FWC, food and bears

[Doff]

Wondering what peoples thoughts are on storing food in your camper, cooking and your camper and your level of concern with bears? I know in campgrounds you are not supposed to store food in your car (or tent obviously) because bears have been known to break into cars. And when backpacking you don't cook where you sleep because you don't want the scent of food in your tent. But what about when in your FWC? We almost always camp in pretty remote areas (not campgrounds), so the bears there won't be as habitulized to human food. Is there still a risk? DOnt see much of another option. Just curious what peoples opinions are

 

[longhorn1]

First, not sure where you heard not to store food in your vehicle. If there aren't Bear Boxes, then your hard side vehicle is the place. We don't cook in our camper in bear country. We keep a very clean campsite. We move the dog food container into the truck at night Grills and other items are locked in our trailer. We have a bear proof cooler, stocked with beer, locked and padlocked to the trailer. We carry bear spray. Never seen a bear near our campground in over 10 years.

 

[JaSAn]

Wondering what peoples thoughts are on storing food in your camper, cooking and your camper and your level of concern with bears? I know in campgrounds you are not supposed to store food in your car (or tent obviously) because bears have been known to break into cars . . .

I usually camp in remote areas that have bears, usually black bears but sometimes grizzly country. I only boil water in the camper; for coffee mostly but also for freeze dry swill, hb eggs, or oatmeal when stormy. Cooking is always outside and away from the camper.

If I am going to stay more than a night or two, or be away from the camper overnight I will detour to the ranger station and ask about problems and procedures (and not just about bears). Wealth of information there. I always have a boat horn, bear spray, and a shotgun handy inside the camper, and carry a boat horn and bear spray when out and about.
If a bear-proof locker is provided I will store non perishables in it if I will be away from the camper for an extended period of time but I don't empty my (built in) refrigerator.

Bears breaking into vehicles is a problem around heavy tourist areas (e.g. Yosemite). Again, rangers know the problems and what they require from you to not help habituate the wildlife; always a good idea to talk to them.

 

[Doff]

First, not sure where you heard not to store food in your vehicle. If there aren't Bear Boxes, then your hard side vehicle is the place. We don't cook in our camper in bear country. We keep a very clean campsite. We move the dog food container into the truck at night Grills and other items are locked in our trailer. We have a bear proof cooler, stocked with beer, locked and padlocked to the trailer. We carry bear spray. Never seen a bear near our campground in over 10 years.

I think its pretty standard knowledge that bears have learned to break into vehicles. But like JaSAn said, usually most common in high tourist areas. Back in the day we used to always store our food and coolers in the vehicle...but try not to any more. We use our truck to store the dog food. We have yet to use our FWC where bear boxes are available. Most of the time we are in black bear country, which doesn't worry me too much....its the occasional times we are in Brown bear areas that make me nervous. We like to cook so are usually stocked with a full fridge and non-perishables. We do have bear spray with is when in brown bear country.

 

[craig333]

If there are bear boxes I worry a bit. Boondocking I've never had an issue. I know some people wipe down their camp with bleach and take what I consider extreme precautions. Outside Yosemite I've never had an issue. Do I take bear issues a bit too lightly? Maybe but forty years of camping have given me a pretty good idea of what and where I may have issues. If you're one of the bleach people you may not want to camp near me. I sleep well at night. I'm not talking about griz country. I'll be more cautious when I head into their territory.

I worry more about the two legged critters. https://www.yahoo.com/news/female-couple-shot-death-utah-201551783.html

 

[Vic Harder]

We never cook in the camper, food (and any thing else that smells) is kept out of sight and locked in the truck. We camp in bear country regularly, and use the backpacking mentality that has kept us from ever having a bear encounter. Bear spray in abundance... on the picnic table, in the truck door pockets, in the camper.

 

[Cottonww]

One time I arrived at my lot with yurt near Creede, CO at 10,200'. I decided to leave our FWC with food in it with top down since it was so late. I woke to sounds of a bear trying to get in our yurt and our dog scared it off. Next morning I found major damage($1400) to the camper but he didn't get in.

 

[ramblinChet]

My cases are certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.

Besides that, they are good cases overall.

