TRAIL WATCH
In case of

Emergency steps

Keep this page open offline after your first visit. Call 911 for any serious bite, sting, or attack. Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222. This is general reference, not medical advice.

SNAKEBITE

If someone is bitten

  1. Move a safe distance from the snake — don't try to identify or catch it.
  2. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
  3. Keep the person calm and still; keep the bite at or below heart level.
  4. Remove rings, watches, and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts.
  5. Do not cut the wound, apply ice, use a tourniquet, or try to suck out venom.
TICK REMOVAL

If you find an attached tick

  1. Use fine-tipped tweezers, not fingers or a match.
  2. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
  3. Pull straight upward with steady, even pressure — don't twist or jerk.
  4. Clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
  5. Watch the site for a rash or flu-like symptoms over the following weeks.
SPIDER BITE

If you're bitten by a spider

  1. Wash the bite with soap and water.
  2. Apply a cold compress to reduce pain and swelling.
  3. Try to safely note or photograph the spider without handling it.
  4. Seek medical attention, especially for black widow or brown recluse bites, or if symptoms spread beyond the bite site.
SCORPION STING

If you're stung by a scorpion

  1. Stay calm and still; avoid unnecessary movement of the stung limb.
  2. A cold pack may be applied to the sting site (never submerge the limb in ice water).
  3. Contact a healthcare provider or poison control center for guidance.
  4. Seek emergency care right away for a bark scorpion sting or severe symptoms (difficulty breathing, muscle twitching).
LARGE PREDATOR

If you encounter a mountain lion or wolf

  1. Do not run — running can trigger a chase instinct.
  2. Stand tall, raise your arms, and open your jacket to appear larger.
  3. Speak firmly in a loud voice and maintain eye contact; back away slowly without turning your back.
  4. Pick up small children without bending down or crouching.
  5. If attacked, fight back with whatever is at hand — rocks, sticks, or a backpack as a shield.
MOSQUITO BITES

Preventing mosquito-borne illness

  1. Use an EPA-registered insect repellent on skin.
  2. Treat clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin (never apply permethrin directly to skin).
  3. Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
  4. Empty or avoid standing water near camps and trailheads where mosquitoes breed.
PLANT RASH

If you touch poison ivy, oak, or sumac

  1. Rinse skin with cool running water and soap as soon as you can — within minutes if possible.
  2. Wash clothes, tools, and pet fur that may have oil on them; urushiol stays active.
  3. Do not burn the plants; the smoke can carry oil into lungs and eyes.
  4. Use calamine, hydrocortisone, or an oral antihistamine for itching. See a clinician for rash on the face, genitals, or over a large area, or if you have trouble breathing.
BEAR ENCOUNTER

If you encounter a bear

  1. Stay calm. Do not run. Do not climb a tree.
  2. Speak in a low, calm voice and slowly back away, keeping the bear in view without staring it down.
  3. If the bear approaches, stand your ground, make yourself large, and ready bear spray (remove the safety).
  4. Black bear attack: fight back with everything you have. Grizzly defensive attack (surprise, cubs, carcass): play dead, face down, hands over neck. If it treats you as prey, fight back.
  5. Carry bear spray in grizzly country and know how to use it before you need it.
STING

If you're stung by a bee or wasp

  1. Move away from the nest or swarm — more stings may follow.
  2. If a stinger is in the skin (honey bee), scrape it out with a card; don't pinch the venom sac.
  3. Wash the site, apply a cold pack, and watch for spreading swelling.
  4. Call 911 for trouble breathing, swelling of the tongue or throat, dizziness, or hives beyond the sting — these are signs of anaphylaxis. Use epinephrine if prescribed.
ALLIGATOR

If you encounter an alligator

  1. Keep at least 30 feet (10 m) away — more if it is a nesting female or has young nearby.
  2. Never feed alligators or approach them for photos. A fed alligator is a dangerous alligator.
  3. Keep pets on leash and away from the waterline.
  4. If an alligator charges, run away in a straight line; they tire quickly on land.
  5. If bitten, fight back at the eyes and snout and call 911 immediately.
HANTAVIRUS

If you find mouse droppings in a cabin or shelter

  1. Do not sweep or vacuum dry droppings — that can put virus into the air.
  2. Ventilate the space for at least 30 minutes. Leave while it airs out.
  3. Wet droppings and nests with a disinfectant (bleach solution), wait 5 minutes, then wipe with paper towels.
  4. Seek medical care promptly for fever, muscle aches, and shortness of breath after rodent exposure — hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a medical emergency.
MOOSE

If a moose approaches or charges

  1. Give moose at least 25 yards — 50 or more for a cow with a calf.
  2. If the moose lays back its ears, hacks the ground, or walks toward you, you are too close — back away and put a tree or car between you.
  3. If it charges, run and get behind something solid. Unlike bears, you can run from a moose; they usually stop once you are out of their space.
  4. If knocked down, curl up, protect your head, and stay still until the moose moves off.