Camping safety?

**deafdave3** · January 20th, 2008 08:42 AM

Hey, can anyone tell me a little something about camping safety? I've often wondered... if I go to a state park or a state natural area, pitch the tent and set up everything else, is it safe from burglars or looters or even animals? What if (and this is my main concern) I leave my site to go sight seeing or hiking or fishing, etc? Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to keep tent and equipment safe during these activities?

David

**Turn Key** · January 20th, 2008 10:51 AM

Hi Dave,

There really is little you can do to keep your site safe from "2-legged" vermon but in all the years we've camped, I don't recall it ever being an issue. I wouldn't leave real valuables laying around but your generel camping equipment should be fine for the most part.

"4-legged" critters are a different issue. Many of our state parks have a large population of racoons and they tend to be opportunistic and very bold. Have had to run them out of camp more then once. Had one take a loaf of bread out of DW's hand one time at Tyler SP. She was walking back from the truck and the little bugger just came up behind her and snatched it. Have had them open coolers and they have been known to enter RV's, given the right lure and opportunity. Make sure your food is secure, best inside a closed vehicle. 'Coons are fun to watch but they are great little thieves, as well.

Hope this helps a bit and let me know if I can help further.

Happy Camping!

**4everfrio** · January 20th, 2008 10:57 AM

I have never had a problem with my things walking off. My family mainly camps in state parks and the neighbors have been good, so far. Animals will give you problems if food is left out. Squirrels, birds, skunks, armadillos, etc. get hungry too. In camp, we keep things that are important, out of sight and zipped up in the tent. Some people have lost a cooler or two, I believe, to kids looking for beer. Nothing major, just a few night owls looking for some fun. There are good people out there, don't let the few bad apples hold you back. Get out there and have fun!

**Shannon** · January 20th, 2008 11:23 AM

We've never had a problem. Just like anywhere else you might go for an overnight stay, don't advertise your valuables and lock your vehicle, and generally you'll be fine. Someone has to be pretty inebriated or pretty bold to go to a stranger's zipped up tent--there's no telling if they're asleep in there, or not, after all. So anything we might miss stays on our person, locked in our vehicle, or zipped up in the tent (least valuable, most easily replaceable items).

Funny story about animals, though. When we camped in Big Bend National Park, we passed a campsite that was literally being ATTACKED by several vultures. They were on the picnic table, cooler and ground, picking through all the foodstuffs the campers (not at the site, at the time) had left in a large crate on the table. Bread, etc. was all getting picked through. Several of us tried to shoo off the vultures, but they looked at everyone with a shrug--they had no intention of leaving.

Same camping trip, the park staff advised tent campers to unpitch and unzip their tents anytime they weren't in them to discourage critters (coyotes? javelina? raccoons? I can't remember if they specified what the primary marauder was) from RIPPING into tents to scout and score goodies. We were in a rental tent camper at the time, so it wasn't an issue for us, but it was funny seeing all the flattened tents during the daytime hours when folks were out hiking and enjoying the parklands.

**Motorman355** · January 20th, 2008 10:05 PM

I would like to throw in this question here in regards to backpacking. If I was a thief I would break into cars at trailheads. The owners would be far off and would not know anything happened until the fateful return.

Is breakins a problem for overnight hikers?

**Troop198** · January 21st, 2008 11:19 AM

Your asking good questions. Just be smart when camping and backpacking. Try not to leave things or gear out. If they want your gear they will take it or in case of animals will get in it. Reading articles and combining information. some interesting facts are out there. Over 25 million people visit state parks every year. On average there are
25,000 trouble reports. And those include loose pets, loud noise, and domestic disputes. the number one cause of injury was snowmobile accidents. Domestic disputes occur more than theft.

Your more likely to get biten by ticks or spiders or fall and hurt yourself than almost anything else. (Which is why if you do a search on camping safety, first aid is usually up there in the information)

We have hiked from the car in a number of states and just don't leave things out. Be aware of your surroundings while parking and hiking. (We were more worried about bears in the smoky's and snakes in Texas, than thieft.)

Now go out and enjoy nature :cool:

**JohnK** · January 21st, 2008 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by Motorman355

I would like to throw in this question here in regards to backpacking. If I was a thief I would break into cars at trailheads. The owners would be far off and would not know anything happened until the fateful return.

Is breakins a problem for overnight hikers?

I've never had any problems with break-ins or theft, either of my vehicle left at the trailhead or of my campsite left unattended for prolonged day hikes. Perhaps folks who love and respect nature also respect their fellowman; so, proportionately speaking, there's a lower percentage of scumbags frequenting our state and national parks. I agree though that it is wise to not take chances though; so, I do not leave anything all that valuable in the vehicle and things that are left behind are well camouflaged or hidden.

