Say you’re out on a hike. First, you’re hiking in Washington, and a big ol’ black bear crosses the trail up ahead. What do you do?
On your next hiking trip, you’re in Arizona, and you’re watching your step—rattlesnakes could be lurking anywhere!
Then, you’re hiking in Florida, and you hear a splash in the water nearby. You turn to see the eyes of an alligator just above the surface.
Which one scared you most?
If you were hiking or camping or boating or, heck, even on a big, wide national park trail, which would scare you most: seeing a bear, a rattlesnake or an alligator?
Have you ever seen any of these creatures or others like them at your campsite? Tell us in the poll and comments below.
MORE POLLS YOU MIGHT LIKE:
- Do you currently have a National Park Service America the Beautiful Pass?
- What are your top two main considerations when choosing a campsite?
- How much water do you drink in one day?
- Do you check the satellite view before booking a campsite?
- Do you like being near the campground bathhouse or far from it?
Rattlesnakes generally won’t attack unless threatened, so that leaves bears and alligators. An alligator is a bigger threat in water than on land but usually don’t attack people on land. They can move quicker than most realize. Bears are less predictable so I think they’re the greater danger of the three, especially if you’re carrying food. This includes candy and even breath mints.That’s why I chose bears. I have encountered bears and rattlesnakes while in the wild several times and you just have to know how to react.
I need a selection for “ticks”. All of the choices are easily avoidable if you know what to do. We normally fear what we don’t know. My wife and I have been hiking in bear country for over 15 years, and therefore know how to coexist with them.
Yeah ticks. There are prevention methods and there is being comfortably dressed for the season. The two don’t often come together.
You are just slow food on two legs for bears and alligators.
Depends on what kind of bear. Black bear, no worries. Grizzly or Polar bear, big worries!
Unless the black bear has cubs around. You may not even see the little ones nearby.
Bear, we don’t have Gators where we travel and Snakes are few and far between. Never have seen a Rattler in the Wild in my 76 years of existence.
Travel with me Ed, I come across my little legless friends quite often while out exploring old mining camps. But bears? I’m right there with you on preferring to avoid them!
Snakes are sneaky, early springtime is the most dangerous, they like sunning themselves on the Leeward side, on off trail’s where there is a step down situation, where you have to step over a log or rock. The mountain biker (see past RV Travel news) that died of snake bite fell into a bush where the snake was sunning himself.
If I stumble upon a rattlesnake, I am already way too close.
Gator. I’m familiar with brown/black/grizzly behavior and sufficiently watchful for rattlers, but alligators are unknowable, camouflaged and fast. Besides, I’d much more likely be found in bear/snake terrain than gator.
I can get away from a rattlesnake or crocodile, but not so easy with a bear.
I have encountered rattlersnakes and it was scary since I was on my horse, but my horse didn’t spook so it was all good. I don’t think I want to find an alligator in my yard so that leaves bears as they are unpredictable. I live in Oregon so bears are the ones I would most likely encounter in our yard. Or a cougar could be a problem also.
Alligators are limited to only a small portion of the U.S. Bears and rattlesnakes are much more widespread throughout the country. Rattlesnakes are dangerous only if you are within a few feet of them and can be easily scared off or killed. But, if you are within a few feet of any type of bear, you are in serious trouble. Trying to scare them off may or may not work and killing them . . . . forget it!
Bottom line–if you are not RVing in the SE U.S., bears are the only one of the 3 you need to worry about. Now, if you are in the western U.S., we also have mountain lions, but they weren’t part of the poll!
As a 50 year Fla resident I answered gator. They are eating machines with a brain smaller than a pea. People think it’s fun to feed them, but this makes them associate people as a food source. Favorite food source…small dogs!
I don’t know if I am afraid of any, but very respectful of all. A bull moose worries me more. I’ve encountered multiple black bears in Michigan. Only two situations are truly dangerous: getting between mama & cub(s) or the bear feeling cornered. If they have an obvious (to the bear) out, be loud and a black bear will prefer to be elsewhere.
I guess I am afraid of pit vipers that don’t rattle. Unless you are running wild and not listening, a rattlesnake will give you warning.
While hunting, alligators won’t give a warning before a stealth attack. They otherwise seem pretty obvious about their presence. I personally steer clear of still water shorelines.
Here in Texas, and I suppose other areas of the country, that have WILD Hogs, that eat rattle snakes….Our snake’s that “Rattled” their tails let the HOG’s know where they are, and the HOG’s find them and eat them! SO guess what, the Snakes are getting smarter, and don’t rattle any more! But still bite anyone that gets too close!
That’s why we never leave our camper.
Then what’s the point of camping? You may as well stay home.
Ha, ha.
Funny, how I find RV parks half empty, when they entrance SIGN’s that read “IF YOU SEE THESE SNAKES, PLEASE REPORT THEM TO THE OFFICE”
All of the above and one not mentioned….drug/meth labs. The only wild animals we’ve ever encountered up close and personal were…
A bison wandered near, not in, our campsite. in the Gamelodge Campground in Custer State Park. S/he was part of a small herd that visited the campground every evening.Friday evening of Labor Day weekend we pulled into a national park campground (no reservations) and found they were full up but the staff opened up a closed camping circle just for us. Waking up the next morning we were treated to an Elk munching on the trees just outside our MH.
Several others.
Definitely bears regardless of variety. They are unpredictable.
2 men are hiking and one asks the other if he afraid of a bear attack. The other responded, “No, because I can run faster than you can.”
I have run into bears a number of times, and they weren’t interested in me. I kept my distance and gave them a chance to wander off. I’m more afraid of crocodiles than rattlesnakes. Crocodiles are predators looking for something to eat, they will likely attack you. Rattlesnakes are more likely to avoid you unless you get too close.
Moose are scarier than all three. You never know what they’ll do. Had a large bull walk through our campsite on the Tetons.
I live where the rattlesnakes roam and need to be on the outlook whenever I step out of the house, but have gotten used to backing off when encountering them. Now as it warms up in Arizona they wake up and are a bit grouchy and hungry. Baby rattlesnakes punch as much venom as adult snakes but haven’t grown a rattle yet. Those are the ones I am most nervous about. Bears I have encountered numerous times in the north woods so know to back off there too. That leaves alligators as the great unknown. Think I will stay in the southwest.
Rattle Snakes are number one! Just read your article about mountain biker dying of snake bite! If hiking in BEAR country, you must get Bear Spray, and avoid early spring and late fall hibernating HUNGRY bears. Alligator’s HISS when annoyed by stupid folks, avoid this gator, or you will be “Whip Lashed” by its tail, knocked down and bitten!