Here are 6 fun tips to avoid unpleasant surprises in nature

With summer approaching and hiking in the national parks, it is essential to know the correct behavior to follow in the presence of wildlife.

But don’t rack your brains: The US National Park Service’s Instagram page has made it its mission to combine humor with awareness, conveying its advice in a slightly comical way.

Here is a list of six must-follow tips for a nature walk, compiled by Washington Postfrom the National Park Service’s Instagram page.

1) Stay away from “hairy cows”

The Instagram page with the term “hairy cows,” or covered in fuzzy silk, refers to bison, which should be avoided at all costs from approaching less than 23 metres. This animal would have hit many visitors last year in Yellowstone, according to US media.

“In the national parks, don’t pet the bison. Bison flatter you (if you get too close,” it reads.

2) The majority of chipmunk bites come from their… teeth

As cute as they are, avoid feeding the squirrels, who might bite you and “run away with your car keys,” as the National Park Service puts it.

If this argument were not enough, animals that eat passerine food are filled with products that do not meet their nutritional needs, which can cause them serious health problems.

3) “If you encounter a bear, never hit a slower friend…even if you feel your friendship is coming to an end.”

On its website, the organization said meeting bears in the wild is no picnic because they can be very dangerous. If you are unlucky enough to encounter one face to face, it is recommended to calmly raise your arms and wave them in the air to appear larger, quickly pick up small children, keep food out of reach, stand in a group and move gently backwards or to the sides.

The site also states that there is no point in running or climbing a tree: the bear will have an advantage.

4) “Did you know that if you hold a seal close to your ear, you can hear what it feels like to be attacked by an seal?”

Behind its short scales and whiskers, the ermine hides a territorial and proud animal.

In general, it is recommended to stay more than 20 meters from a wild animal, and more than 90 meters from a predator.

5) Watch out for hunting turkeys!

The odds of a turkey attack are slim, but not zero, and the site urges visitors to steer clear of these birds, which travel at speeds of more than 25 km/h and “can respond aggressively to shiny objects,” the National Park Service said. .

6) “Whether it’s a banana slug, an unknown mushroom, or a big toad with glowing eyes in the dark night, please don’t lick it.”

Last November, the National Park Service reminded visitors to avoid licking or consuming unfamiliar natural products, including the mighty Sonoran Desert Toad, which secretes a powerful toxin.

If the substance was narcotic, scientists would have proven that it does not cause a narcotic noise despite popular belief, according to Washington Post.