How to Make Your Food Bear Safe when Camping
Put the food away in a suitable shelter or container., Create a bear hang., Handle food with care., Avoid cooking strong smelling foods., Dispose of all food scraps, food particles, leftovers and containers properly.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Put the food away in a suitable shelter or container.
This is the simplest method, provided that the place in which you put your food is secure and bear-proof.
Examples of food storage methods that prevent bear access include placing your food:
In metal food lockers.
Some campgrounds provide metal food lockers.
Use them.
If they are full, ask neighboring campers if they can share some space.
In a cabin.
Some campgrounds provide cabins with shelves or food lockers and a locked front door.
Place all food in here and make sure that the door is firmly closed.
Label food if in a shared area.
In a bear-resistant canister.
Note that some parks now require the use of bear resistant food containers.
If you hike often, a canister can be a worthwhile purchase.
They can also often be rented on popular hiking routes if you don't want to buy your own.
Place all food into the canister and close completely.
Locate your sleeping area away from your cooking and bear canister area, ideally at least 100 yards. -
Step 2: Create a bear hang.
If you do not have access to either a shelter or container, a bear hang is the best option in many cases, although be aware that the thinking has changed in many parks to favor bear-resistant canisters because bears have worked out the trick behind bear hangs in many places.
If it is still okay to use a bear hang in the area you are camping in, you can make it by:
Selecting a suitable spot between two trees, at least 100 yards (91 meters) from your tent.
Do not hang it over berry patches, obvious bear trails etc.
Stretching a rope between two trees that are not too close together.
To get the rope up high enough, attach a small rock or other weight at one end to provide the momentum to throw it upwards.
The bear hang should be at least 12 feet high (4 meters) and 4 feet (1.4 meters) away from each tree.
Attaching a sealed sack to the middle of the rope.
Pulling the rope up and tying it securely to the other tree. , For the best bear-deterring actions, obey this list of don'ts:
Cook at least 100 yards (91 meters) from your tent.
Change clothes after cooking and keep those clothes elsewhere from your sleeping area.
Don't ever leave food unattended, not even for moment to go to the stream to get water.
Make sure it is guarded by others at the campsite or is put away.
Don't ever take food into the tent.
This is crucial or a bear may be tempted to rip open the tent to forage.
Check children's backpacks, pockets and other containers to make sure no candy or cookies have been sneaked in or simply forgotten about.
It is very easy to overlook strongly scented candies, chewing gum and chocolates without realizing.
Don't eat or cook in your tent. , Foods with strong odors will be very attractive to bears.
Bacon is a well-known bear attractant.
Probably whatever food makes you drool at the smell of it is an indicator that it'll attract bears.
Be careful in the food choices that you make, especially where heating intensifies the smell. , Use bear-proof trash cans.
Wash plates, cookware and utensils at least 100 yards away from the camp and preferably capture all food pieces and dispose of them in the bear-proof trash cans.
Leave a clean campsite.
Do not leave uneaten food, food scraps, garbage or empty cans etc. on the campsite.
Leave it as clean, if not cleaner, as you found it. -
Step 3: Handle food with care.
-
Step 4: Avoid cooking strong smelling foods.
-
Step 5: Dispose of all food scraps
-
Step 6: food particles
-
Step 7: leftovers and containers properly.
Detailed Guide
This is the simplest method, provided that the place in which you put your food is secure and bear-proof.
Examples of food storage methods that prevent bear access include placing your food:
In metal food lockers.
Some campgrounds provide metal food lockers.
Use them.
If they are full, ask neighboring campers if they can share some space.
In a cabin.
Some campgrounds provide cabins with shelves or food lockers and a locked front door.
Place all food in here and make sure that the door is firmly closed.
Label food if in a shared area.
In a bear-resistant canister.
Note that some parks now require the use of bear resistant food containers.
If you hike often, a canister can be a worthwhile purchase.
They can also often be rented on popular hiking routes if you don't want to buy your own.
Place all food into the canister and close completely.
Locate your sleeping area away from your cooking and bear canister area, ideally at least 100 yards.
If you do not have access to either a shelter or container, a bear hang is the best option in many cases, although be aware that the thinking has changed in many parks to favor bear-resistant canisters because bears have worked out the trick behind bear hangs in many places.
If it is still okay to use a bear hang in the area you are camping in, you can make it by:
Selecting a suitable spot between two trees, at least 100 yards (91 meters) from your tent.
Do not hang it over berry patches, obvious bear trails etc.
Stretching a rope between two trees that are not too close together.
To get the rope up high enough, attach a small rock or other weight at one end to provide the momentum to throw it upwards.
The bear hang should be at least 12 feet high (4 meters) and 4 feet (1.4 meters) away from each tree.
Attaching a sealed sack to the middle of the rope.
Pulling the rope up and tying it securely to the other tree. , For the best bear-deterring actions, obey this list of don'ts:
Cook at least 100 yards (91 meters) from your tent.
Change clothes after cooking and keep those clothes elsewhere from your sleeping area.
Don't ever leave food unattended, not even for moment to go to the stream to get water.
Make sure it is guarded by others at the campsite or is put away.
Don't ever take food into the tent.
This is crucial or a bear may be tempted to rip open the tent to forage.
Check children's backpacks, pockets and other containers to make sure no candy or cookies have been sneaked in or simply forgotten about.
It is very easy to overlook strongly scented candies, chewing gum and chocolates without realizing.
Don't eat or cook in your tent. , Foods with strong odors will be very attractive to bears.
Bacon is a well-known bear attractant.
Probably whatever food makes you drool at the smell of it is an indicator that it'll attract bears.
Be careful in the food choices that you make, especially where heating intensifies the smell. , Use bear-proof trash cans.
Wash plates, cookware and utensils at least 100 yards away from the camp and preferably capture all food pieces and dispose of them in the bear-proof trash cans.
Leave a clean campsite.
Do not leave uneaten food, food scraps, garbage or empty cans etc. on the campsite.
Leave it as clean, if not cleaner, as you found it.
About the Author
Sandra Myers
A passionate writer with expertise in practical skills topics. Loves sharing practical knowledge.
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