Adventure trailers, kitchens and bear safety

[jaxonm]

bob91yj, I had a very similar experience once camping in Tahoe, which is why I started the thread. I was on a road trip from LA to Seattle with my dog and we were doing quick overnight stays. The night in question I didn't even cook in camp, but the campgrounds were busy and that brought the bears out.

I woke up with the dogs muzzle pressing into my chest as she growled like I had never heard her growl. I quickly realized that I could feel the breath of a bear through the tent wall above my head. I reached into the sling for my headlamp and grabbed my car keys, so I set the car alarm off. That worked, and woke up most of the surrounding camps.

I don't carry a gun (fully support your right to tho), but I do carry bear spray and keep a very clean camp, storing food and garbage away from sleeping areas. In general I am only concerned with bears showing up while we are sleeping. As elmo_4_vt stated, we would be sleeping right on top of the kitchen.

Obviously there is no magic bullet here. Cleanliness and being smart (as usual) are the big keys. I like the idea of bells on food and garbage bags. And I think I will keep the idea of having a bear horn or siren that I can trigger from in the RTT.

Be safe out there.

 

[Lynn]

Just a quick thought on the bear spray...

I wish I had kept a copy of it, but back when I was on an alpine SAR unit we received copies of a bear spray study (I think it was AK Dept. of Wildlife). They found that while the spray would drive off a bear, it would draw distant bears into the area. Seems bears are like humans, in that they like a small bit of spice, but not a lot.

Anyway, their recommendation was that if you have to use bear spray, leave the area.

 

[Lynn]

but should slim show up,

I'm appropriating that line.

 

[Septu]

I just buy a bear tag. Problem solved, I never see one after that.

Isn't that usually the way it works out?

My dad always buys a bear tag. But only because it's easier to have a bear tag then to deal with the paperwork if you actually have to shoot one (he did once that I'm aware of... ~15 years ago?).

 

[offthebeatenpath]

My dad always buys a bear tag. But only because it's easier to have a bear tag then to deal with the paperwork if you actually have to shoot one (he did once that I'm aware of... ~15 years ago?).

I agree- at least for an in-state tag here in Montana, it's a $20 tag that can save a whole lotta headache. The only problem is that's only insurance against half the bear population here- it's only good on blackies, those big griz are still protected. Also, that doesn't help you very much if you're traveling out of state, those tags are expensive.

 

[Fyreman]

Just carry a .22lr. Shoot your buddy in the leg so you can out run him... Problem solved 😜


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