Marking your territory

[wincrasher]

I'm watching this show on the science channel and this guy proceeds to go around the perimeter of his camp peeing on the trees and the ground.

"Marking his territory" as a "warning to bears". I mean, is this serious? Does that work? Or does it just let them know where the "food" is?

[MtnDon]

Bears go wherever they want to. Take that as true for both the elimination of body wastes and whatever location they feel like going.

[48Rob]

Don't know...but I wish I could walk around and start and stop at will

I recall reading somewhere that it will detract some animals, but I've no personal experience with bears.

Rob

[tony.latham]

I can't quite fit this into the "old wives tale" category 'cause it involves us old (male) farts –not the wives.

It's somewhat common for both black and grizzly bears to dig up septic tanks. The tanks at Brooks Camp in (Katmai National Park) Alaska have to be kept electrified. So I don't think the urine trick is going to work.

http://www.caboodle.ca/williams-lake/wi ... n-officers

http://www.city-data.com/forum/nature/1 ... stems.html

"That was the beginning of our black bear encounters. Since then, it seems the population has steadily increased. We’ve had bears take down our bird feeders numerous times, pull bird houses down, get into the garbage, and even push off the heavy cement lid that covers our septic tank. I have no idea why!"
Read more: http://www.grit.com/animals/problem-wit ... z3HPKbBCTs

To keep the bears away from your teardrop, just wait until dark and scatter a bunch of loose candy around the nearest tent campers. They're expendable.

Tony

[Gage]

Just spread some ammonia around. That'll do it.

[Fenlason]

I can't quite fit this into the "old wives tale" category 'cause it involves us old (male) farts –not the wives.

It's somewhat common for both black and grizzly bears to dig up septic tanks. The tanks at Brooks Camp in (Katmai National Park) Alaska have to be kept electrified. So I don't think the urine trick is going to work.

http://www.caboodle.ca/williams-lake/wi ... n-officers

http://www.city-data.com/forum/nature/1 ... stems.html

"That was the beginning of our black bear encounters. Since then, it seems the population has steadily increased. We’ve had bears take down our bird feeders numerous times, pull bird houses down, get into the garbage, and even push off the heavy cement lid that covers our septic tank. I have no idea why!"
Read more: http://www.grit.com/animals/problem-wit ... z3HPKbBCTs

To keep the bears away from your teardrop, just wait until dark and scatter a bunch of loose candy around the nearest tent campers. They're expendable.

Tony

[alaska teardrop]

I'm watching this show on the science channel and this guy proceeds to go around the perimeter of his camp peeing on the trees and the ground.

"Marking his territory" as a "warning to bears". I mean, is this serious? Does that work? Or does it just let them know where the "food" is?

Always worked for me in all my time in bear country.
One time when in my sleeping bag on a river sandbar, the grizzly only came within 30 feet but kept going on by.
Another time in the mountains, a grizzly ambled close to the tent but ran fast away when I about peed my pants!

[Kharn]

Sounds like a good way to get a big ticket or end up on a state-run website with how sneaky the rangers are in my area about approaching camp sites to find alcoholic beverages...

[wagondude]

Sounds like a good way to get a big ticket or end up on a state-run website with how sneaky the rangers are in my area about approaching camp sites to find alcoholic beverages...

Exactly! Please be aware that not all jurisdictions have laws such as the misdemeanor "public urination" charge. That typically leaves a felony sex offense of "Indecent exposure" requiring you to register as a sex offender if convicted.

[coyote]

Bet it works to keep other campers at bay! I mean if I saw a guy racing around peeing on"his" space, I'd give him wide berth! Coyote

[Tripmaker]

Slowcowboy brings up a good point about winter. I'm told that it is difficult going through 6 plys of clothing with a 4 ply peter. Of course I can't verify that from experience.

[Tripmaker]

Yeah, we get our share of winter here in Indiana too. When it goes below zero nothing is simple.

[Dale M.]

Think a 600+ pound bear is going to go anywhere he wants.... Only thing that may slow him down or just make him more unfriendly may be pepper spray and you will need a really big canister....

Dale