Bears?Other Critters?

[208AT]

I'm taking a crew to virginia,and we wondered if we should bring pepper spray,or just be loud.Or do we even need to worry about bears?Any other animals to be worried about?

[Lone Wolf]

no need to worry about bears. just mice

[10-K]

and ticks.

[sixguns01]

and day hikers

[Diatribe]

and people that are afraid of bears in Virginia. what a joke...

[Serial 07]

make sure you're packing heat to ensure that any dog that may come around a corner and bite you on the leg, you can shoot it....

[Lone Wolf]

make sure you're packing heat to ensure that any dog that may come around a corner and bite you on the leg, you can shoot it....

good advice

[leaftye]

make sure you're packing heat to ensure that any dog that may come around a corner and bite you on the leg, you can shoot it....

Make sure to bring a first aid kit to patch up your leg after shooting it.

[bigcranky]

No need for pepper spray for bears. If you see one, consider yourself lucky. Remember that fewer than 100 people a year are eaten by bears on the A.T.

Seriously, you'll be fine.

[Spogatz]

If you want protection, carry a canned airhorn. That will scare the heck out of anyting you will run into on the trail...those things are LOUD>...

[hikerboy57]

Bagpipes are great for keeping bears away. doesnt work on mice, for some reason.

[Pioneer Spirit]

no need to worry about bears. just mice

I've heard of folks that set up 4 mouse traps in shelters around their personal space.

Has anyone tried poisioning the mice or do certain nature types freak out at the mere suggestion of doing so?

[Sickmont]

Has anyone tried poisioning the mice or do certain nature types freak out at the mere suggestion of doing so?

Don't poison the mice. If they're a bother, then dont stay in the shelter.

[hikerboy57]

sleep with your head facing the outside of the shelter.it wont keep the mice out, but they wont be running over your head.

[ShoelessWanderer]

Yeah, in all seriousness, there is NO problem with bears in Va. Have seen a ton in my years hiking in VA and never once had a problem with one.

And don't know what kind of "crew" your taking, my thought was BSA venture crew? Don't worry, teenagers on the trail, they'd be way to loud for a bear to stick around anyway.