Effective Ways To Keep Animals Away From Your Campsite
As you explore the Australian bush in your off-road caravan, you are likely to come into contact with a varied selection of local wildlife. For your safety, as well as that of the animals you come into contact with, it is important that you know how to behave around them.
More importantly, you should know how to keep animals away from your campsite, especially considering the fact that while they might be cute, some are actually very dangerous. With that being said, continue reading to find out ways of keeping animals from your campsite.
Spiders
One of the most common species of spider found in Victoria is the redback spider. They often reside under logs and rocks and are known to be poisonous. A bite will result in the need for immediate medical attention which means it’s best to stay away not only from redback spiders but from all spiders as well.
This is especially important since spiders could crawl into your camping gear or caravan without you knowing. A few of the steps you can take to keep spiders away from your campsite include storing your camping gear in airtight containers, not leaving your clothes and shoes on the ground outside overnight, and keeping bug spray on hand in case you come face-to-face with one. It’s best to be prepared for this situation especially as you travel to remote areas.
Wild Dogs
While they are known to generally avoid human contact, wild dogs such as dingoes will approach campsites and exhibit aggressive behaviour when hungry, especially in the Victorian high country.
To keep wild dogs away from your campsite, you should never feed these animals. Any items with a strong smell, including food and rubbish as well as boots and socks, soiled nappies and even fishing tackles should never be left in the open, in tents or even on top of vehicles. Additionally, if you are leaving the campsite for the day or going to sleep, make sure that you clean up the campsite immediately after preparing and eating meals.
Goannas
Goannas are a member of the monitor lizard family and are considered to be a common pest in numerous campsites in Australia. In addition to feeding on food left by campers, these reptiles also feed on dead animals and small animals. With that in mind, you should avoid leaving any food in the open if you don’t want to attract goannas.
Snakes
Snakes are found all over Australia. While not all snakes are venomous, their bite can still be quite painful. As such, it is best to avoid them. These reptiles are mostly active during the warmer months.
To keep snakes away from your campsite, start by choosing an area that they don’t like such as large open spaces with short grass and minimal vegetation. Minimise access to food that may attract mice, which in turn may attract snakes. You should also stay in well-lit areas. Consider lighting a fire outside your tent as a deterrent.
Small Marsupials
Wombats, bandicoots, possums, and other small marsupials have the tendency to raid campsites for food just like goannas. Since they normally carry bacteria or diseases, it is recommended that you stay away from these animals.
Marsupials are very crafty when it comes to stealing food from campers. With that in mind, you should keep your food safely packed away and always make sure that your tent or caravan is closed. This way, you won’t attract these animals to your campsite.
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