With regard to reducing critter break-ins at the campsite, when backpacking, if I leave a campsite set up to go out on a day hike, I take all food, scented personal care products (deodorant, etc.) and trash items and suspend them in stuffsacks with rope thrown over tree limbs. So far, that has worked well for me. I suspect some raccoons might be able to figure out a work-around, but, so far, so good. I zip up my tent and never have had an animal break-in.

JohnK

**ploddinTod** · January 21st, 2008 02:17 PM

Let's jump into the mind of a thief for a sec.
What are you really going to get of value from a car that's parked at a camping area or a hiking trailhead? Maybe a extra piece or two of camping equipment. Big deal!

Might as well steal the whole vehicle, if he's going to that much trouble. :thumbsdown:

I've been on muti-day backpacking trips in the hills of Arkansas, to return to my car with nary a problem. :thumbsup: (Not even any banjos strumming in the background. :laugh

**campermom** · January 21st, 2008 10:02 PM

Never say never. Ok, SO FAR, I've not had any problems.
Most campers respect other people's things.
We're in a Walmart tent, who would want our stuff? ( you might be a red neck if...)
There shouldn't be anyone around if everyone is out during the day enjoying the park.
The fear of having things stolen is the perfect reason to leave your dang radio and tv at home. ( an so we can have some peace and quiet.)

We've had a fully set up site and gone from sun up to midnight for day trips. Balmorhea to Carlsbad, Balmorhea to Big Bend, South Llano to Fort McKavet, and Inks to Enchanted with no problems.

Oh my gosh, I totally forgot, we did have an incident. While swimming at Inks, someone STOLE, in broad day light, my son's POOL NOODLE! It was devastating, there were many tears shed over the loss of the noodle, until I handed him mine and things were fine again. ( I got to tread water the rest of the day).

As others have stated, leave the really fancy stuff at home, the good stuff locked up, out of site, and this includes the food and beer. Who wants to worry about that stuff, you should be worried about more important things like what number spf you have chosen for the day or hot dog vs. hamburger. Don't worry, be happy.

**Element** · January 22nd, 2008 08:47 AM

I've never had a problem with vandalism while camping and hope I never do.
I did though have a problem with a pesky racoon once. He opened our ice chest and went throgh everything, eventually settling on taking our bait. I was worried the coon would come into my tent since the part of the tent where the zippers come together didn't quite meet, so I stuffed a sock in the hole. The next morning my sock was GONE! Little theif!:mad:

**JanetJ** · January 23rd, 2008 12:21 PM

LOL! Element...I can't believe it took your sock!

I have never had any problem with the exception of having firewood come up missing but, nothing else. Every camp ground I have been to was full of families and park rangers so I never have felt uneasy about leaving things behind.

Now the animals...that's a different story. I think everyone has lost food to a few of the critters. Beware of the racoons at Brazos Bend! I think those are some of the most mischeivous racoons I have ever seen...

**Element** · January 23rd, 2008 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by JanetJ

LOL! Element...I can't believe it took your sock!

Beware of the racoons at Brazos Bend! I think those are some of the most mischeivous racoons I have ever seen...

Yes you are correct.. It was a Brazos Bend theiving coon!

**srds** · January 23rd, 2008 01:36 PM

Never had a problem with anything missing,but did have racoons at Inks Lake break into ice chest a couple of times.

srds :cool:
Have Fun

**honeask** · January 23rd, 2008 04:38 PM

We tent or shelter camp and have never really had a problem. We put our bikes near our tent at night time and during the day we have them with us most times. We did have some young boys take our firewood (we brought from home) but we talked to the dads and they gave it back fast! They didn't like us the rest of our stay but it was something we could live with.
Element, you are right about those Brazos Bend raccoons, we had friends camp down from us last year and the coons got in the back of a truck bed and pry open a cooler to get summer sausage and rat cheese. Thieves, indeed, but so much fun to watch the shenanigans.

Sandy

**riverrat** · January 26th, 2008 06:05 PM

Just to chime in... I can remember when I was about 8, primitive camping with mom and brother on Cow Creek in Newton County. Dad had built mom a lockable pantry to keep out the critters. It worked great! Only we forgot to put the oreos back in after that last snack...Mom heard rustling after we had gone to the tent for the night (an old army style green canvas heavy stinky ole thing that NEVER leaked thanks to the many layers of painted on stuff from the army surplus store). When she shone the flashlight out the door aimed at the table we'd set up, there sat one guilty looking little masked bandit enjoying the last of our oreos! Literally caught with its hand in the bag! Money was tight back then and we had no car to go anywhere until dad came to pick us up the next weekend and that little thief had eaten our only bag of cookies. What a bummer! I learned then and there to never leave any food items unsecured when in the woods.

Now we use bungee cords to make sure the little thieves can't get into our cooler. That, or wedge it under the picnic table. That will hold the thieves at bay.

Never had any problems with people messing with our stuff. Just don't tempt them too much. Take that ipod with you or leave it in the car stashed outta sight. Good common sense goes a long way!

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