I have been camping for 30 years, starting at a young age with the Boy Scouts. I have never actually seen a live bear. I have seen what a bear can do to a dumpster of garbage. I have seen the path a bear has taken through the woods, I have heard people say "there is a bear over there"....but I have never seen one.
Just use common sense and you won't have a problem. Don't leave garbage out, put it in the dumpster or put it in your car. Keep your food sealed up or in your car. If you see or hear a bear, just walk calmly in the other direction. And most importantly.....don't F*#k with the bear. They don't like it. I have heard stories of a father throwing rocks at a cub to get it to leave. That pissed the mama bear off who then messed a lot of stuff up in the campsite.
Matt O 2006 Skyline Nomad 27' travel trailer. Previously owned 1986 Coleman Columbia / 1992 Coleman Senecca / 1989 Born Free Class C RV.
We camped when I was younger in Shenandoah in a tent and we had skunks, deer and bears all in our site at one point or another during the night. We used the bear boxes they had and anything that had a smell was kept out of the tent.
Bears have a great nose and that's the secret to keeping them away, anything that smells must be kept away. Toothpaste, deodorant, food of any kind, fruit flavored snacks, you get the idea. If it smells keep it out of the tent and in a bear box or in a cooler in your vehicle.
Best Regards,
Norm
Scented shampoos and skin lotions and candles, especially fruit or food -like, also count into this, so don't use them. Don't cook or eat inside the tent or camper. keep cooking area away from camper. All trash should go to dumpster at end of day. Cover your cooler inside the car, keep it out of sight. If you go for a walk, don't be stealthy. Walking to bathroom at night, use a flash light. Keep car keys next to sleeping area, you can always set car alarm off (it makes light and noise-both are a good deterent)
No, Fridge once shut, doesn't have ventilation, so if closed and latched, is not attractive.
Here is a link to the National Parks Bear Safety Campaign. https://www.nps.gov/yell/plany.....safety.htm
my "critters while camping" preventative is to leave them a lil something far from campsite. in 50 years of camping, ive been raided by squirrels, blue jays skunks & raccoons and one bear (in AZ).
In Texas, the skunks & raccoons know how to work tent zippers & ice chest latches! i watched them raid the neighbors camps. they found my plate of goodies & left my ice chest alone.
bears are NOT to be messed with!
if one does get into your food, let them eat! Do NOT try to scare it off.
another trip to a grocery store is far cheaper than a trip to the ER.
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