Nature Appreciation

HUMMINGBIRDS

DIY Hummingbird Nectar: 1 - 1/4 cup refined white sugar to 1 cup of water 2 - Slowly heat the solution for one to two minutes for slow fermentation and to help the sugar dissolve. 3 - Allow the solution to cool completely before filling feeders. DO NOT add food coloring or beet juice to make the water red. It is bad for the birds. If a red liquid is necessary, the natural coloring usually recommended is a few drops of raspberry, cherry, or cranberry juice.

SNAKES

There are more than 3,000 species of snakes on the planet and they're found everywhere except in Antarctica, Iceland, Ireland, Greenland, and New Zealand. About 600 species are venomous, and only about 200 (seven percent) are able to kill or significantly wound a human. In a thriving backyard or wooded wildlife habitat expect snakes to be around. You'll likely never see them, but if you do, it'll be only for a moment or two. They'll be just as startled at coming face to face with you! Let them slither away because a snake's primary method of confrontation is to avoid it. Unless you scare one by grabbing at or cornering it, it'll leave you alone. Although snakes like to be cool, they don't want to be too cold, so those that live in cold areas brumate (slight hibernation) in the winter. They start seeking a place to brumate in the Fall then, in the spring, males leave their den first, and the females follow later. In a survival situation, snakes may be edible. It's best to not consume poisonous ones so learning the species of snakes in your area can be very helpful. In any case the head, and about 3 more inches, should be removed and buried to prevent biting (especially with poisonous species). Resources: All about snakes Things That Attract Snakes to Your Yard + How to Fix Them Surviving on Reptiles and Amphibians

BEARS

Bear Safety: Seeing a bear in the wild is a special treat. While it is an exciting moment, it is important to remember that bears are wild and can be dangerous and their behavior is, sometimes, unpredictable. Although rare, attacks on humans have occurred, inflicting serious injuries and death. Following bear safety guidelines is the first step to avoiding an encounter with a bear that could escalate into an attack. Living With Bears Bearwise Tips

ESCAPE FROM DANGEROUS WILDLIFE

• Leave wildlife alone and avoid drawing their attention to you. Keep your distance if you see an animal. Never approach wild animals or attempt to feed them. If you encounter an animal, appreciate from a distance that you're getting to see them in their natural environment. Most wild animals are just as afraid of humans as you are of them, and they won't attack unless provoked.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Don't wear headphones or look down at your phone screen when you're walking through the forest. Keep your head up and pay attention to what's going on around you. You're less likely to startle a wild animal if you notice them from a distance first.
• Keep an eye out for animal tracks. If you see tracks, be on alert for nearby animals. If the tracks are heading in the same direction you're walking in, change directions or turn back.
• Remain calm if an animal notices you. Don't scream or make high-pitched noises. Avoid running away or you could trigger the animal to chase you. Calmly back away from the animal until it's out of sight.
• Don't bother baby animals. Never approach a baby animal in the wild, even if it appears to be alone. The baby animal's mother is likely nearby. Wild animals are more likely to attack if they perceive you as a threat to their babies. If you're really worried about a baby animal, leave the area and contact a park ranger or local official.
• Keep your food away from wild animals. Never feed animals in the wild. Don't litter food scraps in the forest or you could attract wild animals. If you eat something while you’re camping or hiking, pack any food scraps or trash in your backpack and carry it with you. You can also put food waste in a trash bag and tie the bag to a high tree branch.
• Stay on the trail when you're hiking. Look for trail markers so you don't accidentally wander off the trail. Wild animals are less likely to be on trails because of all the foot traffic.
• Be educated about native wildlife where you are located. Staying alert and being prepared will keep you safe in most encounters with wild forest animals.

BEAR (CRITTER) BAGS

• Hang the bear bag at least 200 feet downwind from camp
• At least 12 feet off the ground
• At least 6 feet away from the tree trunk
• Hang on a branch which cannot support the bear's weight (but, if the branch breaks, it's now bear food anyway)
• Put ALL scented items into the bear bag: That includes food, soap, toothpaste, dish soap, etc.

CAMP SITE SAFETY

RECYCLING

Recycling is a simple way every person can contribute to making a cleaner environment. But, surely, there must be more benefits of recycling than just reducing the amount of trash we throw out. It takes time and effort to collect, separate and send away the trash. But the fact is that there are many ways in which this process can save us money and time by repurposing, for our own use, things we use everyday; newspapers into fire bricks, aluminum cans and plastic bottles melted into tools, etc. Before you trash something, think first of how it can be reused for your own personal benefit. Resources: Re-Purposing Plastic Bottles for Home & Survival Tools Reuse of Aluminum Cans Make Fire Bricks from Junk Mail Ways to Re-Use Cardboard Boxes Unique and Useful Uses for Egg Shells Practical Uses for Spent Coffee Grounds Recycle Underwear & Clothes Composting Are Benefits of Recycling Worth All The Effort? Beverage Container Showdown: Plastic vs. Glass vs. Aluminum