There’s a great deal to understand when it comes to how different animals react to campfires and humans. Continue on and you’ll learn more about this as well as how to keep animals away from your campsite and what to do if they get too close, anyway.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In short, no. A campfire sitting in your camp alone won’t have much of an effect on nearby animals<\/strong>. What does frighten animals away is that campfires typically come with humans. We are the most frightening aspect of campfires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because of this, many animals will try their best to stay away from both the fire and the humans around it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A campfire by itself doesn’t have much of an effect on bears. However, campfires as closely associated with people<\/strong>, as there aren’t any animals in the woods who can purposefully start a campfire. This is what will often scare bears away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bears don’t want to be around humans<\/strong>. We’re dangerous, loud and scary. For the most part, visiting your camp won’t be on the agenda of a bear. That said, this may change if your campsite is full of delicious smells. Fires that are being used to cook food can be more appealing to bears. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The fire itself won’t scare bears away, but humans often can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This isn’t always the case.<\/strong> As I’ve scoured forums and other people’s experiences, there was one anecdote in particular where bears came right up to a campfire even with humans present and ate the food (the humans cordially allowed the bears to take what they wanted). In areas where bears have been acclimated to humans, you aren’t guaranteed to scare away bears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bears are also attracted to sweets– if you’re in serious bear country, you might consider leaving any strong sweets behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Much like bears, cougars don’t want to be anywhere near humans. They will generally stay away from areas where they hear or see human presence. This can include campfires, but there is no evidence that cougars are scared of campfires by themselves. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s worth keeping in mind that we know what the cougar is afraid of<\/strong>. They may not like it, but a campfire will not chase or shoot at a cougar. It’s humans they would rather stay away from. The most likely time a cougar may come near is if they are ill or desperate.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, young children and people solo are more attractive to cougars–the concept of safety in numbers is hugely important for cougars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do Cougars Attack Tents? <\/strong>I actually wrote more about this subject and found some interesting data that might surprise you. Check it out here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Both wolves and coyotes can fall into the same category as most other predators. Unless they can smell something delicious coming from your campsite, they would prefer to avoid humans.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Coyotes, in particular, may take some interest in your camp if you have a smaller pet with you<\/strong>. To learn more about keeping coyotes out of your site (and your tent), take a look at our article<\/strong> on the subject here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s a wise idea to avoid using your fire for cooking if you’re concerned about predators coming near<\/strong>. Furthermore, sticking to meats that have minimal smell is a good idea. Options like jerky will be less likely to entice nearby wolves or coyotes than cooking a juicy steak over the fire or on a grill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Snakes have little concern when it comes to fire. There can even be cases in which snakes might be interested in the warmth it provides<\/strong>. This situation is rare, at least while there are humans around the fire. Snakes don’t typically want to spend a lot of time near people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On top of that, a fire isn’t nearly as comfortable as a cozy boot or the bottom of a sleeping bag. You’ll definitely want to be more careful about where you put your feet or hands when it comes to snakes, the fire isn’t something that is going to keep them away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure your tents are zipped up completely when leaving them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most varmints won’t want to come near fire or humans, but this can be a case in which some animals might see the fire as a welcoming sight. Campers sometimes feed the smaller critters like squirrels and raccoons.<\/strong> If the animals in the area are used to this, they might connect the campfire to the possibility of human visitors and therefore human treats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Campfires can be both a repellent and an attractive feature for bugs<\/strong>. It really depends on the bug. It’s certainly true that the smoke can keep plenty of bugs from wanting to get near, others might like the light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still, some bugs may not even seem to care, especially if there are tasty humans to be snacking on. Unlike most animals, we are seen as food to some insects, such as mosquitoes<\/strong>. This creates more of a problem when trying to avoid them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A campfire can be a small help, but you will definitely need other repellents to assist in keeping bugs away from you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I’d heard for years that campfire smoke keeps away mosquitoes<\/strong>. After my last trip to the High Uinta mountains, I have concluded that to be completely untrue<\/strong>. I remember vividly holding my breath and closing my eyes AND batting away mosquitoes when the campfire smoke came my way. The mosquitoes were completely unaffected by the smoke. They were still swarming my face no matter how smoky the fire was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What makes a campfire frightening to some animals might make it appealing to others. In short, the presence of a campfire often suggests the presence of humans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These animals might be interested in a campfire rather than deterred by it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The American Veterinary Medical Association<\/a> offers some information on rabies to help you to recognize when animals may have it and what to do if you believe an animal is suffering from the illness.