Thompson Local News

Tips for Staying Safe in the Boreal Forest

Vacation time for northerners often means camping.   Brian Barton is with Sustainable Development with the Province and he offers a tip to keep you safe while you’re enjoying the great outdoors.

”The biggest thing is keeping your campsite clean.  Make sure you take your garbage to the garbage receptacles.   You put your food away at night or when you’re not at the campsite.  Keep it enclosed within containers or within you’re vehicle if you’re not there.  And if you’re tenting, you don’t eat or keep food inside your tent.   Always keeps it away from where you’re sleeping.”

And if part of your camping experience includes heading out on the trails of the Boreal Forest for some exploring, make sure you’re prepared for any eventuality.  

Barton offers some advice for you  before you go on your adventure.

“If you’re getting away, heading off down the trails, if you’re going over night or for  a multi-day trip, then  you’ve got to be prepared for that.  Whether it’s food or clothing or a means of communication, people should know where they’re going.  Maps are available online or you can purchase them through Canadamapsales.com.    The same rules apply out in the bush, though, about keeping your campsite clean.”

Nature has lots to offer us, if we’re smart about what to do when we’re out camping or hiking around the Boreal Forest.   Brian Barton with Sustainable Development prepares us for a couple of unwanted guests we could encounter.

“The biggest one we have up here is insects, mosquitoes and black flies.   Insect repellent and things like that are our best bet.  Next would probably be black bears.    
If you follow those tips - keeping your campsite clean and keeping your food away from your tent - generally you won’t have any problems.  If you do encounter an animal like that, you stay as a group.  Back away slowly.  Don’t turn your back on him, but try to appear as big as you can.  If the animal keeps coming then you start making noise.”

Barton says that bears typically want to avoid us as much as we want to avoid them.  For more on how to keep safe and enjoy your holiday time outdoors, listen to Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon.

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