method of protection, make sure you know how to use it otherwise you’re just a danger to yourself and those around you. Among the best camping safety tips you can find concerning clothing is that you stick to thick long-sleeved clothes, long pants, and gloves if possible. You are not immune to danger from a cougar in a tent, but the chance of a fatal attack occurring is almost 0. Out of all of these recorded attacks, only 11 of these attacks were on campers within tents. Are there any suspicious characters around? This danger is minimal because snakes in North America can’t eat you, and thus normally don’t hunt humans. If you just have a bad feeling, leave. You're in the right place to find out! As we mostly travel solo (that is to say, not with a gaggle of like-minded friends with similar vehicles and a deep love of something beyond a professional sports arena or TV set), the concept of self-recovery often weighs on my mind. The most important rule? Children should be aware of their camping surroundings and shown things which may be new to them. Campfire safety is at the top of the list when it comes to staying safe while camping… Camping out in a tent during a storm can be uncomfortable if … Or, just in campgrounds too. Really, hurting yourself is the real danger. While the benefits of camping for adults also apply to young people, there are a number of benefits specific to younger campers. I don’t know for certain that I’m more safe in a house than at camp or vice versa but feeling as though we’re safe is a good start. (But See Why I don't Anymore). We’ve had the same experience also Caite. All of these deaths were not involved with camping–but most of them occurred in the wild.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'decideoutside_com-banner-1','ezslot_4',110,'0','0'])); Even if we are conservative, and say that there were 1000 fatal bear attacks and that these attacks each represent a day for a camper, then we can average these attacks for 100 years. As an example using the same data a bit more specific, using camping and fatal bear attack data only from the Mountain Region (Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico), and assuming that all regions camp for the same number of days, then the probability of a bear attack in the Mountain Region is 1 in 328 million.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'decideoutside_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_11',111,'0','0'])); Even considering location-specific risk, the probabilities for the highest occurrence locations are well beyond 1 in a million. 5 camping safety tips you should keep in mind and learn about before your next outdoor adventure. But no matter what your … Having purchased my truck used (although with only 25,000 miles on a diesel engine) I’m already in uncharted territory… I like to know what kind of wear and tear a vehicle had, and typically buy new and get rid of them when the warranty runs out. The following are articles with attacks involving tents. Here are five tips to help you stay safe while camping outdoors: Above all, stay aware of your surroundings. Their purpose is shelter from the elements…wind, dew, rain, snow (to a certain extent) and sun. Staying safe on the campsite It’s very rare to have an accident or safety-related incident on a campsite and we’d like to keep it that way. If you are in the West, particularly the Northwest, then bears are much more of a concern. Here are a few pointers to help keep you and your family safe while you’re on site. While you can wash a sleeping bag with a top-loading washing... We love camping, adventure, and being outside. Never approach a wild animal. Keep it orderly and near where you are most of the time. This means that for days people who go camping in a year, the chances of being attacked is less than 0000002.98%, or 1 in 58 million. Snakebite occurs much more commonly than other animal attacks because snakes habitats extend to rivers, construction zones, and backyards. Here are a few issues to be concerned about on your next adventure and some ways to stay safe while enjoying your camping trip. No camping trip will be fun if someone gets hurt! If so, there are extra precautions you must take. Do you feel safe here (or bringing your family here)? Fatal Wolf attacks are rarer than any of the other animals listed in this article. A tent is a great way to protect yourself, mentally, from the outside world. The probability of being attacked in a tent by a wild animal is extremely low. Having a winch sounds nice, but a $1,000 purchase makes me wince… especially one that will likely never get used before the warranty is up. The most scared I’ve ever been at camp has come from the voices in my own head. In terms of people, we have yet to come across any creepers. Weather can be unpredictable, but with modern technology, big storms can be somewhat anticipated ahead of time. This makes sense. Even with conservative estimates, the chances of being attacked by a bear at all are extremely unlikely. In my opinion, it’s just a matter of odds. Although against big animals a tent does not offer any protection, you are safe in a tent if you take the necessary precautions simply because animals fatally attacking people in the first place is very rare. Grizzly bears are typically described as more dangerous, but both have hurt or killed humans and thus need to be treated with respect. If you know who’s supposed to be in your area, it becomes easier to spot a stranger. If you are wilderness camping, a simple way to get your food away from your campsite and out of the reach of varmints and bigger animals is to tie your pack with the food and garbage and hang it up at least 10 feet above the ground. To have a safe and secure camping trip, make sure that your camping gear and amenities are full proof. Alaska and Montana being two states where many of the known fatal bear attacks have occurred. National Post, February 26, 2001.). Be extra cautious in locations with nooks and crannies, such as rocky locations, or in tall grass. Whether it’s a baseball bat, a bottle of mace, your mad tae-kwon-do skills, a mag light or a gun, some form of protection can help bring an added sense of security when camping. However, taking the proper wildlife precautions at camp can help lower that risk. We can look at the data to find how likely an attack in a tent is against the data about attacks in general. Generally speaking though, people camp to relax and get away from it all. Just because you see a dangerous animal does not mean they are a threat. Links to the Personal Safety in an RV are posted below. Preparation and knowledge are important in feeling safe–however, even if you are prepared, you may still feel dread and fear when camping. especially when we’ve been backpacking, the weirdest people encounters have been near a city. There are a few instances of fatal bear attacks for people within tents. Depending on the location, black bears or grizzly bears can predominate an area. Tents are not a guarantee of protection. Also a thread on Wander the West, that some of which was deleted by moderator when firearms were mentioned: http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/9425-camping-security/. We made this site to help others get outside and enjoy the planet! Family connections: Camping … therefore, earplugs give your mind peace and quiet while you sleep. Take reasonable precautions, and avoid fretting about the worst-case scenario. To enjoy the security that comes with motion detector lights readers,!! 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