Forest Stewardship Safety Guidelines

Forest Stewardship Safety Guidelines
Notes by J. Zimmerman, Ph.D.

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A walk in the woods can be more painful and wild than you might wish, if you forget to check on the safety tips for your forest. These reminders could help you have a better visit ...

Most forests have rules for your own safety.

Do not enter a forest until you know its rules. They are posted at forest entrances, camp sites, picnic sites, information centers, or forest offices.

The forest managers establish their rules for the health of forest visitors and the health of their forest communities of trees, plants, birds, and animals.

Guidelines differ between types of forest. The following are adapted from those for the Soquel Demonstration State Forest.

What to do:

"Closed" areas of forests are closed for your safety. Stay out of them.
Exercise common courtesy & trail etiquette.
"Day-use only" forests have that restriction for your safety.
Hikers: yield to horses.
Horses: keep on trail; avoid tethering to trees. Horse riders wear helmets.
Mountain bikers: keep on trail; yield to horses and hikers; wear helmets; travel below 15 mph, or below the local limit if less than this.
Pets: keep on a leash at all times. Sadly, beloved dogs and cats disrupt the ecosystem you are here to experience.
Respect the forest.
Share the trails.
Stay found: carry a map and compass; keep to official trails to reduce environmental impact and to avoid poison oak and ticks.
Take only photographs as souvenirs.

What not to do:

Do not damage or remove plants, animals, or historic objects.
No camping unless allowed explicitly.
No feeding or approaching wildlife.
No firearms of any kind unless allowed explicitly.
No fires unless allowed explicitly.
No fishing unless allowed explicitly. Rivers are often fish-rearing areas for protected species.
No litter: pack out what you pack in.
No motorcycles or any motorized vehicles unless allowed explicitly.
No smoking unless in designated areas where allowed explicitly.
Do not trespass on adjacent private land: help the Forest to be a good neighbor.

HEALTH WARNINGS - check with your forest for additions to these.

Bears: If hiking in bear country, be sure to make noise as you hike so the bears have a chance to move away. Do not approach bears, and avoid cubs completely.
Drinking water: bring your own, unless you're sure the forest has suitable drinking water sources.
Mountain lion. Never approach. Stand tall, spread arms wide, pick up children, make noise, back away slowly. Do not run: that triggers their reflex to chase and hunt.
Poison oak: Never Touch. Aggressive vine. Shiny triplets of oak-like leaves. Most hazardous plant in California. Residue difficult to wash off. Misery for days.
Snakes: be alert if you are rattlesnake country. Don't poke or annoy snakes.
Stinging nettle: Never Touch. Blisters from stinging nettles arise immediately. Nettles grow to 7 feet in moist thickets. Paired velvety serrated heart-shaped leaves. Green flowers, in loose stringy clusters above leaf pairs (January to October).
Ticks: Protect yourself from them. They often carry Lyme Disease. Use appropriate insect repellant. Wear boots, light-colored clothing, long-sleeved shirt, a hat. Check body for ticks, remove with tweezers, clean with antiseptic. Shower and wash clothes after visit.
Yellow Jackets. Worst in Summer, Fall. Multiple stings. Don’t stand on a nest. If you irritate them, run away as fast as you can.

Remember what you came to see: