Trailers, RTT and Bears

[Whoknows]

da bearzzssss

Now that looks promising. Best of all, if these become widely used, there is a possibility of breaking the association between humans and easy access to food.

 

[BMThiker]

case study video with grizzlies

http://www.nols.edu/resources/research/movies/bearfence_xl.shtml

This video shows that bears that have never "experienced" an elec fence run upon first contact. The bears that have experience will attempt to get any food near the fence. Keep all food 3 ft from fence perimeter is recommendation.

These guys are smarter than your average bear for sure.

 

[Corey]

This is a good thread, I am subbing to it.
Also going to pick up an airhorn and spray.

Last year I camped up at Mt. Rainier, and there are black bear up there.
Saw one on a hiking trail, just the tail end of it.

I kept all the food in side of my rig in a tote and the ARB fridge.
I did have some food in a tote too on the picnic table.
Next year I will not be leaving any food out.

Besides bears up there, the chipmunks are notorious for taking food off of your table.

 

[Root Moose]

So, if you have these portable fences around your food does that mean that the humans in the tent outside the fence become the next interesting thing for the bears to eat ?

 

[JeepinBear]

I once saw a bear smell one single chicken wing from over half a mile away.

These guys setup a chicken wing on a stake in the middle of the woods, over half a mile away from the bear. All it took was one sniff for the bear to know exactly in which direction he had to walk to get to the little wing.

The guy conducting the experiment said he was 100% sure the bear could smell it just as well from 3/4 of a mile or so.

There is an old Indian saying that goes something like "When a Pine needle falls in the forest from a mile away, the Eagle will see it, the Elk will hear it, and the Bear will smell it".

 

[Hilldweller]

There is an old Indian saying that goes something like "When a Pine needle falls in the forest from a mile away, the Eagle will see it, the Elk will hear it, and the Bear will smell it".

which is amazing because every bear I've been close to has smelled terrible. I mean ripe. Fumes.
It's a wonder that they can smell anything but themselves.

But they're so cute:

 

[wgwood]

I took this photo a few years back at Lake Mary Campground in Mammoth Lakes. The momma bear and her cubs just showed up in the middle of the day and rummaged through the entire place.

The photo below was taken at Silver Lake in the Sierras. The campers next to me had a styrofoam cooler in the backseat. The bears know what these are and will tear open the car to get to them.

And yes, they are cute...

Regards,
Greg

 

[Hilldweller]

Is it okay to bearspray them if they're attacking your stuff and not threatening a person?
Is that considered unethical, cruel, etc.? Get arrested or a ticket in a National Park/Forest?

 

[Corey]

This guy will write you a ticket in a heartbeat.

 

[Hilldweller]

This guy will write you a ticket in a heartbeat.

Correct me if I'm wrong but, that's the dude I'd be spraying...

Really; is it okay to use non-lethal but fairly aggressive means to get them off your gear? We go to GSMNP often and haven't had any close encounters with bears. So far... ...and I'd like to know ahead of time how far I'm aloud to defend my property...

 

[socaljeeper]

Instead of using pepper spray, use an air horn. Maybe that will be a more reasonable approach if they are just going thru the camp site and not being aggressive or pose a threat. Then use the pepper spray when they start coming towards you after being irritated by that loud annoying noise

 

[ThomD]

Right off the NPS web site:

Willfully approaching within 50 yards (150 feet), or any distance that disturbs or displaces a bear, is illegal in the park. Violation of this federal regulation can result in fines and arrest. Use binoculars, telephoto lens, or a spotting scope to view the animals.

If you see a bear remain watchful. Do not approach it. If your presence causes the bear to change its behavior (stops feeding, changes its travel direction, watches you, etc.)—you’re too close. Being too close may promote aggressive behavior from the bear such as running toward you, making loud noises, or swatting the ground. The bear is demanding more space. Don’t run, but slowly back away, watching the bear. Try to increase the distance between you and the bear. The bear will probably do the same.

If a bear persistently follows or approaches you, without vocalizing, or paw swatting, try changing your direction. If the bear continues to follow you, stand your ground. If the bear gets closer, talk loudly or shout at it. Act aggressively and try to intimidate the bear. Act together as a group if you have companions. Make yourselves look as large as possible (for example, move to higher ground). Throw non-food objects such as rocks at the bear. Use a deterrent such as a stout stick. Don’t run and don't turn away from the bear. Don't leave food for the bear; this encourages further problems.

I'd say that it will come down to what story you tell the Ranger. "Yes, I was sitting at my picinic table and this bear came at the cooler at my feet." is different than, "I was out of the camp site and came back to find that the bear was up to his elbows in my sutff."

 

[The Adam Blaster]

Well, if the real goal is keep bears away from people and camp sites, I'd use the air horn first, then if it didn't take off immediately, I would pepper spray it. Just make sure you're up wind of the bear, because you REALLY don't want to get a blast of that stuff in your face. lol

 

[Rezarf <><]

This might be understood but I think it is worth mentioning.

If at any point you think things are going to go down bad with a bear... screw the "rules" protect you and yours. Property... meh, let it go. But human life, it is a no brainer.

We need to be prepared, with know-how and equipment for sure, but mentally as well, if I get a big fine, or arrested and my wife and I are safe... I can deal with it.

I am not talking about being careless or malicious, but don't get too bogged down in the "rules" or things could get much worse.

 

[ttora4runner]

I remember seeing claw marks on trees growing up while on vacation but never had any bear encounters. I know in a few areas where we camped you had to have a hard side camper to camp and not a pop up camper like we had and hearing stories from par rangers about bears raiding peoples campsites.

Up in Yellowstone a few years back up on a famliy reunion one of the last we visited was closed temporary due to bears in the area. It doesn't help either when you see an elk half on the shore half in the water with it's stomach area torn open.

The last encounter I had a with a bear was while in Ouray last year heading up Engineers Pass.

When camping in bear country in my tent I've kept a knife under my pillow for a quick exit if needed.