Animals

[Mary C]

Oh, Sharon I think we need your information on a sticky . We could call it camping in bear country and special considerations.
You have truly made it easier for me, I called the rangers and they said if I have a yeti cooler I can leave it in my car or trailer but to wipe it down along the edges with Clorox or ammonia. That is all the info I could get. I am thinking that using plastic bins for the dry food and cans and the bread and packaged foods. I am wondering though, what about the smells left on any dishes silver wear and pots and pans, the coffee pot and other food areas. I know they say put your shampoos in the bear box but I will be camping and traveling for four months and I will have laundry stuff too. I really like the idea of the dehydrated food too. I know I have eaten them a lot when hiking the AT. Thanks a lot. You are a smart cookie!!!

Mary C.

[S. Heisley]

I live and camp in bear country and here's what I do. Anything "smellable" like the cooler, goes into the bear locker. Cans are OK to leave stored in the trailer but must be out of sight. Boxes are not OK and goes into the cooler. Cosmetics, lotions, toothpaste, toiletries go into the locker. Candy and late night snacks in bed are FORBIDDEN....

I forgot to mention about the toiletries. I use a toiletry bag from LL Bean. The medium sized bag holds everything that I need and is great for trips to the shower room. There is even a removable section with a separate fold-down hook hanger. That part can be taken into the shower stall and hung on a hook or the shower pipe or even on the shower door, if there is one. It is very well organized and efficient and usually slips into a small space in the bear box, in between the food boxes, if they are smaller at the bottom (many are), or lies on top of the Rubbermaid box:

http://www.llbean.com/llb/search/?freeT ... bag&init=1

Before I had that, I used a plastic lined canvas purse. It was okay but the new toiletry bag is much better. Other companies may have similar products.

... Remember to store some quarters in one of the zippered pockets of your toiletry bag as many campground showers are coin operated.

Yes, even in areas where there are no bear boxes, cover at least your ice chest with a towel, blanket, or ice chest cozy. Bears and other critters know what ice chests look like. Also, covering your ice chest will help keep the ice chest cool for longer. It's not a bad idea to cover everything that is stored in your vehicle to prevent both four legged and two legged thefts and damage. Recently, I've seen people putting blankets on top of the bear locker, to keep things inside the locker a little cooler, when the sun is beating down on it.

... Additional tip: If you store things in an SUV or something that doesn't have an actual trunk and plan to use that little roll-up cover to hide things, check to see that it fits over everything before you leave on your trip because some things may stick up past that "hidey cover".

Wash and dry your dishes with a non-smelly towel and put them away at night. Don't forget to put the dish soap in the bear box after you're done with it. I usually leave out a clean cup or bottle of water, in case of middle-of-the-night thirst.

Yes, dirty clothes should go in a self adjusting plastic bag, trash bag, pillow case or other such soft container and it also goes in the bear box. A bag of dirty clothes, as opposed to a hard-sided box, will adjust to the space available and can be crammed in there just about anywhere, without problems. One time, when I was very tired, I took off the day's clothes and put them in a closed rubbermaid box in the tent, thinking that this was good enough. It wasn't and I woke up, head close to becoming bear dinner, with just the nylon tent material between me and a sniffing bear because of it. The bear decided that the deodorant smell on the clothes wasn't worth the effort and went on; but, I haven't forgotten that episode.

I wouldn't trust the use of vinegar to keep bears away. I like the smell and taste of vinegar. If I do, so would a bear.

[Dangofaster]

A valid argument. I can imagine feeling like Will Smith in "I am Legend", sprinkling ammonia outside my door at night lol!

[Mary C]

You have written it so well. and it is the information that everyone will need if visiting a camping area with bears and bear boxes. Thank you for your information.

Mary C.

[S. Heisley]

You're welcome, Mary.

