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Critter Bites & Wilderness First Aid: My Trail Safety Kit
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items Getting bit or stung miles out in the backcountry can go from annoying to a medical emergency real quick. I'm not a doctor, but this is the exact, battle-tested first aid gear I keep in my pack to handle snakebites, ticks, and bee stings like a pro s...
Sections
5
Slither & Strike (Snakebite Essentials)
The Tiny Hitchhikers (Ticks & Spiders)
Buzz & Sting (Bees, Wasps & Ants)
Big Critter Defenses (Large Mammals & Predators)
Infection Defense (Wound Care & Clean Up)
Slither & Strike (Snakebite Essentials)
Snakebites are rare, but when they happen, panic kills. This is the gear I pack to properly immobilize a bite and track the symptoms while making a beeline for the nearest ER.
Forget what you see in old movies—never try to suck the venom out or cut the wound. If it’s a pit viper bite (like a rattlesnake), your best bet is to stay calm, wrap the limb firmly (but not too tight!) with an elastic bandage to slow down the venom...
3M Ace 3 in. Beige Self Adhering Elastic Bandage 1 pk
Such a tiny thing, but a total lifesaver. When dealing with a bite, use a sharpie to draw a circle around the swelling and write down the exact time. Do this every 15 minutes so the ER docs can see exactly how fast the venom is moving.
Sharpie Pro Black Fine Tip Permanent Marker 3 pk
Keeping the bitten limb completely still is crucial because moving your muscles pumps the venom faster through your body. I always pack a moldable foam splint to completely immobilize an arm or leg.
SAM Splint - Regular
The Tiny Hitchhikers (Ticks & Spiders)
Ticks and creepy crawlies are the most common trail hazards. This is my quick-response kit to safely pop ticks out and treat spider bites before they become a bigger problem.
Lyme disease is no joke out in the woods. Never use tweezers to squeeze a tick's body, or you'll jam its bacteria right into your skin. A "Tick Key" safely slides under the tick and pops it out, head and all, without squeezing.
Tick Remover Tool
The very second a tick or spider bites you, you need to clean the area. I keep a handful of these cheap alcohol wipes stuffed in my first aid kit to sterilize the wound on the spot and prevent nasty infections.
MED PRIDE Sterile Alcohol Prep Pads 70% IPA
For non-venomous spider bites and annoying chigger bites that itch like crazy. Slapping some hydrocortisone cream on it stops you from scratching the bite open, which is how dangerous staph infections actually start.
CareAll Hydrocortisone 1% 1oz Tube (3 Pack)
Buzz & Sting (Bees, Wasps & Ants)
From annoying fire ants to angry hornets, getting stung can ruin a hike fast. Here is my setup for stopping allergic reactions and taking the sting out of a bad situation.
If you or anyone in your crew is severely allergic to bee or wasp stings, an EpiPen is an absolute non-negotiable. Anaphylactic shock can close up a throat in minutes, and this little shot buys you the precious time you need to hike out.
EpiPen (Epinephrine Auto-Injector)
Even if you aren't deathly allergic, a wasp or fire ant sting can cause brutal swelling. I always carry chewable Benadryl because it hits your system fast to calm down the hives and throbbing pain.
Antihistamine Tablets
If you get stung by a honeybee, the stinger stays in your skin, pumping venom. Don't use tweezers to pull it out because you'll squeeze the venom sac. Instead, use an old plastic card to scrape the stinger out sideways.
Properly Remove a Honeybee Stinger
Big Critter Defenses (Large Mammals & Predators)
Dealing with larger wildlife takes a different kind of prep. This is the gear I pack to scare off big predators and keep my camp completely scent-free so I don't invite any unwanted midnight visitors.
Whether you're dealing with a curious grizzly or an aggressive stray dog on a rural trail, bear spray is my ultimate non-lethal defense. It shoots a massive cloud of pepper spray up to 30 feet, creating a wall of spice that stops any big mammal right...
Bear Spray | REI Co-op
The best way to handle a wildlife encounter is to avoid it entirely. Most animals only attack when you surprise them. I clip a little bear bell to my pack when hiking through thick brush so they hear me coming and head the other way.
FRONTIERSMAN Bear Horn | REI Co-op
If an animal gets a sniff of your dinner, they will tear your tent open to get it. I use a tough, lockable bear canister to store all my food, trash, and scented toiletries. I stash it about 100 feet away from camp so critters stay over there, not ne...
BV450 Jaunt Bear Canister
Infection Defense (Wound Care & Clean Up)
The bite is only half the battle—keeping trail dirt out of the wound is the real test. This is my go-to kit for sterilizing, packing, and wrapping a bite to stop infections dead in their tracks before I hit the trailhead.
Soap and water are great, but for a sketchy animal scratch or bite, you need something that nukes bacteria. I pack a tiny bottle of iodine to flush out the wound immediately. It stings a bit, but it beats getting a blood infection miles from civiliza...
Betadine - Walmart
After cleaning the bite, I always apply a thick layer of triple antibiotic ointment before banding it up. It keeps the wound moist so it heals faster and creates a chemical barrier against trail dirt and sweat.
Neosporin - Walmart
Regular band-aids don't cut it for weirdly shaped animal bites or larger scratches. I keep a few sterile gauze pads in my kit. Make sure they’re "non-stick" so you don't tear the wound open again when you change the dressing.
Non Stick Pads - Walmart