All above posts are correct. None of these animals pose a high danger as long as you're smart and aware. Prep bear spray, know how to scare off a bear, look where you walk for snakes, stay on well-traveled paths. As for mountain lions -- they're rare and secretive. If you spot one, though: don't turn your back or run, make yourself big and yell at it. The only time a cougar will stand its ground is if it has cubs -- in which case, back away slowly without turning around.

Carry bear spray (have where you can reach it quickly) and hike in a group and you should be fine. Lightning, falling trees/limbs, dehydration, tripping and falling on trail, and the drive to the park are all pose more of a risk.

I spent the last week of March in Sedona and Page. I'm terrified of snakes. And scorpions. But honestly it was too cold that week, and we didn't see any snakes or scorpions.

Anonymous wrote:My husband wants to visit a NP or two out west with our kids - and I’m interested but absolutely terrified of some of the wildlife out there.

#1 by far - rattlesnakes

Followed by bears and mountain lions.

If we stick to high traffic, easy trails, how safe is it? I don’t want to do anything remotely risky. Yes I have anxiety. I also have two teens.

Looking at GCNP (and Sedona) first. DH and I went 25 years ago with no issues, but I was unaware of the dangers then (and didn’t have anxiety yet.) I’m aware that statistically the bigger risk is falling, but feel like I have more control over that and staying out of dangerous spots.

Thanks in advance for any advice or reassurance.

I hiked the Grand Canyon from the rim to the rapids, hiked in the canyon for several days and then hiked out from the rapids to the rim. We didn't see much wildlife, except for some crows that stole our trail mix. There are rattlesnakes in Arizona at the Grand Canyon and in Sedona, but you aren't likely to see them if you stick to the populated trails. They don't like people. You are unlikely to see any big animals there.
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Even during crowded summer times, I've seen lots of very large wildlife at Yellowstone and Grand Teton. They are used to people and don't care if there are crowds. If you don't get too close to them, you'll be fine. I've seen grizzlies, bison, elk and moose there. By far, the moose was the most dangerous because people got too close to it and she got mad about it. She chased a tourist, who dropped her phone. The moose then stomped the phone into the ground. Bison kill several people every year because they get too close. If you keep a respectful distance, you'll be fine. You're not likely to see a mountain lion in Yellowstone/Grand Teton because they are shy. If you are freaked out, stay in Jackson Hole or Cody. You can hang out in town, while your husband and the teenagers do stuff in the parks.

The Utah parks might be more adventure than you want.

The Smokies NP is beautiful, but there are a lot of black bears there. They are big idiots who will wander into a populated area because they are curious. Again, you'd be fine in town, but you might be kind of freaked out in the park. You might want to hang out in town while your husband does stuff in the parks.

Big Bend and the the Utah parks are wilder and more unpredictable.

Anonymous wrote:It's much safer than DC.

or being a woman in a red state

Anonymous wrote:I share your fears but I still hike out west. I’m a huge red rocks fan. I never go alone. I have run into every single thing I’m afraid of and it was fine - bears, rattlesnakes, bobcats (twice) . . . But you know what almost killed me and my family? Dehydration. It was no joke - we almost died because we got lost and ran out of water.

This is your biggest worry. I'm amazed at the number of people who underestimate the heat and sun. They get worked up over the animals - which they will likely never see and, if they do, won't bother them - but forget that heat and dehydration is the biggest killer.

Go in the Spring. YOu'll be fine.

OP, you are very unlikely to ever see snakes going out.

We actually go looking for snakes with frequency (not to capture but for education and observation) and rarely find them on our walks. My brother is much better and catches (with immediate release) regularly.

If you don't know where to look, you won't see them. They don't want to find you and will hear you coming from miles away. Don't go putting your hands in dark holes or under rocks.

I've only found a rattlesnake with the kids once by accident and that happened to be in Colorado. If you find one, just back away. I also grew up in Texas where we would sometimes find them in the garage. Just leave them be. It really is NBD.

It'd not difficult.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parks can get quite crowded, and you will not run into wildlife on busy trails. None of those animals want to be around people if they can help it. (We have them all here too, btw, and you have not run into them here.)

Buy yourself a bear bell and watch where you step on trails, and you'll be fine.

Bear bells are ineffective; bears will not hear you until you are too close.

Better off just talking/making nose, being aware and carrying bear spray.

Yes - we were told the same, re: bear bells, when DH and I visited Grand Teton and Yellowstone in the fall; it's more effective to clap your hands, yell and make noise. We wore them anyway, but also made noise by clapping and yelling "HEY BEAR!" at regular intervals while hiking, and especially going around curves and bends in the trail. Also made sure to carry bear spray.

We did have an inadvertent close encounter with a bison near a clearing... we knew to stay well away from all wildlife, but this one appeared unexpectedly and was not visible from the trail approaching the clearing. DH backed away slowly and did his best not to startle it. After a few minutes, we retreated back into the woods a bit and gave the bison a wide berth, and nonchalantly hiked around him. He continued grazing and ignoring us. We also had an interesting encounter with another bison right outside our cabin door! He was just chilling on our porch. Luckily, I was able to see him from the bedroom and alerted DH not to open the front door; he eventually wandered away.

Do not fear, my friend. Your chances of encountering any of these animals are low.

One benefit of do this type of trip with kids it that if your kids are like mine, they are LOUD, which means all wildlife hears them well in advance

I share your fears but I still hike out west. I’m a huge red rocks fan. I never go alone. I have run into every single thing I’m afraid of and it was fine - bears, rattlesnakes, bobcats (twice) . . . But you know what almost killed me and my family? Dehydration. It was no joke - we almost died because we got lost and ran out of water.

We saw bears in Yellowstone. I recall returning from a hike at Grand Teton and only then seeing the sign saying "recent bear activities in this area".

I grew up in a country where there were no animals that could hurt you and I find it pretty unsettling.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this because of the Fox news article about National Parks being dangerous. I think the rate of death/injury in national parks is pretty low and they aren't any more dangerous than State parks or just going into the wilderness in general. Just be careful, stay on trails and don't go near the edge of a cliff.

I grew up in AZ and went on many a hikes. Occasionally we would step near or over a rattlesnake and have never been bit. They have a rattle for a reason. They like to warn folks and are not unnecessarily aggressive.

It is actually extremely rare of bears to attack groups of people.

No, it's from The Hill article a few days ago. And the Forbes article last year. And all those other articles that say the same thing that get recycled, year after year. Don't be such a tool.

https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/3961073-these-are-americas-deadliest-national-parks-data/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brandonschultz/2022/01/12/these-are-americas-most-dangerous-national-parks/?sh=4dea2415bc12

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/02/13/national-parks-most-dangerous-data-grand-canyon/9219224002/?gnt-cfr=1

https://www.treehugger.com/most-dangerous-spots-us-national-parks-4869136

OP here. No it’s actually from the NPS’s own park sites that warn about these things.

So if I see/hear a rattlesnake, I just back away slowly! I’m worried I will faint of fear or have a heart attack.

It's much safer than DC.

If people are that worried then they should just stay home.