Tips and Articles ► Rules of the Wild
Rules of the Wild
- Store all food and food-related items in a hard-sided vehicle/trailer/motor home (not in a tent or tent-trailer) when not in use, at night while you are sleeping or when your site is unattended for any length of time.
- Never leave any of these items unattended:
- Coolers
- Food - open/closed
- Garbage/wrappings
- Dishes/pots
- Pet food/bowls
- Bottles/cans
- Items associated with food preparation
- Use ropes instead of nails when stowing gear in trees.
- Clean up your campsite and ensure you take all of your garbage.
- Use all soaps at least 60 metres (200 ft.) from a water source and do not use soap in lakes.
- Build your fire only in a fire pit and ensure it is completely out.
- Be sure to purify drinking water by filtering, treating or boiling it.
- Be thoughtful of yourself, others and the environment.
- Bike and camp quietly to preserve the peace of the wilderness and to increase your chances of seeing wildlife.
- Respect the desire of other outdoor users for solitude.
- Respect all private property.
- Care for trees: Do not strip bark from trees or otherwise injure them. Trees are damaged when the bark is stripped, tarps are tied or fastened, or when nails are driven into them. Damaged trees are more likely to be destroyed by fungus or disease.
- Do not feed birdseed or liquid sugar to birds from late April through October.
- Watch for bear signs: tracks, droppings, turned-up stumps, and claw marks in trees. If possible, keep in the open and avoid bear-activity areas, especially berry patches and carcass remains.
- Never let children straggle behind or rush ahead.
- Do not use audio players with headsets, headphones or earbuds.
- Do not use cosmetics that emit strong fragrances.
- Avoid carrying and/or cooking highly odorous food.
- Beware of poisonous plants. Familiarize yourself with any dangerous plants that are common to the area. If you come into contact with a poisonous plant, immediately rinse the affected area with water and apply a soothing lotion such as calamine to the affected area.
- Watch out for bugs. Hornets, bees, wasps, and yellow jackets are a problem at many campsites. Avoid attracting stinging insects by wearing light-colored clothing and avoiding perfumes or colognes. Should such an insect approach, do not wave wildly and swat blindly - instead use a gentle pushing or brushing motion to deter them.