 

[Jon R]

I have a couple of large Bear Vault BV500 containers from my backpacking days before I figured out how to get 5 days worth of food in a smaller bear can. I have started to take the large containers in the camper for bear areas. I’ll put all the food if possible, and the smelliest food if not everything fits, into the bear cans and place them away from camp. Hopefully that will focus their attention away from my camp if they come. That’s the strategy anyway. I haven’t had an actual bear encounter yet while using the camper. I plan to get some bear spray as well.

Guides in Alaska have told us that bear spray is effective at driving bears that you spray it at away in the short term, but they said that, once you spray it, you need to leave the area by a mile or more because, by spraying it, you just rang a dinner bell the bears can smell from 3 to 5 miles away.

 

[Taku]

Have used the camper in griz country for a number of years. Cook in it all the time and have not had any problems. bear spray always. The dinner bell comment is interesting - would like to see the data on that. Best is to always have at least two can of bear spray so when you empty one, you have an extra. Have also tented in griz country for close to 40 years and never and issue. Well, did lose a food cache in the Canadian Rockies in 1980 - but beyond that, no issues. Take reasonable precautions - but in the whole, I have had far worse encounters with angry two leggeds with guns than any bear.

 

[Ronin]

Just did a trip to the Winds and stopped at the ranger station in Pinedale. The ranger there said the main thing to do about food was to stow it all away in the truck or camper. Do not leave any food outside!! I also stopped in the Lander field office and was given the same advice. That said, we don't cook inside the camper in bear territory and bear spray is a must. I'm still not sure about air horns. What I've read about them is if a bear has heard one before it likely won't be scared off by it. I've only backpacked in the Sierra's and have never had a bear encounter. I usually hang my food sack and where required use a Bear Vault.

 

[Doff]

After 34 years of car camping and 32 years of backpacking I’ve never had a bear encounter related to food (seen plenty on the trail). But, the camper dose change up how I do things, so I was curious on what precautions everyone takes. Sounds like a general agreement to store the food out of sight, don’t cook in the camper and in brown bear areas keep bear spray.

 

[Wallowa]

Just did a trip to the Winds and stopped at the ranger station in Pinedale. The ranger there said the main thing to do about food was to stow it all away in the truck or camper. Do not leave any food outside!! I also stopped in the Lander field office and was given the same advice. That said, we don't cook inside the camper in bear territory and bear spray is a must. I'm still not sure about air horns. What I've read about them is if a bear has heard one before it likely won't be scared off by it. I've only backpacked in the Sierra's and have never had a bear encounter. I usually hang my food sack and where required use a Bear Vault.

Sidebar....I leave for Winds 9-6 and enter @ Elkhart TH for 10-12 days above 10+K...Indian Basin area primarily...questions pertaining to bears in the Winds...when and where was the last time bears there had run-ins with humans [not counting ranchers ]? Being a Vegan gives me a little edge on food odors! Having said that, with a "no fires" outside established campgrounds [none in Winds] it will not be the same, I understand the logic but a small fire and a good sunrise with coffee is the backcountry experience...guess down to coffee and watching the sun come up..I also have camped out of a pack and now in the FWC in 'big bear' country for decades and have never had a negative contact...

Did you have much lightening? Where?

Thanks..Phil

Ps...Ronin were you backpacking or FWC camping or both?

 

[PaulT]

Phil,

Being a Vegan gives me a little edge on food odors! ???

How so? Much of the food from India is vegan or vegetarian and the odors are wonderful.

Besides much of the food for bears and, essentially, all of it for cougars are vegetarians or vegans.

Paul

ps. I need a tongue-in-cheek emoticon.

 

[Wallowa]

Phil,

Being a Vegan gives me a little edge on food odors! ???

How so? Much of the food from India is vegan or vegetarian and the odors are wonderful.

Besides much of the food for bears and, essentially, all of it for cougars are vegetarians or vegans.

Paul

ps. I need a tongue-in-cheek emoticon.

Ha! Paul I expected something along this line, well done...obviously bears are omnivores but they are primarily carnivores...hence the smell of blood or meat is an attractant; big time. In Kicking Horse CG I watched a bear get trapped by ranger in a culvert trap: Bait was bacon.

Also, pertaining to bear spray possibly being an attractant....listened to two different ranger presentations on this point...not during the use to defensively push a bear away but the lingering odor as it dissipates can lure in other bears...anything pungent will do the job..not so much lentils but even tooth paste....or a really good curry dish!

