Wildlife Encounters

Nova Scotia's forests are home to a number of wild animals, I have had the opportunity to observe several of them this summer. Most wildlife encounters are benign, and a delight to have happen. Others, of course, potentially may not be as harmless.

Everyone worries about meeting a bear. And although it is true that a bear has more potential to injure a hiker than any other animal in the forest, attacks by bears in Nova Scotia are extremely rare. I have had two close encounters this summer, both in June, including being the closest I ever have to an uncaged bear: less than 30m. I am pleased to say that in both cases, the bear either ignored me completely, or dashed away down the path and into the deeper brush.

An animal that many hope to see, but fewer regard as dangerous, in the moose. Most people are aware of the hazard moose present on narrow roads late at night. In July, a resident of Inverness died as a result of hitting a moose on the main highway. However, fewer know that male moose can be aggressive, and there are some times of the year when they might even follow or harass a hiker. As summer gives way to fall, and moose go into rut, be aware that their temperaments change and give them a wide berth. I have seen only one moose so far this summer, deep in the Cape Breton Highlands on the Branch Pod Trail.

I have heard coyotes frequently this year, usually late at night when I am trying to sleep. One, near Kejimkujik National Park, insisted on howling and barking for hours within a hundred meters of my tent. Other than causing me to lose sleep, however, I have had no problem with coyotes once again this year. On just about every wilderness trail, of course, their scat and paw prints can be seen.

The winner, this year to date, for aggressive behaviour on the part of a wild animal goes to ... the ruffed grouse! Two times in one day on the North Granite Ridge Trail I came close to a mother grouse and her new chicks. The result, a chorus of tiny peeps and a scattering of tiny pale yellow chicks on the path, followed by an explosion of feathers and squawking as the mother dashed out to place herself between me and her brood. Both mother grouse puffed themselves up as large as possible, flaring their tails and spreading their wings, and alternately charged me then retreated in a direction away (more or less) from where their chicks ran.

So there it is, a bear that ran from me, a moose that stared at me, a coyote that spoiled my sleep, and a grouse that charged me. I think there are two lessons to learn. One is that the behaviour of wild animals is unpredictable; the bear, a large male, immediately ran, but the moose stood there and watched me intently. You never can be certain what will happen. The second is that you should be extremely cautious around a mother and her young. It may seem humorous that a small grouse attacked a large human, but imagine what might have happened, if, instead, I had surprised a mother coyote or bear. Maybe it also would have rushed, and I might have had a somewhat different experience.

Enjoy the woods; do not stop using them because you might meet wildlife. But be aware of the risks, and educate yourself on what is wise behaviour when you do sight an animal.