Wildlife, People, and Other Things to Think About in Georgia’s Backcountry

One of the great things about exploring Georgia is how quickly you can get away from everything.

Turn off the highway onto a Forest Service road, paddle around the next bend in a river, hike a few miles into the mountains, or point a motorcycle down a forgotten gravel road and suddenly the gas stations, subdivisions, and cell towers disappear.

That’s exactly why we go.

It also means you’re entering places where help may be farther away, cell service may be nonexistent, and you’re responsible for making good decisions.

Whether you’re hiking, paddling, mountain biking, riding a motorcycle, or exploring by four-wheel drive, most trips into Georgia’s backcountry are remarkably uneventful. Serious encounters with wildlife—or people—are uncommon.

But uncommon doesn’t mean impossible.

The goal isn’t to be afraid of the woods. It’s to understand what’s out there, pay attention to your surroundings, and know what to do when something doesn’t look right.

SNAKES

Georgia has several species of venomous snakes, including copperheads, cottonmouths and rattlesnakes. In North Georgia, copperheads and timber rattlesnakes are among the species an explorer is most likely to encounter.

First, forget the old advice about identifying a venomous snake by the shape of its head. Head shape is not a reliable way to determine whether a snake is venomous.

The better rule is much simpler:

If you don’t know what kind of snake it is, leave it alone.

Most snakes want nothing to do with you. Give them space and an escape route.

Watch where you put your hands and feet, particularly around rocks, logs, brush and campsites. When stepping over a large log, look before blindly putting your foot on the other side. At camp, use a flashlight when walking around after dark.

If you encounter a snake on a trail, stop and give it room. Don’t poke it with a trekking pole. Don’t try to pick it up. And don’t kill it simply because it’s there.

If bitten by a venomous snake, move away from the snake, stay as calm and still as practical, remove rings or other constricting items before swelling begins, and seek emergency medical treatment as quickly as possible.

Do not cut the bite, attempt to suck out venom, apply a tourniquet, or pack the wound in ice.

And you don’t need to catch the snake for identification.

BLACK BEARS

Black bears are a fact of life in the North Georgia mountains.

Seeing one should be treated as a privilege rather than an emergency. Most black bears want nothing to do with people, and most encounters end with the bear leaving.

Problems usually begin when bears associate people with food.

When camping in the backcountry, hanging your food and other scented items is the preferred method when suitable trees and local regulations allow it. Your food bag should be well away from your sleeping area and properly suspended so a bear can’t simply climb the tree or reach it from a nearby branch. Food, trash, toiletries and other scented items all belong in the hang—not just tonight’s dinner.

Never intentionally feed a bear.

What if there are cubs?

Seeing bear cubs changes the situation.

A cub may look harmless—and admittedly pretty adorable—but do not approach it. Don’t move closer for a photograph and don’t get between a cub and its mother.

If you see a cub without an adult bear nearby, assume the mother may be much closer than you realize.

Stop, look around and calmly increase your distance. If your route would take you toward the cub, change your route. Give both the cub and its mother plenty of room and an obvious way to leave.

Keep dogs close and under control. A dog investigating or chasing a bear can turn an otherwise uneventful encounter into a dangerous one very quickly.

If you encounter an adult black bear, don’t run.

Give it room. Keep your group together. Make yourself known as a human by speaking firmly and calmly, and slowly increase the distance between you and the animal without turning the encounter into a chase.

A bear standing on its hind legs isn’t necessarily preparing to attack. It may simply be trying to see or smell you better.

If a black bear approaches aggressively, make yourself large, make noise and be prepared to defend yourself.

If a black bear actually makes physical contact and attacks, fight back aggressively. Use whatever is available and concentrate your defense around the bear’s face and muzzle.

Do not automatically “play dead” during a predatory black-bear attack. That’s advice commonly associated with certain grizzly-bear encounters in western North America and shouldn’t simply be transferred to black bears.

Georgia does not have a resident grizzly population.

FERAL HOGS

Feral hogs are widespread in Georgia and can be surprisingly large.

They generally avoid people, but an injured, cornered or threatened hog can be dangerous—particularly a sow protecting piglets.

Give hogs plenty of room and never deliberately approach or corner one. As with bears, don’t put yourself between a mother and her young.

If you’re on foot, allow the animal an obvious escape route and calmly move away.

If a hog becomes aggressive, put something substantial between you and the animal. A large tree, boulder, vehicle or other solid obstacle is far better protection than trying to outrun it. If necessary and practical, getting onto a large rock, substantial fallen tree or other elevated position can also get you out of its immediate path.

If a hog attacks

Your first priority is to stay on your feet.

Move laterally out of its path if you can and use trees or other obstacles to prevent it from making a straight charge. Don’t try to wrestle or grab the animal.

If you’re knocked down, protect your head, neck and torso and get back to your feet or behind cover as quickly as possible.

If escape isn’t possible and the hog continues attacking, fight back with whatever you have available while continuing to work toward an escape or barrier.

