Sleeping in vehicle in black bear country (what to do with food)

[JPR4LFE]

Regarding self-protection, I wonder if a person sleeping inside a car makes any difference to the bear?

There are some hard and fast rules for bear country, but outside of those I think everyone has a different comfort level. It would be within my comfort zone to sleep in a hardsided vehicle that has food in it.

As far as self protection, here are some options:
-bear spray
-firearm with appropriate caliber and training
-medium to large dogs (mixed bag, they provide good detection/deterrent, but can aggravate some wildlife. Know your dog)
-portable electric fence. They market and sell electric bear fences, usually intended for outfitters in grizzly country. But I don’t see why they wouldn’t work around a Kia if the need was there

 

[JaSAn]

I keep food in my camper: FWC Grandby. I don't tempt fate, I don't cook inside (only boil water). My plan:

1. 'early warning' beagle. He makes a racket and warns me so I'm ready (body language).
2. If bear gets nosy - panic button on my key fob + outside lights.
3. If bear tries to get in - shotgun with 5 slugs. I won't miss at that distance.

I've never gotten past #2.

 

[Photomike]

After over 40 years in bear country, I’ve never had an issue—whether with grizzlies or black bears. I’ve camped in campgrounds, deep in the backcountry, using tents, vehicles, and RVs. My golden rule for tents? No food allowed inside. When it comes to vehicles, I treat them like home—I cook, eat, and store food inside, and so far, I’ve never had a problem.

My biggest concern isn’t with uncooked food but with garbage. I always make sure to dump it daily to avoid attracting any curious bears.

The closest call I had was actually this spring. On my way back to the van, I had a run-in with a bear. He was walking away from my van, heading straight towards me, and he wasn’t about to change his path. Thankfully, some kind folks picked me up a little ways from my van and drove me back. When I got there, I noticed the bear had been rubbing his nose up and down my passenger side mirror, as if he was inspecting his reflection. Luckily, no damage was done to the van, even though I had enough food inside to feed an army.

Like others have suggested, first is the panic button on your key fob, a high-powered flashlight and if that does not work bear spray if needed.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I wasn't super comfortable with food/trash with me while I slept... but I am in the back of my truck with a topper. Neither as hermetically sealed for smells nor as secure as a regular vehicle. And if they actually get in they have to get thru me to get to the food under the sleeping platform assuming they won't be able to get the tailgate open. Meanwhile the only way for me to get in or out of the truck is thru the back of the truck.

 

[Dirt Rider]

Sleeping in a vehicle with food means you are desert. A bear can open a door in seconds.

 

[the deputy]

If l'm roughing it, wilderness camping, usually stop and prepare dinner somewhere in route about an hour before l get to camp. And throw away all related items, trash, in route at bear proof recepticals. Did this whenever rough camping or at remote campgrounds in Alaska or surrounding areas. All food inside vehicle was canned or freeze dried. Had bear spray in vehicle (where l slept)...since the material the Defender's 110 is made of, aluminum, is barely going to stop a detremined squirrel...let alone a hunger bear.

Even on days where camping multiple days in same location was mode of operation...usually left camp and cooked somewhere else. Was usually out exploring anyway looking for a scenic spot.

In Michigan...never give it a second thought. Cook at camp and take no precautions. Just black bears here. I've probably ran into five or six while on foot.

 

[klahanie]

If l'm roughing it, wilderness camping, usually stop and prepare dinner somewhere in route about an hour before l get to camp. And throw away all related items, trash, in route at bear proof recepticals. Did this whenever rough camping or at remote campgrounds in Alaska or surrounding areas. All food inside vehicle was canned or freeze dried. Had bear spray in vehicle (where l slept)...since the material the Defender's 110 is made of, aluminum, is barely going to stop a detremined squirrel...let alone a hunger bear.

Even on days where camping multiple days in same location was mode of operation...usually left camp and cooked somewhere else. Was usually out exploring anyway looking for a scenic spot.

In Michigan...never give it a second thought. Cook at camp and take no precautions. Just black bears here. I've probably ran into five or six while on foot.

This is brilliant !

 

[TwinStick]

Many people don't know this but YETI rotomolded coolers are actually certified bear resistant but only if you have 2 locks to help hold the lid closed. And I would also chain it to a tree or something substantial.

Same rules here too - no food, snacks, toothpaste or anything food related come into tent. Vehicles can be fixed or replaced, people's lives can not.

