Just a reminder to take "Bear" precautions with your food while camping. Last Saturday evening while camping on the back side of the box we met the local resident bear. Our camp was quiet, and we where the only ones camped on the back side. Within 5 minutes of zipping the tents shut we heard the coolers being raided (my first thought was Joel or Matt raiding beer). We are got up to find the bear had climbed into the back of Rubi's rig and ran off with some doughnuts and cake.

The bear scared off easily this time, and did not return. If the bear develops a taste for 'people' food it may not be so easy to scare off next time. Needless to say we hung the garbage from a tree, moved the coolers away from the main camp area and stacked rocks on all the items to scare the bear if it tried to get into anything.

For those of you former Boy Scouts can you elaborate on proper camp precautions. The last thing I want to see is the bear needing to be shot or moved due to potential danger to humans, we are the visitors.

Thanks Joe

They won't move the bears they kill them.

Government Policy

• There is no bear relocation program in the state of California.
The California Dept of Fish and Game WILL NOT relocate bears.

When a complaint is registered about a problem bear that involves a threat to personal safety, or property damage, a depredation permit is issued. A trap is set and the bear that enters the trap is destroyed

from here:
http://www.savebears.org/id27.htm

Helps if fawkers don't leave donuts sitting in their rigs.. :rolleyes:


This is THEIR backyard, not OURS.

Originally posted by cbassett
Helps if fawkers don't leave donuts sitting in their rigs.. :rolleyes:


This is THEIR backyard, not OURS.

You are correct it was our fault, we should have taken the proper precautions. The food was stored in containers, but that won't stop most bears. I don't think on busy weekends the bear will show.

Joe

The bears, if hungry, will show.

There were plenty of tracks all over the trail on July 13 weekend.... and I watched a bear strolling around a dumpster in Tahoma while airing up (yeah, I ran in the dark to the well-lit station in Tahoma; not wanting a bear coming up my back in the dark)- he looked over at me and could give a sh*t I was there.

Oh come on... you guys go into bear counrty and don;t use a Bear Sack?

FYi.. i used to work ona ranch in Colorado. i had to clean up the messes the bears made each morning... IT SUCKED.

Originally posted by Chister
Oh come on... you guys go into bear counrty and don;t use a Bear Sack?

FYi.. i used to work ona ranch in Colorado. i had to clean up the messes the bears made each morning... IT SUCKED.

heheh that just makes cool marks in trees! ;)

Steve Erwin may wrestle crocs, but Mike "The Maniac" (pres of POR) likes to wrestle bears. We are safe. :D

Originally posted by Lance
Mike "The Maniac" (pres of POR) likes to wrestle bears.
:eek: GOT PICS!!:eek:

Originally posted by Lance
Steve Erwin may wrestle crocs, but Mike "The Maniac" (pres of POR) likes to wrestle bears. We are safe. :D

There's a reason he's called "Maniac". :laughing: :laughing:

Would somebody explain the rationale behind hanging food from trees? Here's the way I see it. If I hang my food from a tree, here's what happens when the bear comes.....Mr. Bear shows up as because he smelled the food in the tree. Mr. Bear now smells people in the tent. Mr. Bear now realizes the food in the tent is easier to get to than the food in the tree. I don't like to be bear food.

I know my logic has got to be wrong, but if I was a bear....

The logic is that unless you live in grizz country, bears are not to much of a danger. Hanging your food is a good rule, just make sure it's not above your tent. Co2 air horns that you can pick up at Big 5 sports, are great for chasing of your hairy nocturnal friends.

If you want to have fun place candy bars under your buddies tent
:D:D:D (just kidding)

Rich

Originally posted by Honkylips
Would somebody explain the rationale behind hanging food from trees? Here's the way I see it. If I hang my food from a tree, here's what happens when the bear comes.....Mr. Bear shows up as because he smelled the food in the tree. Mr. Bear now smells people in the tent. Mr. Bear now realizes the food in the tent is easier to get to than the food in the tree. I don't like to be bear food.

I know my logic has got to be wrong, but if I was a bear....

Using your logic, why doesn't the bear just reach down and take a big bite out of his leg? It is easier to get to than the food in the tree. :rasta: YOU don't smell like food to the bear. Actually, you probably smell like gear oil! I have heard of cases where tooth paste attracts bears though, something to consider before brushing at night.

Just run a rope between two trees and hang your food AND TRASH up there. Remember that bears are taller than you are too, so if you can reach it from the ground, you are just putting it and mouth level for them. :D Another option is food containers (http://www.bearproof.com/) .

One other thing to check is your propane bottles. The smell of propane will bring a bear in faster than food. It's an old poachers trick I heard about a long time ago.

really when you get down to it bears can get into both bags and containers without much difficulty. The big thing is to keep your food away from your tent. Almost every case I've ever heard of someone getting mauled they either wandered up onto a bear and scared it, got too close to a cub, or had food in their tent. BTW that tasty toothpaste stuff? Yep, its food.

