Wildlife Wisdom: Tips for Safe Animal Encounters in Utah (2024)

By Local Lexi Jul 15, 2022

From rattlesnakes to moose, there is always wildlife to be found in Utah. Learn how to stay safe during wildlife encounters with these tips and hints.

Wildlife Wisdom: Tips for Safe Animal Encounters in Utah (1)

With more users than ever setting out to enjoy Utah’s ravishing landscapes, it’s critically important to brush up on trail ethics, understand the rules of our watersheds, practice Leave No Trace principles and approach wildlife encounters respectfully.

This article doles out some specific wildlife safety tips and recommendations for hikers, bikers, leaf peepers, horseback riders and all those who care to partake of Utah’s glorious natural splendor. If you want to meet the critters and wildlife you may encounter in Utah, check out this article-click here.

Wildlife Wisdom: Tips for Safe Animal Encounters in Utah (2)

Nature’s organisms—be they plant or animal—all deserve our respect.
By keeping to established trails and eschewing the powerful temptation to pick wildflowers we can protect the former. This is important as erosion can quickly become a problem, especially in the fragile soils of our deserts. Pollinators rely heavily on our brief growing season and wildflowers should never be picked or trampled.

When it comes to critters, please follow the wisdom of keeping your distance. From the tiniest ground squirrel to the mighty moose, wildlife does best when observed and left undisturbed. With more and more humans filing into the backcountry, animals are experiencing an increasing number of encounters that prevent them from their life’s work of eating, sleeping, mating and caring for young. By keeping a respectful distance you not only keep yourself safe, but you also ensure the animal can continue to lead a long and healthy life free from human-induced stressors.

UTAH WILDLIFE TIPS

  • At the trailhead, always check the posted signs and warnings. Unusual wildlife activity is often noted with instructions or information about what to do and where the animal was last seen.
  • Don’t toss trash or uneaten food along the trail. Human food serves as an attractant and you can inadvertently habituate wildlife to a preference for human food, which can endanger their life. It’s simply good trail manners to pack out everything you packed in.
  • Don’t feed wildlife. Seriously. By doing so you interrupt a creature’s normal behavior and foraging habits which could eventually result in death or starvation. You also endanger yourself with the potential for an animal bite, scratch, or worse.

  • Observe wildlife from a distance and ensure they have an escape route. If animals feel threatened or crowded, especially ifoffspring are present, they will be more likely to attack or react suddenly. It may be necessary for an animal to move out of the way before you can continue on. If it’s impossible to go around the animal while providing a wide berth, it may be time to head home to hike another day.

    Wildlife Wisdom: Tips for Safe Animal Encounters in Utah (3)


  • Wildlife is most active around dawn or dusk. Keep your wits about you during these times and keep your head on a swivel.
  • If you encounter injured wildlife, leave it be. Injured animals can act in totally unpredictable ways and the best help you can give is by notifying local authorities upon your return.
  • While not always possible, it’s recommended to recreate with a companion. Your conversation will help to alert animals of your presence and it’s nice to have a rescue buddy handy in case of any emergency or accident.
  • Kids are unpredictable and one can never know how they might react to stumbling upon a mama moose while unchaperoned! For safety while hiking, educate your kids about wildlife encounters and keep them within sight or in a group if possible.

Wildlife Wisdom: Tips for Safe Animal Encounters in Utah (4)

  • When camping, your food management is vitally important to keeping you and wildlife safe. Keep food stored in airtight containers, out of sight, and secure in your vehicle when not in use. An animal may try to access food if it can be seen or smelled in your campsite. A bear-proof container is required for food storage and trash in habitats where bears are present. Ensure your food and trash is secure before bedding down for the night and don’t leave pet food or dishes outside. It’s best to not burn food or trash in your fire pit. Keep strong smelling food or toiletries at least 100 yards away from your tent.
  • Should you encounter a dead animal or carcass, it’s best to keep moving. Predators, with their keen sense of smell, could be lurking nearby or will be honing in on their next meal. They can often become territorial over a kill and this can foster a dangerous or lethal encounter for curious humans or dogs.


  • If you are bringing your dog out into nature, it should be well trained and either on a leash or under voice command depending on local regulations. Roaming dogs can chase, kill or injure wildlife and irresponsible dog owners can be fined and ticketed. In addition, countless dogs are injured by wildlife encounters every year. If you can’t control your dog around wildlife, then it’s best to enjoy the dog park!
  • Leave the backpack speakers at home. Not only can speakers startle or disturb animals, chances are the majority of folks you encounter on the trail didn’t sign up to attend your personal EDM set. We all get out into nature to detox from our devices and enjoy a little silence. We won’t be seeing much wildlife if Smashmouth is blaring out of your speakers. The same goes for earphones or earbuds, leave them at home. You can’t be alert to wildlife or other trail users if you’re zoned out in tuneland or catching your favorite podcast.

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  • We’ve got a healthy number of rattlesnakes in Utah, eight subspecies in fact. If you’re in snake country, avoid wearing open-toed shoes and be on alert for the loud and distinctive rattle of a perturbed reptile. Never stick your head, hands or toes down a dark hole or crevice. Always check carefully before sitting down and proceed with caution through long grass.

A great resource with additional info can be found at Wild Aware Utah - click here. You can learn about all of Utah’s wildlife and how to enjoy a safe encounter. Never leave your common sense behind when heading outdoors. If you maintain an attitude of respect toward wildlife and always give them a healthy buffer, you'll enjoy your day and return home without any horror stories.

