CampHostJobsWild animals that get close to people, or get human food, become dangerous and are often destroyed. Keeping your distance protects you and the animal. These are the rules campers are expected to follow, and the ones hosts explain.
How far to stay back
| Animal | Canada (Parks Canada) | United States (National Park Service) |
|---|---|---|
| Bears, wolves, cougars, coyotes | At least 100 m (about 10 bus lengths) | At least 100 yards (91 m) from bears and wolves |
| Elk, deer, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, bison | At least 30 m (about 3 bus lengths) | At least 25 yards (23 m) from all other animals |
- These are minimums. If an animal changes what it is doing because of you, you are too close. Back away.
- Use binoculars or a zoom lens. Never approach for a photo or selfie.
- Never get between a mother and her young, or between an animal and its escape route or food.
- Provincial, territorial and state parks follow similar guidance. Follow posted rules where you are.
Never feed wildlife
- It is illegal to feed, entice or disturb wildlife in Canada's national parks, with fines up to $25,000. Feeding wildlife is also illegal in US national parks and many provincial, territorial and state parks.
- British Columbia's Wildlife Act makes it an offence to feed dangerous wildlife such as bears, cougars, coyotes and wolves, or to leave food or garbage that attracts them.
- This includes "small" feeding: squirrels, chipmunks, jays, foxes and deer. Fed animals lose their fear, bite, spread disease and draw predators into camp.
- A fed bear is often a dead bear. Bears that learn to get food from people are usually destroyed.
The bare campsite
A bare campsite has nothing that smells like food left out. Many parks in bear country require it, and some fine campers who leave attractants out.
- When you are not eating or cooking, store all food, coolers, dishes, pots, stoves, garbage, recycling, pet food and dishes, toiletries and scented items in a hard-sided vehicle with the windows closed, a bear locker, or a bear-resistant container.
- A soft-top vehicle, tent, tent trailer or truck bed is not secure storage.
- Wash dishes right after eating, and dump greywater in a sink or sani-station, not on the ground.
- Put garbage in bear-resistant bins right away. Do not leave bags at the site overnight.
- Burn nothing with food on it. Food scraps in the fire ring attract animals.
- Clean fish only at a fish cleaning station, or well away from camp as the campground directs.
- Keep bird feeders, hummingbird feeders and scented candles out of bear country.
Pets
- Keep dogs on a leash at all times. US national parks limit leashes to 6 feet (1.8 m). Many parks in both countries require a leash.
- A loose dog can bring an angry bear, moose or coyote back to you.
- Feed pets inside and store pet food like human food.
- Keep cats and small dogs inside at night where coyotes, cougars or owls hunt.
Wildlife on roads: no "wildlife jams"
- Do not stop in a travel lane to look at wildlife. Pull fully off the road where it is safe, or keep driving.
- Stay in your vehicle. Never get out near bears or bison.
- In Canada's mountain national parks, stopping along some roads near wildlife is banned at certain times of year. Follow posted signs.
Closures and warnings
- Parks close trails, campsites and whole campgrounds when bears or other animals are active nearby. Closures are the law in national parks and are enforced in most parks.
- Some areas allow only hard-sided camping units (no tents) during bear activity.
- Some trails require groups of four or more in bear season. Read trailhead signs.
Report wildlife problems
- Emergency (a person is hurt or in danger, or an animal is aggressive or will not leave): call 911.
- British Columbia: Conservation Officer Service, Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line 1-877-952-7277.
- Ontario: Bear Wise reporting line 1-866-514-2327 for bear problems that are not emergencies (April 1 to November 30).
- National parks: tell park staff or call the park's dispatch number posted at the campground.
- Elsewhere: the provincial or territorial conservation officer service, the state fish and wildlife agency, the park office or the campground operator.
- Report: what animal, where, when, what it did, and whether it got food.
If you are the host
- Greet new campers with the food storage rules. Most people leave food out because they do not know.
- Do evening rounds for coolers, food and garbage left out. Explain the rule. Report repeat problems to the operator or park staff, with the site number.
- Keep a wildlife log: date, time, place, animal and behaviour. Share it with the operator and wildlife officers.
- Post wildlife warnings on the board as soon as you get them, and warn tent campers directly.
- Do not try to chase off, trap or move a bear or cougar unless you are trained and asked to. Clear people away and report it.
- Keep your own host site bare. Campers copy what the host does.
← Wildlife where you workProtect yourself →
General safety information for campground hosts, workers and campers in Canada and the US, compiled by CampHostJobs from Parks Canada, the US National Park Service, provincial, territorial and state agencies, and public health sources, October 2026. It does not replace training or the rules where you are. Always follow your employer, park staff and local officials. In an emergency, call 911.