When you choose to visit ‘the outdoors,’ you choose to encounter all of the creatures that live in the outdoors. First time campers often fear the beasts of the wilderness. But, simple measures can be taken to ensure your safety, and the safety of the wildlife around you.

One of the great pleasures of any camping adventure is the sighting of an animal, bird or other critter not seen in your everyday life. For some people, however, seeing is not enough. Do not disturb animals you encounter in their natural environment. Try to let the animals continue what they are doing. Observe from a distance of at least 25 yards. If you see a bear, stay back at least 100 yards. Do not feed wildlife. Do not alter their natural experiences of their environment.

Of course, some creatures are inclined to invade your space, even though you respect theirs. In fact, bears, snakes, raccoons, spiders and bugs are not shy about visiting your campsite if you do not take measures to keep them away.

In bear country (like West Virginia), you must suspend your food and garbage in the air, away from your campsite, or keep it in your vehicle with the windows closed. No one benefits from a close encounter with a hungry bear who has been drawn to you by the smell of your food and garbage. In many areas, bears are no longer afraid of humans, and have developed a taste for our scraps.

Likewise, raccoons, with their handy forepaws, learn quickly how to remove trash can and cooler lids. In many public campgrounds, the region’s raccoon population visits camp every night to raid the cans and campsites for their supper. If you don’t secure food-related items before going to bed, you’ll likely have a huge mess to clean up in the morning before breakfast -- if you have any food left at all.

Some creates seek out heat at night -- snakes, for example. Your tent will provide you with snake protection at night, and for day encounters, high-cut boots and socks should provide adequate protection. Most snakes are harmless, however bites from a copperhead or rattlesnake are poisonous. In case of a snake bite, keep the victim calm, and move the bitten area as little as possible. Firmly tie a bandage above the bite, wind it down to cover the bite, then tie the bandage tightly below the bite. Then seek medical attention.

The bite of a brown recluse spider can be more dangerous than a snake bite. Identified by their light brown bodies with a violin-shaped mark on the back, brown recluses like wood piles and other dark cubby spaces. Brown recluse bites, most often painless at first, are a medical emergencies. Fever is the first symptom to appear, and the would can develop into gangrene.

Stings are also dangerous. Bright colored clothing, perfumes, sweet-scented lotions and hair products can attract bees and yellow jackets. Bees will leave a stinger in the skin, which should be removed, but not by pulling. Scrape the stinger away with the edge of a knife to keep from squeezing the stinger’s venom sac. Wash the sting, and apply baking soda mixed with water to ease the pain. If you don’t have baking soda, soak an aspirin in a touch of water, and apply the resulting paste to the sting site.

There are other measures you can take to lessen the likelihood of insect pests in your area. While bees and yellow jackets are drawn to bright colors, mosquitoes are often drawn to dark colors, especially dark blue and black. Insects are also repelled by the smoke of your campfire, are less likely to bother you in windy conditions, and gravitate to grassy, swampy areas.

But even if you choose the perfect bug-free location, insect-repellant is a must to protect you from ticks and the dreaded chiggers. Repellants with DEET products are effective, but will have a "meltdown" effect on some plastics, and can damage cameras, cell phones, and more. You may want to consider natural repellants containing citronella as insect repellants need to be applied, not only to exposed areas, but also to nooks and crannies where ticks and chiggers like to dig in.

For chigger bites, apply nail polish, or rub with a cut lemon. For latched-on ticks, touch the tick’s body with a hot, blown-out match to get the insect to let go, then watch the area to see if a reddish spot with a pale middle forms at the bite area. This is a symptom of lyme disease. Additional symptoms include muscular pain, headaches and fever.

Don’t be frightened by the creatures of the natural world. As long as you take steps to prepare for encounters with wildlife, there is little to fear. With proper respect for wildlife, methods for lessening your impact on them and supplies to keep them from affecting you, your experiences in nature will be safe, and enjoyable.