Feral hogs have powerful jaws and sharp tusks capable of causing serious wounds, particularly to the legs. Any significant injury from a hog should receive prompt medical attention.

Dogs can complicate hog encounters considerably. A dog may chase a hog and then retreat directly back toward its owner—with an angry hog following it.

Keep dogs under control.

COYOTES, BOBCATS AND MOUNTAIN LIONS

Georgia has coyotes and bobcats, but neither normally represents a significant threat to an adult traveler.

Seeing one is much more likely to be a memorable wildlife encounter than a dangerous one.

Don’t approach or feed them. Give wildlife space, control pets and move on.

Mountain lions

Mountain lions—also called cougars, pumas or panthers—deserve a little more explanation.

People who spend significant time in the Southern Appalachians continue to report sightings and evidence they believe indicate mountain lions are present in the mountains. At the same time, confirmed sightings are extraordinarily rare, and wildlife authorities do not recognize Georgia as having an established breeding population.

For the person actually traveling through the backcountry, the practical takeaway is simple:

An encounter is extremely unlikely, but knowing what to do costs you nothing.

If you encounter what you believe to be a mountain lion, do not run and do not turn your back on it.

Face the animal and maintain awareness of where it is. Stand upright and make yourself appear as large as possible. Raise your arms, spread your jacket or otherwise increase your profile. If you’re with other people, stay together rather than scattering.

Speak loudly and firmly.

Give the animal an escape route and slowly create distance without turning away.

Don’t crouch down. Don’t approach it. And don’t run—running can trigger a predator’s instinct to pursue.

Keep children close and, if necessary, pick up small children without turning your back on the animal.

If a mountain lion behaves aggressively, become more assertive. Make noise, wave your arms and use available objects to make yourself appear threatening rather than prey.

If one physically attacks, fight back aggressively. Protect your head and neck and use anything available to defend yourself.

And if you safely get the opportunity to photograph or document a suspected mountain lion, that’s valuable—but your safety comes first. Don’t follow an animal into the woods trying to prove what you saw.

Report a credible sighting or physical evidence to the appropriate wildlife authorities.

Whether Georgia has resident mountain lions will probably continue to generate arguments around campfires for years.

Fortunately, your response if you encounter one doesn’t depend on winning that argument.

TICKS

The tiny things deserve considerably more attention than the big scary things.

Ticks are common in Georgia and can transmit several diseases. Check yourself regularly during warm-weather trips and perform a thorough tick check when you get home.

Repellent and appropriate clothing can help. Staying toward the center of trails instead of brushing constantly against tall grass and vegetation also reduces exposure.

If you find an attached tick, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin as possible and pull upward with steady pressure. Clean the bite area afterward.

Pay attention to unusual rashes, fever or illness following a tick bite and contact a medical professional if symptoms develop.

SPIDERS AND OTHER THINGS THAT CRAWL

Black widow and brown recluse spiders occur in Georgia, but spider bites are not something most travelers need to obsess over.

Basic camp hygiene goes a long way.

Don’t leave boots and clothing scattered around overnight. Shake them out before putting them on. Be cautious when reaching underneath logs, rocks, picnic tables, firewood or other dark sheltered spaces.

The same advice applies to scorpions, wasps, fire ants and the assorted collection of smaller Georgia residents capable of making your day considerably less enjoyable.

THE TWO-LEGGED ANIMAL

This is the section people sometimes don’t like talking about.

We should.

Most people you meet in Georgia’s backcountry are going to wave as they drive past, ask how the fishing is, help pull you out of a mud hole, or stop to make sure you’re okay.

But remote doesn’t mean unoccupied.

Hunters, landowners, campers, people living in isolated areas, people engaged in illegal activity, and people who simply don’t want company all use some of the same places we explore.

You don’t need to be suspicious of everyone you meet.

You do need situational awareness.

TRUST THE “THIS IS WEIRD” FEELING

You’re driving a remote forest road and encounter a vehicle parked in an unusual place.

You paddle around a bend and discover an occupied camp that doesn’t feel particularly welcoming.

You find discarded chemical containers, tubing, fuel cans or unusual trash well away from any legitimate activity.

Someone becomes unusually interested in where you’re going, where you’re camping or whether you’re alone.

A person tells you that you need to leave.

You don’t need to solve the mystery.

Leave.

There is very little in the Georgia backcountry worth escalating a confrontation over.

Turn the vehicle around. Paddle away. Change your route. Skip the campsite. Ride back the way you came.

You can figure out what happened after you’re somewhere safe.

ILLEGAL DRUG ACTIVITY AND CLANDESTINE LABS

This deserves a specific mention because illegal drug activity—including the manufacture of methamphetamine—has historically occurred in rural and remote areas throughout the Southeast.

Finding an active clandestine drug lab in the woods is not an everyday occurrence, and explorers shouldn’t assume every piece of roadside trash is evidence of one.

But the consequences of stumbling into one can be serious.

