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By Amanda Galiano
Camping in Arkansas can be lots of fun. We have three national forests, 600,000 acres of lakes and plenty of state parks where camping is encouraged. However, you have to realize that you're sharing the woods with the natives and keep your wits about you. Here are some lessons on camping safety to keep you safe and sound in the Arkansas forests.
Bears
That's right, some state parks have bears! Arkansas has black bears (which are the smallest of the North American bears). Bears can be a big nuisance to camp sites. If you're camping in a bear area, be sure to follow some simple precautions.
Don't feed the bears! That just teaches them that humans mean free food and they learn to harass and raid campsites. Besides, in Arkansas, state law prohibits feeding bears at any time for any reason, whether at your house, in a campground or elsewhere. You can get a fine or worse.
Keep food away from your campsite. You might feed the bears unintentionally! It's recommended that you tie food in trees at least 15 feet away from your tent to prevent attracting the bears accidently.
Keep dogs leashed. Your dog might enjoy camping but he will scare any bears in the area. If the bear happens to be a mama bear, he'll possibly excite her enough to attack. It's best to be safe and keep your dog near your campsite.
Bears don't like humans. Most of the time, bears will not approach humans unless they feel threatened or think they'll get an easy meal. The United States Forestry Department suggests that if your campsite is approached by a wandering bear you should flap your arms and make noise to scare them off. Do not play dead or try to outrun them.
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