The topic of how to deal with bears is right up there with "what motor oil is the best'; never ending and wildly divergent opinions....all good to listen to and then pick your preference..

Phil

 

[Ronin]

No backpacking this trip. Lot of day hiking at various points of the CDT. We had a thunderstorm while camped in the Red Desert. We were perched on top of a mesa and obviously the tallest object out there, so we sat in the truck for about an hour until the storm passed through. None of the lightning strikes were close. We also had thunderstorms camped near Dubois and again the next night while at Grand Teton. No lightning at Green River Lakes area. Have a great trip.


Sidebar....I leave for Winds 9-6 and enter @ Elkhart TH for 10-12 days above 10+K...Indian Basin area primarily...questions pertaining to bears in the Winds...when and where was the last time bears there had run-ins with humans [not counting ranchers ]? Being a Vegan gives me a little edge on food odors! Having said that, with a "no fires" outside established campgrounds [none in Winds] it will not be the same, I understand the logic but a small fire and a good sunrise with coffee is the backcountry experience...guess down to coffee and watching the sun come up..I also have camped out of a pack and now in the FWC in 'big bear' country for decades and have never had a negative contact...

Did you have much lightening? Where?

Thanks..Phil

Ps...Ronin were you backpacking or FWC camping or both?

PS
I don't know about recent bear encounters but the rangers as well as the BLM folks I spoke to take them seriously. Some trailheads we were going to hike were closed due to "bear activity"activity". It's a good idea to talk to the folks at the district field offices to get the latest info on bears, trail conditions, weather, etc.

 

[Vic Harder]

Ha! Paul I expected something along this line, well done...obviously bears are omnivores but they are primarily carnivores...hence the smell of blood or meat is an attractant; big time. In Kicking Horse CG I watched a bear get trapped by ranger in a culvert trap: Bait was bacon.

Also, pertaining to bear spray possibly being an attractant....listened to two different ranger presentations on this point...not during the use to defensively push a bear away but the lingering odor as it dissipates can lure in other bears...anything pungent will do the job..not so much lentils but even tooth paste....or a really good curry dish!

The topic of how to deal with bears is right up there with "what motor oil is the best'; never ending and wildly divergent opinions....all good to listen to and then pick your preference..

Phil

kicking horse... Yoho NP in Canada?

 

[Wallowa]

kicking horse... Yoho NP in Canada?

Yup...that be it...a favorite camping, backpacking area for me...bear capture was in '70s ; she had two cubs, which went up a tree and authorities darted them and they fell.... "wildlife management" at it's finest.

 

[Vic Harder]

Nice... Yoho is almost in my backyard.

 

[ckent323]

I have extensive personal experience testing the Bear Resistant Containers made by the company of which I am part owner and I can say for sure that a hungry bear will eat anthing that smells or even looks like food, including toothpaste, bread, apples, grains, meat, candy bars, popcorn, vegetables, even aromatic items such as suntan lotion and lip balm. Even grey water from the sink (dishwashing, tooth brushing, etc) needs to be properly stored and disposed of (we iuse a grey water container and try hard to avoid spills and dumping rinse water on the ground near our campsite).

Bears habituated to and by humans are particularly problematic and it often results in them being euthanized.

As the rangers in all forests and parks advise, keep all food stuff out of sight and in secure containers.

Here is a borrowed set of recommendations that are sound:

General Food Storage Tips
Keeping human food (and other aromatic items such as toiletries) away from animals requires similar practices in both a campground and backcountry campsite. Here are some general tips:

• Never leave food, trash or other scented products inside your tent.
• Never leave your food unattended. Jays, squirrels and chipmunks can quickly snatch food in broad daylight, and other animals come foraging at night.

Food Storage in a Campground

• During the day, keep all your food secured in your cooler or car, even if you’re sitting nearby or on a short jaunt to the outhouse, and especially if you’re away on a hike.
• At night, place any loose food, plus a cooler if you have one, inside a metal bear box if there is one. Storing food inside a car can also be an option in certain areas, but you need to check with local land managers first because some areas (where bears have become adept at breaking into vehicles) prohibit the practice. Raccoons and bears are adept at opening coolers left in the open. Some cooler manufacturers claim certain models are bear-proof, though padlocks might be required. Use a bear resistant canister, if bears are a known nuisance in the campground.

If a bear gets your food it is your fault.