How do you keep your food safe from bears in American mountains?

Question

I'm intressed in setting up camp to observe the wildlife, on an American mountain. I'm worried because people said that bears will come and nick my food, I don't want to have no food for two months!

Answer 1

Magpie is correct that bears have figured out the "hang it in the air" trick. You will probably have to invest in specially made "Bear Resistant Containers". Notice that even these are not called "Bear Proof"? Nothing is bear proof!

It sounds to me like you should talk to an REI Outdoor Adviser before starting your adventure. You can phone or use real-time chat to talk to the Adviser. REI is a not-for-profit supplier of outdoor gear (including bear resistant containers AND food). The Advisers will be happy to help you without asking (or caring) whether or not you are a member, whether or not you are buying anything.

A grizzly stands about 14 feet (I think that's about 4.5 meters) and has fingernails about the length and sharpness of butcher knives. Please have a serious discussion with an Outdoor Adviser before venturing into Mr. and Mrs. Grizzly's territory.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

You can rent or purchase bear canisters from REI or other outdoor equipment places you would buy or rent backpacks from. Bears can still roll it off a high cliff to break it and go to the bottom to clean up the mess, but it's more difficult since it's round and smooth and tough for them to get their paws on. Put all your food, garbage, toothpaste, chapstick, sunscreen, deodorant, and anything that has a scent inside the can and put it a good few yards from your campsite. If you're in high sierra camps, there will be lock boxes that will be great to use. Again, put everything that smells inside it. The lockboxes may even be big enough to put your whole pack inside.

hanging food is risky. at yosemite you can watch videos of bears climbing out on the limb, or breaking the limb to get to the food they know is in the hanging bag/pack. But if no other choice, this will be your last resort.

If you're by a river, we've also tied sealed food in a stuffsack and put it in the water overnight to minimize smell.

we also like to open all the pockets on the packs overnight (again placed a few yards from the tent) so that if any curious animals want to go through it, they won't chew or rip into the pack to get in/out. we had an incident with a nosy squirrel that did more than a few dollars' worth of damage to hubby's pack!

Answer 4

Years ago I was in the Smokey Mountains 10 miles in on a remote hiking trail with my GF. It was April so there were no other campers around. We stopped at a camp site for the night. There was 2 tall trees 20 ft apart with a cable stretched between the two trees. The cable was 20 - 25 ft up from the ground. After dinner we put all food, utensils, etc in the sacks for the sleeping bags, tied a rope to them and a small rock on the end of the rope. I then tied off some pots, pans, and lids to the bottom of the sacks so they would clang if disturbed. I threw the rock end of the rope over the cable and hoisted everyting up for the night. I tied the rope off on the tree. 4:00AM: "Clang, clang, clang!". Got up and shone flashlight up the tree. What I saw was amazing. Big blackie 400lb+ up the tree reaching out on the cable like a gymnast. He swiped at the bags 2-3 times. Ripped them loose. Carried them back down the tree. I was yelling but stopped when the bear got down cos then I realized how big he was. He made off with everything. In the morning I scouted out and found the remains 200 -300 yd away. Nothing was left. Came back and packed up camp. Then he showed up again. He was lurking at the far end of the clearing which was maybe 100 ft away. I yelled a couple of times to warn him away. We got the hell out of there always looking over our shoulders. We were tired and hungry but unscathed thank God when we got out.
A determined bear can climb trees and they will get your food. This is a true story. For what I know about bears now, I think we were lucky. One thing, if he's got your food he's got it. He won. Never ever keep food or utensils in your tent.

Answer 5

Sedna is right. Hang your food up high. Make sure you put the food in airtight containers as well. Always change your clothes before you go to bed so the bears don't search for another meal...namely you!!! Happy camping friend!!!

Answer 6

Keep it in an airtight container...when you get in the container...make sure you wash it in case you drip whatevers in there on the outside of it. If you have a car with you...keep the airtight containers in the trunk of your car.
If not..........always bring rope with you. Camp site managers have said to rope your food up in a tree.

Good Luck to your camping trip!

SmileyCat : )
Hey, keep some aweful army rationing- typepackets with you just in case...then you'll at least be able to have some yummy runny eggs outta a pouch and not starve to death!

Answer 7

Put all your food in a big bag then tie a long rope to it and throw the rope over a high tree branch and hoist the bag up so it hangs well above the ground. Then tie the end of the rope to the trunk.

Answer 8

Many campsites located within National Parks and Forests will provide you with boxes to keep food items in while camping. Don't keep food items in your vehicle either as bears will break windows to get inside.

Answer 9

Here's the advice from Yosemite rangers:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/bears/

Answer 10

the bear bad answer is right, and its not the haveing no food for mounth that you should be scared of. the bears will eat you too if you dont know what your doing