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Keeping animals away from your site typically means making your site as boring as possible to them<\/strong>. Typically, that includes making sure there is no food for them to find – not even a crumb. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet food is just the start! Below, you’ll find what you should avoid, what you should do and what repellents are known to work against wild animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If there’s one thing that will draw animals to your campsite, it’s food. Even animals that may not be interested in your food will likely be interested in the critters who do want to share your snacks. Smaller critters like mice and squirrels may not be frightening, but they will draw in larger predators.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s also worth keeping in mind that even if you may not be able to smell your food, there’s a good chance animals may still be able to. Many animals out there, including wolves and bears, have a much greater ability to smell than we do.<\/strong> Consequently, it’s important to keep the smell of your food to an absolute minimum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When cute animals come sniffing around your camp, it can be extremely tempting to feed them and make friends. After all, who doesn’t want to release their inner Disney princess? However, remember that it can bring forth a world of problems.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n To begin with, animals that are fed by humans become more accustomed to them. Although it might be cute to have a squirrel sitting in your lap or to share a meal with a curious raccoon, it does make them more prone to danger from humans who may not be as kind<\/strong>. This is especially true if the animals become brave enough to go digging through human food without being invited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On top of that, smaller, cuter animals will inevitably be followed by predators seeking to hunt them<\/strong>. Squirrels and lizards may invite snakes to your camp, and other small animals may invite bears, coyotes, and cougars<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s better just to keep your food to yourself and avoid this issue altogether. I promise you that those cute squirrels won’t starve if you don’t share your Cheetos.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the campfire for cooking is often part of the tradition. However, it may not be the best idea if you’re camping where animals might be a problem<\/strong>. If you have concerns about bears or other predators or are camping in a particularly secluded space, you may want to just avoid it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reason for this is that the smell of the cooking food will spread throughout the area, drawing in any hungry animal nearby.<\/strong> Cooking any kind of sweets or meat will call out to larger predators and anything else is likely to interest other animals. As we’ve already discussed, those other animals are also likely to interest predators. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Rocks, fallen wood and debris are prime places for venomous creatures to hide. Snakes, spiders, and scorpions will all find these materials to be great hiding spaces when they aren’t on the move.<\/strong> You’ll be safer if you camp away from these places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you avoid bothering with the debris, then there’s a decent chance any snakes hanging out in there will leave you alone. However, they might decide that your sleeping bag or shoes seem like a cozier space.<\/strong> Other critters, like spiders and scorpions, are likely to be a lot less concerned about coming into your space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I can attest to this.<\/strong> Me and my friends were sleeping on the ground (it was the Summertime in the desert) and one of us awoke and found scorpions around his sleeping bag. <\/strong>Be careful about sleeping out in the open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don’t camp near debris and you’ll be a much happier (and less bitten) camper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the vast majority of cases, animals don’t want to bother you if you don’t bother them. Most who see you won’t want to come near you. As a human, your presence is likely to send nearly any animal heading for the hills.<\/strong> If you stick to your own space, the rest will often resolve itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, if you start making animals feel threatened, it can get messy very quickly. Even animals that may normally seem docile will get violent if they feel they need to fight for their lives. Don’t try to trap or catch animals in the area. Leave them be and they’ll go about their own business.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Keeping food away from you (and ideally where animals can’t get to it) is key to keeping animals away from your site. If there’s nothing there for them to eat, there’s often no reason for them to be there. Even if they can smell the food, they’re likely to get bored and leave as soon as they realize it’s too much trouble to get to.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For this purpose, you can tie up your food in a tree or make use of specialized locking containers.<\/strong> Bear canisters<\/strong> are one of the best choices campers use when they know they’ll be camping in bear country. These containers are made to be extremely difficult to get into, resulting in a whole lot of energy and time wasted for any bear trying to get into it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some may even use their car as a place to store food. While this can sometimes be a useful method, it’s worth understanding whether or not bears can still get into it<\/strong>. Take a look at our article<\/strong>, “Can a Bear Break a Car Window?