Camping Animals Plants

Animals

Below are some animals that you may want to know about while camping.

You may encounter some of these animals, so always be aware of your surroundings!


Bear

This is one of the many animals you may encounter so here are some facts to learn.


Bear Cub

"Polar Bear Cub" by puliarf is licensed under CC BY 2.0


Tigers, Lions, and BEARS, oh my!


This bear may look harmless from a distance, but up close and personal, he is a ravenous, killing machine. Now you know why people say, "Don't poke a sleeping bear."


Size

Adult male black bears range from about four to six feet in length and weigh up to 660 pounds. Females also measure from four to six feet but weigh less between 100 and 200 pounds.


Food

Bears are omnivorous because they eat a variety of foods, including both plants and meat. Their diet mainly consists of roots, berries, meat, fish, insects, larvae, grass, and succulent plants.


Wolf

howling wolf

"Howling Wolf" by Fresian2006 is licensed under CC BY 2.0


Most people like to gaze up at the sky before they go too sleep and see it full of shining stars, but also understand that when camping, wolves may be up gazing up at the moon howling to let their presence be known.


Size

Adult wolves measure anywhere from four to six feet long and can weigh up to 170 pounds. Wolves weighing over 100 pounds are rare, but they can grow large in an ideal environment.


Food

Wolves are carnivores and prefer to eat large mammals including deer, elk, bison, and moose. They also hunt smaller mammals and rodents. Adult wolves can eat up to 20 pounds of meat in a single meal.

Communication

Wolves communicate through body language, scent marking, barking, growling, and howling.


Racoon

Image description

Size

A full grown adult male raccoon can weigh up to almost 40 pounds and measure as long as 3 from nose tip to tail end. Full grown female raccoons are slightly smaller than males. The largest raccoon on record weighed 50 pounds!


Food

Raccoons are omnivorous and opportunistic, eating food found easily within their habitats, or environments. Common foods include plants, insects, and small rodents. In urban areas, raccoons often scavenge through garbage for food.


Mosquito

Image description

When camping in the woods, mosquitos can be a nuisance. They are annoying and dangerous because some species carry diseases that can sicken or kill humans. Be sure to pack mosquito repellent when camping!



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