An 80 lb black bear is capable of killing a human. So anything more than that is even worse. And, if a big bear wants your stuff, not much you can do unless you have bear spray or a firearm or if you feel really fit, have at it and wrestle the bear. Lol , just joking, that is never a good idea.

We used to have a neighbor who's daughter worked at Yellowstone. She told us of a woman from Europe who came to hike and camp Yellowstone. She warned her that she shouldn't do that alone. She didn't listen and they found her gear and remains. Grizzly Bear caught her in her tent. An ounce of prevention can be worth your life.

When we were in known bear country, we would cook and eat, then move and find a place to camp.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Thanks for the replies. Bear encounters have increased greatly in the Northeastern US since I started camping, but I personally have never had a bear try to get food from my car. I keep a very clean campsite. However, this year there have been frequent bear problems at campgrounds.

The goals are (1) to keep bears from trying to break into my car (prevent damage to the car), (2) to protect my food, and (3) to protect myself. #1 and #2 have never been a problem. Regarding self-protection, I wonder if a person sleeping inside a car makes any difference to the bear?

I'm in New England and do most of my hiking and camping in western Mass or up in the NH Whites and I have rarely even seen a black bear out in the wild. We are too noisy, what with the dog and all. I see bears all the time in my backyard though.

Get even a small dog, keep em on a good harness and leash, tie them out only in camp when you are with them, and they will cause enough clatter to keep bears away from you

 

[ThundahBeagle]

I keep food in my camper: FWC Grandby. I don't tempt fate, I don't cook inside (only boil water). My plan:

1. 'early warning' beagle. He makes a racket and warns me so I'm ready (body language).
2. If bear gets nosy - panic button on my key fob + outside lights.
3. If bear tries to get in - shotgun with 5 slugs. I won't miss at that distance.

I've never gotten past #2.

The "early warning Beagle" is real! Love my Beagle. They should have put Beagles up in Alaska during the cold war as a Distant Early Warning Beagle" system, or since the military likes their abbreviations: DEWBEE

 

[ThundahBeagle]

I wasn't super comfortable with food/trash with me while I slept... but I am in the back of my truck with a topper. Neither as hermetically sealed for smells nor as secure as a regular vehicle. And if they actually get in they have to get thru me to get to the food under the sleeping platform assuming they won't be able to get the tailgate open. Meanwhile the only way for me to get in or out of the truck is thru the back of the truck.

Yep. We drove and camped around Badlands of S. Dakota and in Colorado, we had a sleep platform in the 6.5 foot bed of the truck, with Leer topper. The food was elsewhere while we slept but it lived under the topper in the bed while we drove, so I'm sure the smell lingered. But I feel, for black bears anyway, opening the liftgate and then the locked tailgate, or climbing in...that would have been enough for us to yell and make a ton of noise. And the Thunder Beagle was with us, so that's a lot of noise, too. I feel any bear would have just high-tailed it and left.

My topper has a removable front window, the one up against the back of the cab. I got it used. Unfortunately my truck does not have a sliding rear window. That would be optimal, so we could crawl back and forth between cab and bed.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

There are some hard and fast rules for bear country, but outside of those I think everyone has a different comfort level. It would be within my comfort zone to sleep in a hardsided vehicle that has food in it.

As far as self protection, here are some options:
-bear spray
-firearm with appropriate caliber and training
-medium to large dogs (mixed bag, they provide good detection/deterrent, but can aggravate some wildlife. Know your dog)
-portable electric fence. They market and sell electric bear fences, usually intended for outfitters in grizzly country. But I don’t see why they wouldn’t work around a Kia if the need was there

Agree with all except, for black bears in North East, I've never had need for the firearm.

 

[Ozarker]

Reply not working;

Does it matter if a person is sleeping in the car?

Depends on how hungry the bear is!

 

[MiamiC70]

Did you read the original post? Sleeping inside a Kia Soul. That's a tiny vehicle, so a choice between the person sleeping in the vehicle or the food container. Not room enough for both. I have a 4Runner, a much bigger rig and there's no room for me in the back if I leave my ice chest inside.

Maybe, just maybe don’t camp in a Kia Soul. 🤔

 

[rgallant]

Lots of good stuff here, but a point on dogs. With a solitary bear a barking dog moving towards the bear will often cause the bear to go elsewhere. Against a mother and cubs it can end very badly for your dog, not matter how big a dog you have a 300 lb bear that wants to hurt the dog will win.