<\/a>” to learn more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tying up your food<\/strong> is a good second-option if you don’t have a bear canister. In highly visited areas sometimes this method is banned because bears and other creatures have figured it out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Keeping food away from the animals also means cleaning up any food garbage you end up making when you eat. Things like wrappers, boxes, cans and anything else that may have even a single crumb of food in it can interest the nose of any critter that happens to be near.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure that you carefully bag up any garbage you create. Use two garbage bags for extra protection and store the bag in another tree, in your vehicle or in a locking container of its own.<\/strong> The better you keep up with the garbage, the less you’ll have to worry about animals and the easier it will be to clean up when it’s time to head home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you go to sleep at night, make sure that you check around your tent and in your sleeping bag for any critters that may have decided to snuggle up. Snakes may find this to be a prime location for hiding out, and can you really blame them?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another place snakes like to curl up is in your shoes.<\/strong> Just imagine how cozy a pair of boots must seem when they’ve just been taken off. It’s definitely a place a snake would rather hang out than the cold ground. Before you put your shoes back on in the morning, make sure to take a look inside them and carefully clear out any slithering friends you might find inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To begin with, consider all the things that could go wrong while camping and pack along anything that might assist you in those situations. Things like air horns, whistles, or bear spray that might help you to fight back in the event that an animal does attack.<\/strong> It’s incredibly unlikely, but not an impossible prospect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s also worth keeping in mind that even if you have all the tools you need, something can always go wrong. Because of this, it’s important to make sure you have a plan for animal attacks, venomous bites or stings, accidents and other problems that might pop up out in the wilderness.<\/strong> The more prepared you are, the easier these issues will be to get through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A big part of preparing for your camping trip should include packing along a first aid kit. This kit should include everything you might need to provide basic assistance for cuts, breaks, bites, illness and any other accident that may occur while you’re out in nature.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In many cases, you aren’t likely to be very close to a hospital while you’re camping. Consequently, the more you have in your first aid kit, the better chances you have of making it to a hospital <\/strong>if something should happen. That said, keep in mind that it’s typically unlikely you’ll succumb to anything more than a scrape or strain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regardless, preparation is something that can provide comfort when it isn’t needed and life-saving assistance when it is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to know how likely it is to face a dangerous scenario like this, check out our article here that talks about what is most dangerous while camping<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More often than not, animals will steer clear of humans they know are around. Even though we may fear many other animals out in nature, we are still one of the most dangerous creatures on the planet. If you give animals a little bit of help by making it obvious you’re a human taking up space outside, it’s much more likely they won’t bother to come near you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’ve run into a situation where animals like bears are nearby or perhaps a cougar, the best thing to do is relocate. You really don’t want to deal with an incident. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If that’s not an option, talk, sing, and be obvious. <\/strong>This is going to be most important if you’re camping out in the wilderness rather than in a well-established campground. This is one instance when you shouldn’t feel shy about talking to yourself. I hate the thought of disturbing the quiet of the planet, but if you’re safety is in question that’s the best thing to do (besides moving).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Different kinds of animals are going to be more prevalent in different kinds of areas. Before heading out on a camping trip, most of us already do some research to check out the weather. Go ahead and take a look into what animals are in that area too!<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n That way, you can adapt your plans to protect yourself from the kinds of creatures that are in the area. It won’t do you any good to worry about rattlesnakes if you aren’t camping in a place they tend to live. Furthermore, take a look into whether any notable encounters between humans and wild animals have occurred in the area<\/strong>. With that knowledge, you’ll have a better idea about what to watch out for and how to avoid trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, many parks have posted information about bears and how to avoid them. Several national parks have requirements of bear canisters–make sure to look ahead before visiting.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We’ve covered the smell of food and food garbage pretty thoroughly already, but there are other smells worth keeping in mind when it comes to keeping animals away. These can include the scent of your hygiene products and any waste that may need to make its way into the environment.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re camping in a place without bathrooms, make sure to travel a ways away from your campsite to use the restroom. Then, bury your bathroom spot carefully to cover up any smells that animals might be interested in.