Wildlife Safety for Families: What to Teach Kids Before You Head Outdoors

Seeing wild animals is one of the best parts of being outdoors with children. Serious incidents are uncommon, and most are avoidable with a few habits: keep your distance, never feed wildlife, stay together, and know what to do if you meet a large animal. This guide is written for parents and caregivers. Rules vary by place, so always follow the guidance of the park or land manager where you are.

The core rules for every family

1. Keep your distance. Use binoculars or a zoom lens instead of getting closer. If an animal changes its behavior because of you, you are too close.
2. Never feed wildlife. Fed animals can become aggressive and are more likely to be harmed or removed. This includes squirrels, birds at picnic sites, deer and ducks in parks.
3. Stay together. Keep small children within arm's reach and older children within sight on trails.
4. Store food properly. Follow local rules for food storage at campsites and picnic areas.
5. Leave baby animals alone. A fawn or fledgling on its own has usually not been abandoned.
6. Don't touch wildlife, dead or alive, and don't handle bats — contact local authorities if one is found indoors or someone may have been bitten.

Teach children what to do

Practice these at home like a fire drill, in simple words:

• "Stop, stay close, tell a grown-up." If they see a large animal, they stop, come to an adult, and don't run.
• "Be big, be loud" — only when an adult says so, for animals such as mountain lions and coyotes.
• "Look, don't touch" for snakes, insects, nests and baby animals.
• "If you're lost, hug a tree." Stay in one place, call out or blow a whistle, and wait to be found.

Large mammals

Bears

In bear country, follow the park's rules. General guidance from the National Park Service includes making noise on trails so you don't surprise a bear, hiking in groups, never approaching or feeding bears, and storing food securely. If you encounter a bear, stay calm, don't run, keep children close, and back away slowly. Carry bear spray where recommended and know how to use it.

Mountain lions (cougars) and coyotes

Encounters are rare. Common park guidance is to keep children close — pick up small children — not run, make yourself look larger, speak firmly and back away slowly while facing the animal. If attacked, fight back.

Moose, elk, deer and bison

These are not "gentle" animals. They can charge or kick, especially when with young or in the breeding season. Give them a wide berth and never get between a mother and her calf.

Snakes

Most snakes avoid people. Teach children never to touch or tease a snake, to watch where they put hands and feet, and to step back slowly if they see one. Stay on trails, and use a flashlight at night. If someone is bitten, keep them calm and still, remove tight items such as rings, and call emergency services right away. Don't cut the wound, suck out venom or apply ice or a tourniquet.

Ticks, insects and stings

• Wear long sleeves and long pants tucked into socks in tick habitat, and use an EPA-registered insect repellent following label directions for children.
• Do a full tick check on everyone after outings — including hair, behind ears and skin folds — and check pets.
• Remove attached ticks promptly with fine-tipped tweezers, pulling steadily upward, then clean the area.
• Know whether any family member has a sting allergy, and carry prescribed medication.

Water, weather and sun

Wildlife is rarely the biggest risk on a family outing; water, heat and cold more often are.

• Water: never leave children unsupervised near water. Use life jackets for boating and paddling, and check tides on coasts.
• Heat and sun: plan for shade, water, hats and sunscreen, and avoid the hottest part of the day.
• Cold and wet: pack spare layers; children chill faster than adults.
• Lightning: if you hear thunder, head for shelter.

For gentle first steps outdoors, see nature activities by age, and for respectful viewing habits that also keep you safe, read how to watch wildlife ethically.

References

• National Park Service — Staying Safe Around Bears
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Ticks
• HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics) — Choking Prevention
• Leave No Trace — The Seven Principles