The One Trail Item You Should Have in Utah That Works On Rattlesnakes, Cougars, And Rain

With fires and floods impacting Utah wildlife, a hike through the wilds or even around your neighborhood can bring you into contact with an animal you didn't expect. Forget bear spray, an umbrella will do more for you in an unexpected confrontation.

Unpredictable Encounters: Wildlife in Utah

We have all dealt with unexpected confrontations. If you walk your dog regularly, you have probably had an aggressive dog approach. If you have ever been around a goose at a park, they can get pretty pushy. Then there's cougars, black bears, and rattlesnakes on hiking trails.

It is easy to forget about these animal interactions until you are in the middle of one. This is where being prepared can make all the difference. It seems weird, but an umbrella will throw an aggressive animal for a loop.

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The Umbrella Effect: A Surprising Deterrent

Picture a cougar approaching you from behind while you are peacefully hiking. You turn and the cat continues to move toward you. You point and open an umbrella at the animal. In the cat's eyes you have suddenly grown several sizes and it turns and runs.

This simple, non-lethal solution is easy to have with you at all times. Even better, should it start to rain or the sun gets oppressive, it can easily provide protection here as well. Think about keeping one on hand wherever you are walking around in Utah.

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They even make umbrellas that fold up into a walking stick. Now you have something to stabilize you while you amble along. Here's one more thing. Should you get blown off a cliff in a freak Utah storm, the umbrella will help slow your descent.