<\/strong> If you’re using anything that isn’t completely biodegradable, make sure to bag it up and throw it away appropriately as soon as you can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For those who need to know more about keeping animals away, take a look at our detailed article on keeping animals away from your tent here<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If talking and singing to yourself all day long is just too much effort, or you run out of things to say, then bringing along a friend is one of the best ways to protect yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of my favorite experiences have been hiking up in the mountains in deep conversation with my family. Not only is the conversation a great diversion, but it also offers protection for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some scents have proven themselves to be highly useful in keeping different kinds of animals away. The most obvious of these include insect repellents like DEET.<\/strong> (on a side note, if you’re interested in finding insect repellents that are natural, check out our article here that shows over 30 different options.<\/a>) However, many might wonder if there are any repellents that might work well for keeping larger animals away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many animals greatly dislike the smells of ammonia, bleach and other kinds of cleaners.<\/strong> The scents of these things can be quite annoying to us, so it only makes sense that animals with a much more intense sense of smell won’t enjoy them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s not super practical to carry ammonia up with you on a backpacking trip, but in a well established campsite that has problems with animals, this is an option. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some may also choose to use predator scents, such as the urine of foxes, bobcats or other creatures<\/strong>. These can work decently well for smaller creatures, but you may want to be wary of drawing in other animals of the same species, or animals that might want to hunt them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While this is generally considered to be more of a tool for defense than a repellent, it’s definitely worth noting here. Bear spray is the safest way to confront a bear if there is no other option.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind that it is not<\/strong> recommended that you approach the bear to spray them. Bear pepper spray is a last line of defense<\/strong> to use when the bear is coming too close and seems to be making an attempt to harm you. For peace of mind, this is a tool worth having around if only to feel safer in bear country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you camp often, there’s always the chance that you might find some kind of animal in your camp. The good news is that most of the time those animals are squirrels, raccoons or other small animals that are just interested in the food you may have to offer them.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n That said, it’s important to make sure you know how to react to just about any animal that may end up near you in the wild.<\/strong> You never know when a bear or cougar might be in the area, and this information can help to save your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most important things to note about bears is that not all bears will react the same way to your attempts to scare them away. Black bears and brown bears will behave differently, which makes sense because there is such a large difference in their sizes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/campfire-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDoes a Campfire Actually Work to Keep Animals Away?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Does a Fire Keep Bears Away?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Momma](\"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/bears-at-night-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAre Cougars Scared Of Fires?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"cougar](\"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/cougar-sil-723x1024.jpg\")
<\/picture>Do Fires Scare Away Wolves or Coyotes?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Do Fires Scare Away Snakes?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/coral_snake_highlighted-1024x630.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDo Fires Keep Away Varmints Such As Racoons, Other Critters, Etc?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Does a Campfire Keep Away Bugs?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What Animals Might Be Attracted To a Campfire and Why<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Do You Keep Animals Away From Camping Spaces?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Things To Avoid<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Leaving Food Out<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Feeding Animals<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Cook On The Campfire<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Camp Near Rocks and Debris<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Corner Or Attack Animals<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Things To Do<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Use Locking Containers Or Tie Up Food<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Keep Your Site Clean<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Check Your Sleeping Bag and Shoes<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Be Prepared With Gear<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Bring a First Aid Kit<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Get Loud<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Know The Area<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Keep The Smell Down<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Proven Deterrents<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Friends<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Scents<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Bear Spray<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
What To Do If a Wild Animal Approaches You<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Bears<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Black Bears<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/coyote-1024x686.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n