Wildlife
There are black bears, white-tailed deer, chipmunks, skunks, squirrels and a variety of birds who visit the campground area and are very used to people. The deer are eager to find campers who will hand out food and treats. The rangers discourage this, but the result is that the deer wander the campgrounds throughout the day. It is not uncommon to have a deer take food from a human's hand in a campsite. Daytime bear sightings are not uncommon. The black bears have not been aggressive and to this point no attacks on humans have been reported. The park provides bear-proof metal lockers around the camp area to protect food at night.
The biggest concern is the skunk population. Like the deer, they forage the campsites for food. Campers will sometimes note the aroma of a skunk who was startled during the night. Wise campers ensure there is no food on the ground to attract skunks, and that the tent flap is secured against skunk entry.
Other wildlife includes venomous snakes, although they are relatively rare. The park houses rattlesnakes, copperheads, as well as garter snakes and other non-venomous species.
Read more about this topic: Big Meadows
Famous quotes containing the word wildlife:
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—Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904)