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The purpose of this
page is so that first time campers can become educated on the potential
dangers of staying in a wilderness setting. It is not meant to scare you
away from the woods but rather to inform you of the habits of the
various animals that inhabit the backcountry of the Adirondacks.
It's a fact of life
that there are animals in the Adirondack Mountains.
But by people
taking simple precautions we can all share the wilderness.
It is up to all of us to
take precautions to avoid problems with them, NOT the other way around.
We are visiting their home.
Please be a good guest.
Bears are attracted to interesting
smells which in their mind means a potential for food. Every campsite in
the park has a bear-resistant box, for each shelter, in which you must
keep all "smellables." Smellables are items such as: Food, Toothpaste,
Deodorant, Moisturizers, and anything else we use that has a smell.
In addition to the food boxes there is one for garbage. Please make sure
you use both types of boxes at all times.
Raccoons are attracted to
the same things as Bears. So the best way to avoid problems with them is
to keep a clean campsite and use the Bear Boxes. They have been know
to travel in family groups on nightly foraging trips and are not quite
amongst themselves as they travel. Make sure to use the "Bear Boxes"
and keep pets or service animals restrained at all times.
Porcupines are not a
danger to people, if not disturbed, but they are attractive targets for
pets. Porcupines are attracted to salt and the most common problem is for
them to gnaw on buildings where people have left salt deposits from the
sweat on their hands. They are nocturnal by nature so chances are
you won't see one during the day unless it is asleep up in a tree. If you
see one just let it be and watch one of natures shy creatures in it's
natural home.
At night any of these animals may
pay a visit to your campsite as they pass by. So make sure to keep a
clean campsite and use the boxes provided to story your "smellables"
and there will be no cause for alarm. Smellables are any item that
may have a smell interesting to an animal: i.e. food, garbage, toothpaste,
deodorant, pots and pans, etc.
Here are a few
websites that are full of information on the animals you may encounter
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