Protecting Your Children

To keep your children safe in the forest—

• Know where your children are at all times.

• Make sure your children know the rules about strangers.

• Make sure your children know what to do if they become 

separated from you.

• Use extra precautions regarding your child’s 

personal safety

Preventing Personal Assault

While in the forest, most of us relax and leave our worries 

at home. Unfortunately, criminals may use the fact that you 

are relaxed against you. To protect yourself—

• Be alert and aware of your surroundings and other 

people in the area.

• Stand tall and walk confidently. Don’t show fear.

• Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable in a place 

or situation, leave right away and get help if necessary.

• Be observant of others and use discretion in acknowledging strangers.

• Avoid confrontations.

• Be respectful of your fellow outdoor enthusiasts. Always 

use good manners when interacting with others.

• Carry a cell phone if coverage is available in the area.

• Know how to contact law enforcement or other 

assistance.

• Carry a noisemaker, such as a whistle, or other protective 

device that you have been trained to use.

• Do not pick up hitchhikers.

• Never go anywhere alone! It is safer to be in pairs or a 

group.

Reacting, If You Are a Victim

You should be safe and have a wonderful time when 

you visit your national forests or grasslands. Unfortunately, 

crimes against persons and property do occur, however 

rare that may be. After a crime has occurred—

• Try to stay calm.

• Write down as much information on the suspect as possible, including personal and/or vehicle description and 

the last known direction and method of travel.

• Contact the local Sheriff’s Office or USDA Forest Service 

Law Enforcement office immediately!!

• Preserve, but do not handle, any evidence of the crime.

Contact Numbers

911 (Where service is provided)

Sheriff’s Office – 

USDA Forest Service Law Enforcement –

Other Law Enforcement –

Emergency Medical Assistance – 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination 

in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national 

origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all 

programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means 

for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-

2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of 

Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence 

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 

(voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and 

employer.

FS-779
 

November 2004
 

United States Department of Agriculture

Forest Service

National Sheriffs’ Association

Preventing Crime in Our 

National Forests and 

Grasslands
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visiting your national forests and grasslands can be 

a wonderful experience.You may enjoy recreating 

in a developed campground, walking on a trail, fishing a stream, collecting rocks, enjoying off-highway 

vehicle trails, or appreciating the view from an overlook.

Whatever your activity, chances are there may be other 

people in the area. Although most people are there to 

enjoy the national forest or grassland, some are not.

This brochure is intended to give you precautionary 

guidelines to help prevent crimes from occurring while 

you visit your national forest or grassland. These 

guidelines should make you less vulnerable to the 

criminal actions of others.

Applying the “Neighborhood 

Watch” Concept
 

One of the most effective ways to prevent crime and reduce fear 

is to become involved in Neighborhood Watch. You can apply the 

Neighborhood Watch concept to the forest setting by being vigilant, 

by protecting yourself and securing your property, and by acting as an 

extra set of “eyes and ears” for reporting crimes and suspicious activity you may encounter. Remember, when you visit the National Forest 

System, it is your neighborhood—

• Know how to contact law enforcement and other 

emergency services personnel.

• Keep an eye out for the well-being of your fellow forest visitors and 

the safety of their property.

• Be observant of others and their activity.

• Keep an eye out for persons or vehicles that appear out of place or 

suspicious in or near campgrounds, recreation areas, trailheads, or 

rest areas.

• Report suspicious persons!

• Report criminal activity immediately.

Preparing To Visit the 

National Forest System

Before you visit a national forest or grassland, get information and be 

prepared in case you have an unplanned overnight trip. Precautions 

include—

• Obtain a map of the area you are visiting.

• Become familiar with the area; contact the local U.S. Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service office for specific information.

• Tell a friend where you are going and when you plan to return.

• Make sure your vehicle is in good running condition and has plenty 

of fuel.

• Be prepared in case you get stranded; take extra food and warm 

clothing.

• Be prepared for the night; have a flashlight.

• Obtain the contact numbers for the USDA Forest Service law 

enforcement office and the local sheriff’s office.

• Carry identification or your name, phone number, and blood type 

information on your person.

Parking Your Vehicle
 

Whether you park your vehicle at the campground where you are 

staying, at a trailhead, or at another location, it will be left unattended 

for a few hours or a few days. To help protect your vehicle and your 

valuables—

• Lock your valuables in the trunk or other location where they cannot be seen.

• Lock your vehicle. Do not hide your keys on or near your vehicle.

• Note other vehicles in the area. Write down license plate numbers 

and descriptions of vehicles that appear suspicious or out of place 

in the area where you park.

• Report suspicious activity to local law enforcement or Forest 

Service personnel as soon as possible.

Protecting Your Property

Precautions to protect your property include—

• Do not carry more cash than you will need.

• Leave unnecessary valuable items at home.

• Do not make yourself a target by dangling your purse or showing 

your wallet.

•If someone attempts to rob you, give up your property; it is less 

valuable than your life.

• When leaving a campsite, lock valuables away.

Discovering Illegal Activity
 

Some people may use National Forest System lands to conduct illegal 

activity. For example, polyvinyl chloride pipes or hoses may indicate an 

active marijuana garden, or household chemicals in an unusual combination used in conjunction with glassware and tubing may indicate 

methamphetamine production. If you come across illegal activity—

• Do not approach or confront the individuals present at the site; do 

not in any way indicate that you are suspicious of their activities!

• Immediately leave the area along the same route you entered.

• Watch for other people in the area.

• Be aware of your surroundings at all times. In some instances, 

potentially dangerous devices or harmful materials might be nearby.

Make every effort to avoid contact with suspicious packages and/or 

equipment; they might be highly volatile.

• When you are safely away, write down a detailed description of the 

activities taking place, the area, the people, and any vehicles.

• Immediately report the activity to local law enforcement or Forest 

Service personnel.

This brochure is a collaborative crime prevention effort between the 

National Sheriffs’ Association and the USDA Forest Service.