The world bursts back to life in spring. Snow melts, flowers bloom, and the air thrums with renewed energy. It’s not just plants waking up; wildlife is stirring too. After a long winter, animals are hungry, searching for mates, and establishing territories. This increased activity means the chances of encountering critters, big and small, rise significantly, whether you’re deep in the woods or just tending your backyard garden. While seeing wildlife can be a wonderful experience, unexpected close encounters can be stressful or even dangerous for both humans and animals. Understanding why animals are more active and taking simple precautions can help us share the landscape peacefully.
Why the Spring Surge in Activity?
Several factors contribute to the noticeable increase in wildlife movement during spring. Many animals are emerging from hibernation or periods of reduced winter activity. Think bears leaving their dens, groundhogs popping up, or reptiles seeking warmth. Their energy reserves are low, making finding food a top priority. They need to replenish fat stores lost over winter and fuel up for the demanding season ahead.
Spring is also the primary breeding season for a vast array of species. Animals are actively seeking mates, which often involves covering more ground and potentially entering areas they might usually avoid. Males might be competing for females, leading to more visible, sometimes aggressive, behavior. Soon after mating comes nesting and raising young. Parents become fiercely protective of their dens, nests, and offspring. A mother bear with cubs or a bird defending its nest can be particularly defensive if they perceive a threat.
Finally, as vegetation greens up, it provides both food and cover, encouraging animals to venture out. Young animals born in the spring are also beginning to explore their surroundings, sometimes clumsily or unpredictably, which can lead them into closer proximity with human environments.
Common Encounters and How to Avoid Them
While the specific animals you might encounter depend heavily on your location, some general principles apply across many regions. Awareness and prevention are your best tools.
Out and About: Hiking, Camping, and Exploring
When you venture into natural areas, remember you’re visiting the animals’ home. Making noise is one of the simplest and most effective ways to avoid surprising wildlife. Talk, sing, or clap your hands occasionally, especially in areas with dense vegetation or blind corners. This alerts animals to your presence, giving them a chance to move away peacefully. Most wildlife wants to avoid humans just as much as we want to avoid startling them.
Stay on marked trails. Trails concentrate human activity, and wildlife often learns to avoid these corridors during busy times. Bushwhacking increases your chances of stumbling upon an animal unexpectedly and can also damage sensitive habitats.
Keep a clean camp. Food odors are powerful attractants. Store all food, garbage, and scented items (like toothpaste or deodorant) securely, preferably in bear-resistant containers or canisters where required or recommended. Never leave food unattended, and pack out everything you pack in. Cooking areas should be located away from sleeping areas.
Never feed wildlife. It might seem harmless, but feeding animals teaches them to associate humans with food. This can lead to them becoming bolder, approaching people or campsites, and potentially becoming nuisances or even dangerous. Fed wildlife can lose their natural foraging skills and become dependent on unnatural food sources, which are often unhealthy for them.
Intentional feeding or leaving attractants unsecured is harmful to wildlife. It habituates animals to human presence, increasing the risk of conflict for both people and the animals themselves. Habituated animals often have to be relocated or euthanized. Always store food and trash securely.
Maintain a safe distance. If you are lucky enough to see wildlife, enjoy the moment from afar. Use binoculars or a zoom lens for a closer look. Never approach wild animals, especially if they have young. If an animal changes its behavior because of your presence – stops feeding, looks alarmed, moves away – you are too close. Back away slowly and give it space.
Be aware of your surroundings, especially at dawn and dusk. Many mammals are crepuscular, meaning they are most active during the twilight hours. Pay extra attention during these times.
Around Your Home: Coexisting in Shared Spaces
Wildlife encounters aren’t limited to wilderness areas. Suburbs and even urban environments provide habitat for many adaptable species like raccoons, deer, coyotes, and skunks.
Secure your garbage. This is perhaps the single most important step. Use sturdy bins with tight-fitting lids. If necessary, use bungee cords or store bins in a secure shed or garage until pickup day. Food scraps are a major lure for raccoons, bears, coyotes, and rodents.
Manage pet food. Feed pets indoors whenever possible. If you must feed outdoors, bring bowls in immediately after they finish eating, and certainly don’t leave food out overnight.
Rethink bird feeders. While enjoyable, bird feeders can attract more than just birds. Spilled seed attracts rodents, which in turn can attract predators like snakes or coyotes. In bear country, bird feeders (especially suet) can be a significant attractant. Consider taking feeders down during periods of high bear activity (spring and fall) or using spill-proof designs.
Seal entry points. Inspect your home, sheds, and garages for potential entry points. Seal gaps under eaves, around foundations, and cover vents with sturdy mesh to prevent animals like squirrels, raccoons, or bats from moving in to nest.
Maintain your yard. Trim dense vegetation near your house. Pick up fallen fruit from trees promptly. Secure compost piles or use enclosed composters. Remove potential den sites like brush piles or spaces under decks if you’re having issues (but check carefully for occupants first, especially in spring!).
Supervise pets. Keep dogs leashed when walking, even in familiar areas. Don’t let cats roam freely, for their own safety and that of local bird populations. Small pets can be seen as prey by coyotes or large raptors. Keep pets indoors at night.
On the Road: Driving Defensively
Vehicle collisions are a significant cause of wildlife mortality, especially in spring when animals are on the move. Be particularly cautious when driving at dawn and dusk. Scan the roadsides ahead, not just the road surface. Reduce your speed in areas known for wildlife crossings, often marked with yellow warning signs. Remember that if you see one deer cross, others are likely nearby. Be prepared to stop suddenly, but avoid swerving violently, which could cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
If You Do Have a Close Encounter
Even with precautions, close encounters can happen. The key is usually to stay calm.
Do not run. Running can trigger a chase response in predators.
Do not approach. Give the animal space and a clear escape route.
Make yourself known. Speak in a calm, firm voice.
Back away slowly. Avoid direct eye contact with some predators like cougars or coyotes, but keep the animal in sight.
Appear large. If an animal like a bear or cougar seems confrontational (which is rare), stand tall, wave your arms slowly, and make noise. If you are with others, stand close together.
Specific responses vary depending on the animal, so it’s wise to learn about the wildlife common in areas you frequent. However, the general rule is to avoid confrontation and allow the animal to move off on its own.
Embracing Peaceful Coexistence
Spring is a vibrant, dynamic time in the natural world. By understanding the needs and behaviours of our wild neighbours and taking sensible precautions, we can minimize unwanted encounters and foster a relationship of respect. Keeping attractants secure, maintaining a safe distance, and simply being aware of our surroundings allows us to enjoy the awakening of nature without putting ourselves or the animals at unnecessary risk. Sharing our spaces requires awareness and a little effort, but it ensures a safer and more harmonious spring for everyone.