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Wildlife Wisdom: Tips for Safe Animal Encounters in Utah (2024)

FAQs

Wildlife Wisdom: Tips for Safe Animal Encounters in Utah? ›

If you see a wild animal while you are out and about, resist the urge to look at them up close. Instead, stay a safe and respectful distance and remain calm and quiet. Don't allow dogs to bark at or otherwise harass wild animals, unless they need to defend you or themselves from an attack.

What should you do if you encounter a wild animal? ›

If you see a wild animal while you are out and about, resist the urge to look at them up close. Instead, stay a safe and respectful distance and remain calm and quiet. Don't allow dogs to bark at or otherwise harass wild animals, unless they need to defend you or themselves from an attack.

What are the animal safety tips? ›

Do not allow children to pull an animals fur, ears or tail, sit on them, taunt them or pet another person's pet without permission. Never approach or touch an unfamiliar or unfriendly animal. Never tease or threaten any animal. Call ahead and ask owners to restrain their pets.

How to survive animal encounters? ›

General Rules for Animal Encounters
  1. Don't get too close. Animals don't like it when you invade their territory.
  2. Don't feed them. ...
  3. Never touch an animal. ...
  4. Never attempt to interact with an animal. ...
  5. Avoid hiking at dawn or dusk. ...
  6. Properly store anything with a scent. ...
  7. Don't wear headphones. ...
  8. Make noise.
Oct 25, 2020

What to do if a wild animal is chasing you? ›

Remain calm and avoid running away from an animal. Unexpected movements can frighten animals and make them feel threatened, increasing the likelihood of an attack. Maintain your distance. The majority of wild animals will not attack unless provoked or threatened in some way.

What to do if a bobcat approaches you? ›

Give the bobcat space and back away slowly. Do not crouch or turn your back. Let the bobcat know you are there by talking to it or making noise. At this point, the bobcat will likely move away.

What is the 3 3 3 rule for animals? ›

The 3-3-3 rule is a guideline for transitioning a rescue dog into its new home and helping it to settle in. It suggests that the first three days should be used for adjusting to its new surroundings, the next three weeks for training and bonding, and the first three months for continued socialization and training.

What are the 5 guidelines for seeing wild animals? ›

  • Avoid Places Where You Can Touch Animals.
  • Be Wary of Places that ALWAYS Have Babies.
  • Avoid Places that Feed Wild Animals.
  • Give Animals Their Space.
  • Look for Rules.
Jan 16, 2019

What are 3 safety precautions do you take around animals? ›

When it comes to safely handling animals on your farm, be sure your child follows this checklist of 7 precautions when doing their daily chores:
  • Be calm, move slowly, and avoid loud noises.
  • Wear steel toed shoes.
  • Avoid the hind legs of animals.
  • Approach large animals at the shoulder.
  • Avoid animals with babies.

How do you self defense in a wildlife encounter? ›

You can hold your hands over your head, spread your coat, and use big sticks. Be loud, throw rocks and other objects, and show it you're not going to retreat without a fight. If all of this fails and it approaches, use self-protection devices such as our S.W.A.T. Pen or S.W.A.T.

How do you not get attacked by wild animals? ›

Use Common Sense in the Backcountry

Be aware of what's around you, what kind of animals you are likely to encounter, and the danger they pose. Avoidance is the best defense, so keep your distance. Take Steps to Prevent Attracting Wildlife into Camp: Keep a clean camp.

What is the best way to protect wildlife? ›

Tips for Protecting Wildlife
  1. Stay Away from Nests. Nesting birds, particularly loons, herons, and eagles, are sensitive to disturbance from people. ...
  2. Wildlife Doesn't Need “Saving” ...
  3. Maintain a Safe Distance. ...
  4. Don't Feed Wildlife. ...
  5. Keep Pets on a Leash. ...
  6. Leave No Trace. ...
  7. Share Wildlife with All Users. ...
  8. Give Wildlife Some Space.

How to keep safe from animals? ›

Keeping these tips in mind will help you if you or your family encounter a strange animal:
  1. Stay a safe distance away from all unfamiliar animals, even if they seem friendly.
  2. Do not corner an animal. ...
  3. If you are bitten by an animal, try to keep track of it. ...
  4. Don't leave garbage or pet food outside.

What scares wild animals away? ›

The most effective deterrence for any wild animal is human presence, it is essential people do not let wild animals intimidate them, loud noises, bright lights, and hoses are excellent methods for deterrence because they keep humans at a safe distance but still scare the animals off.

How do you scare off a wild animal? ›

The most effective deterrence for any wild animal is human presence, it is essential people do not let wild animals intimidate them, loud noises, bright lights, and hoses are excellent methods for deterrence because they keep humans at a safe distance but still scare the animals off.

Should you touch wild animals? ›

Keep Wildlife Safe and Healthy. Touching wildlife can be fatal for the animal and can have legal consequences. Remember, wildlife are wild! They are more than capable of defending themselves with their teeth, claws, sheer size, or toxins.

What to do if a wild animal is in your yard? ›

If wildlife such as coyotes, deer or foxes do appear in the yard, the best option for a peaceful encounter is to give them space. When met by people, most wild animals, if not habituated to humans, will either escape the imminent danger humans pose or hunker down to hide until the coast is clear for them to leave.

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