The danger isn’t only the people involved. Chemicals associated with illegal drug manufacturing can be toxic, corrosive, flammable or explosive. Dump sites and abandoned equipment can remain hazardous after the people responsible are gone.

Possible warning signs can include unusual collections of chemical containers, solvents, fuel containers, tubing, stained containers, strong chemical odors, discarded cold-medicine packaging or an improvised setup that simply doesn’t belong where you found it.

Do not investigate.

Don’t open containers.

Don’t touch anything.

Don’t take souvenirs.

Don’t walk farther into the site looking for an explanation.

Don’t confront anyone.

Back out the way you came, put distance between yourself and the area, note the location when it is safe to do so, and contact law enforcement.

If you encounter people at the site, your priority is leaving—not documenting it.

A photograph isn’t worth a confrontation.

PRIVATE PROPERTY

A line on a map is not a force field.

One of the easiest mistakes to make while exploring Georgia is assuming that an unpaved road, trail, river access, or inviting-looking piece of land is public simply because there’s nothing physically stopping you from entering it.

Some roads cross private property. Some old roads that appear on maps are no longer public. Some public lands contain private inholdings. Gates change. Access agreements change. Land changes ownership.

And digital maps can be wrong.

Do your homework before the trip.

Use current Forest Service, state, county and other authoritative land-management information when possible. Property-overlay apps and mapping tools are useful, but don’t treat any single app as infallible.

Pay attention to gates and signs.

“No Trespassing” means no trespassing.

A closed gate isn’t an invitation to find a way around it.

If you’re confronted by someone claiming you are on private property, this is usually a terrible time for a roadside debate about GIS data.

Be polite.

Explain that you believed you were on a public route.

Leave.

You can verify the access later and report an improperly blocked public road through the appropriate authorities if necessary.

Being technically right doesn’t make an escalating confrontation in the middle of nowhere a good idea.

HUNTING SEASON

Georgia’s woods are shared spaces.

During hunting seasons, particularly deer and turkey seasons, expect other people to be in the woods—sometimes well away from roads and established trails.

Know the seasons where you’re traveling and consider wearing blaze orange when appropriate, even if you’re not hunting.

Keep dogs under control.

Don’t intentionally interfere with hunters.

And remember that the truck parked beside a seemingly empty forest road may belong to someone sitting quietly a few hundred yards away.

WATER DESERVES RESPECT

For paddlers, water is likely a much greater hazard than wildlife.

Wear your PFD.

Not strapped to the canoe.

Not stuffed behind the seat.

Wear it.

Know the river conditions before launching. Understand the effects of recent rainfall, current, strainers, low-head dams, cold water and changing weather.

Scout hazards when necessary and don’t allow pride to turn an uncertain rapid or obstacle into an emergency.

Overlanders, riders, hikers and cyclists should treat moving water with the same respect.

A familiar creek crossing can become an entirely different obstacle after heavy rain.

If you don’t know the depth, current, bottom condition or exit, don’t blindly drive or ride into it.

There will always be another trail.

WEATHER AND EXPOSURE

Georgia doesn’t have to be Alaska to hurt you.

Heat and humidity can become serious problems remarkably quickly. Mountain temperatures can drop dramatically after sunset. Summer thunderstorms can turn creeks into hazards and put lightning directly over exposed ridgelines.

Carry more water than you think you’ll need.

Know where your next water source is.

Bring appropriate layers.

Check the forecast before leaving—and understand that mountain weather doesn’t always care what the forecast said.

If conditions deteriorate, changing the plan isn’t failure.

It’s good backcountry judgment.

WHEN SOMETHING DOESN’T GO ACCORDING TO PLAN

Tell someone where you’re going.

Tell them roughly when you expect to return.

Give them enough information to know where to start looking if you don’t.

Carry navigation that doesn’t depend entirely on cell service. Download maps before leaving coverage and consider carrying paper maps for longer or more remote trips.

A basic first-aid kit should be standard equipment.

So should the knowledge to use it.

For more remote trips, satellite communication or an emergency beacon can dramatically improve your ability to call for help when cell service disappears.

And know where you are.

“Somewhere off a dirt road near Ellijay” isn’t particularly useful information to a dispatcher.

Coordinates, road numbers, trail names, river miles and recognizable landmarks matter.

DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE WOODS

After reading an article about venomous snakes, bears, feral hogs, ticks, chemical dump sites, angry landowners and flash floods, it would be easy to conclude that Georgia’s backcountry is a terrifying place.

It isn’t.

Thousands of people hike, camp, paddle, ride and explore Georgia every year without having anything resembling a serious emergency.

Preparation isn’t about expecting something bad to happen.

It’s about making sure that when the unexpected happens, it remains an inconvenience instead of becoming a crisis.

Respect wildlife.

Respect private property.

Pay attention to people and your surroundings.

Know when to turn around.

Carry what you need to take care of yourself.

And then go explore.

There are places worth getting off the pavement to find.