Dangofaster:

I got the ammonia idea from Doug Hodder. He uses empty, washed tuna cans and fills them with ammonia, placing them around his trailer, to keep critters away. It's a lot more powerful when you can contain more in a given space than it is just poured on the ground. Also, you can slip the cans beneath the trailer a little so that rain will be less likely to dilute it during the night. I wouldn't use this as your only means of deterring critters and hiding smells. Use as many precautions as you can. I sometimes do this when there isn't a bear box and I am in bear/critter country, putting one can at the backside of each wheel. I have found that it is best to empty out the cans and refill them with fresh ammonia before going to bed each night as the ammonia seems to slowly lose its pungency. Also, the ammonia seems to react with some cans, leaving a black ring inside; so, don't be surprised when you see that in the morning.

My guess is that the wild animals smell that ammonia and think some mean, rank animal has staked that area out as his territory. Or, maybe they simply don't like the smell.
When coyotes leave a kill that they expect to come back to, they set up a "do not disturb" parameter by peeing around it. If you've ever come upon one of those, you've seen (smelled) that it is very effective for them.

[nevadatear]

+1 for mel, atahoe kid. We also camp primarily in bear country, and did so with and without kids. When we built the tear we designed to galley so it was easy to close the lid at night, we always close and latch the galley lid. Coolers and smellable things go in the locker if there is one, or car if there is not. 2nd the amonia. We have not had a visit yet.

[Ron Dickey]

There are those who have experiace . I met a man who tried to push the bear out of his food with a chair the bear turned on him he fell back and broke both wrists. The bear returned to the food.
Another who lived in the woods and every night pored pinesol on the ground to keep mountain lions, racoons, & bears out.
Load sounds and strong smells seem to be the best bet, But no sight or smell of food is your best and safest way.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOC ... 344052.pdf

we camped in owen valley, ca temp 120 in the valley up higher cooler. they had bear boxes dull red in color. We lost 1/2 our food to heat!! nest time we will have a cover for it white or reflective.
I have been told if you see a bear in you stuff 1. let it do his thing 2. make load noises clash metal together, I for one keep a chuck wagon triagle near.
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/scarebears.htm
http://www.wikihow.com/Escape-from-a-Bear

in some places where people and bears are often in the same place
and if yoiu want to see what the will do if they want it. google images, enter: bear sees food in a car
http://jeffreytrust.wordpress.com/2010/ ... bear-away/
http://www.yosemitegold.com/backyard/

[Corwin C]

My experience is that most wild animals are shy, inquisitive, and looking for food. When I'm out in the boondocks, I have become an interest just because I'm something new. In most cases, they will timidly investigate until either frightened away or find something to eat. I have watched people use electric fences, flashing lights, strong unnatural odors, and so on to try to discourage animal visits, but depending on the animals previous experience it may or may not be effective. I sleep with my car keys close at hand. If I suspect a visitor, a quick press of the car lock or the panic button and the beep and flashing lights will scatter virtually every visitor (even the two-legged variety) and I don't have to expose myself to any danger. If they've found a source of food, they can be very tenacious and will probably return even if I did frighten them initially. If there has been activity, I make sure that whatever was encouraging them is corrected and prepare to take stronger measures if needed.

In established campgrounds, however, depending on the campers that have been there before you, we just might be ringing the dinner bell. Wild animals are intelligent. They learn quickly to either avoid a situation or be drawn to it. A common solution to a problem animal is to relocate them away from the situation. I don't like this solution, because it introduces an "experienced" animal into a "inexperienced" population and other animals will witness and mimic bad behavior. It is very important for both us and them that we are responsible and not give them an unnatural opportunity that could create bad habits no matter where we are. For anything but a bear, locking it in the car is a good solution. Even if they can smell it, they won't be able to access it. A bear, on the other hand, can get into virtually anything, given the time and desire. Cars, Yeti coolers, buildings, and even bear boxes will eventually succumb to the power of a bear that wants whatever is inside. It is up to us to make sure they don't develop that desire.

[S. Heisley]

Well said, Corwin!

[Sierraguy]

Thankfully almost everywhere I camp in the Sierras has bearproof boxes nowadays. In the old days we had to string our food up into a tree or take our chances by locking it into the car. I love those bear boxes.