It is amazing to see the wildlife that inhabits Mont-Tremblant. I enjoy spotting these creatures. Where some see a nuisance, I see critical players in our ecosystem.

On a few occasions, my encounters have been up close and personal. Once a fox licked the back of my leg. A large, plump, white hare sat on my foot as I admired a pond. A pack of wolves ran parallel to me in Mont Tremblant National Park. I’ve fished two baby  out of our garbage bin. A thick, five-foot-long snake slithered across my path.

The experiences were unplanned and exhilarating, but I wish we had kept our distance. Humans and wild animals are living in ever-closer proximity and we must all do our best to protect our natural neighbours.

With increased local development, this has become more important. Here are some ways to keep a healthy distance.

No feeding

I used to feed deer, but … no longer. Feeding any wild animal is a no-no. It does them no good as it changes their patterns and routes and makes them less worried by human contact. It’s important, to clean up our campsites, leave no litter on trails, and secure our trash and recycling.

Smartest distance

Here is a rule of thumb. When you see a creature outdoors, can you cover the entire animal with your thumb when your arm is fully extended? Yes? Fantastic! You’re generally at a safe distance.

Zooming out

People can become irrational when encountering walking and flying natural wonders and tend to zoom in by approaching wildlife for a better view. Wrong move. Zoom in with a lens, zoom out with your feet.

Our natural environment is a precious resource that demands our respect and protection. We need wilderness ethics, and it starts with a creating a healthy long-distance relationship with wildlife.

More from this author by clicking on his photo below.