Originally posted by Honkylips
Would somebody explain the rationale behind hanging food from trees? Here's the way I see it. If I hang my food from a tree, here's what happens when the bear comes.....Mr. Bear shows up as because he smelled the food in the tree. Mr. Bear now smells people in the tent. Mr. Bear now realizes the food in the tent is easier to get to than the food in the tree. I don't like to be bear food.

I know my logic has got to be wrong, but if I was a bear....
because bears are not carnovious[sp] :rolleyes:

Originally posted by mike
really when you get down to it bears can get into both bags and containers without much difficulty. The big thing is to keep your food away from your tent.

Actually that is not what people are saying. If the bears eat your food, even if it is not near your tent, they will become more dependent on human food and less timid. This gets the bears killed. If they can't get to your food then it is all just a waste of time and effort for them and they won't be as inclined to go into the next camp.

Originally posted by Dirty Harry


Actually that is not what people are saying. If the bears eat your food, even if it is not near your tent, they will become more dependent on human food and less timid. This gets the bears killed. If they can't get to your food then it is all just a waste of time and effort for them and they won't be as inclined to go into the next camp.

Bingo, they also become less scared of humans and the noise we make, meaning even on busy loud weekends the bear will approach camps to feed.

Joe

Originally posted by Dirty Harry


Actually that is not what people are saying. If the bears eat your food, even if it is not near your tent, they will become more dependent on human food and less timid. This gets the bears killed. If they can't get to your food then it is all just a waste of time and effort for them and they won't be as inclined to go into the next camp.

lemme think about that... I've seen bears break into houses, tear open car doors and trunks to get food. You really think you're going to prevent them from eating your food if they want it? Well, I could. I could bust out the 10ga, that always worked real well for dropping bear. Nope the game plan is to make it difficult and not to make yourself interesting in the process.

Originally posted by mike


lemme think about that... I've seen bears break into houses, tear open car doors and trunks to get food. You really think you're going to prevent them from eating your food if they want it? Well, I could. I could bust out the 10ga, that always worked real well for dropping bear. Nope the game plan is to make it difficult and not to make yourself interesting in the process.

OK Rambo, do whatever you want. My point was, bears in the wild DON'T "break into houses, tear open car doors and trunks to get food", they hunt for thier food because they are WILD ANIMALS. They only gain the above traits when they become accustomed to a "free lunch".

Instead of taking your 10 gauge to the Rubicon, maybe you should just stay in bear-free Antioch.

Originally posted by Dirty Harry


OK Rambo, do whatever you want. My point was, bears in the wild DON'T "break into houses, tear open car doors and trunks to get food", they hunt for thier food because they are WILD ANIMALS. They only gain the above traits when they become accustomed to a "free lunch".

Instead of taking your 10 gauge to the Rubicon, maybe you should just stay in bear-free Antioch.

Wow asshole, I point out a simple fact and you go ballistic with an amotional arguement. Typical Californian liberal responce. BTW I grew up in the woods, with the nearest house about 10 miles away. Watching bears and deer etc in my "back yard". Which is obviously a lot closer to em than you've gotten. And despite what you think, when you're in the woods be it in your house or your car what you have for food is fair game for WILD ANIMALS. Think theres no such thing as scavengers in nature? Man maybe you should get out in the woods.

Originally posted by mike


Wow asshole, I point out a simple fact and you go ballistic with an amotional arguement. Typical Californian liberal responce.

I apologize, I didn't realize that "I could bust out the 10ga, that always worked real well for dropping bear." was a simple fact. :rolleyes: Actually I am a member of the NRA, but we need people who kill bears for eating food lying around their camp about as much as four wheelers need drunken rednecks littering and blazing trails through meadows.



BTW I grew up in the woods, with the nearest house about 10 miles away. Watching bears and deer etc in my "back yard".

How did you ever survive out there with all of those bears breaking into your house and car all of the time? :rasta:


And despite what you think, when you're in the woods be it in your house or your car what you have for food is fair game for WILD ANIMALS.

Right, which is exactly why I wrote "If they can't get to your food then it is all just a waste of time and effort for them and they won't be as inclined to go into the next camp."

Just because it is "fair game" doesn't mean that you should make it easy for the bears, as you implied when you wrote "bears can get into both bags and containers without much difficulty. The big thing is to keep your food away from your tent."

I've always hung food and trash, but why is it that at camp grounds it says you can't do this?

Originally posted by Dirty Harry


I apologize, I didn't realize that "I could bust out the 10ga, that always worked real well for dropping bear." was a simple fact. :rolleyes: Actually I am a member of the NRA, but we need people who kill bears for eating food lying around their camp about as much as four wheelers need drunken rednecks littering and blazing trails through meadows.


Wow, I really dont know what to say. Evidentally any sarcasm or sense of humor or lightness is lost. FWIW I've hunted bear, legally, during season and everything. So I must be a wreckless dangerous criminal out to ruin our enjoyment of the outdoors :rolleyes: BTW for those that missed the simple fact here it is: a bear can break into a bear container and they can climb that tree the bags suspended from.


How did you ever survive out there with all of those bears breaking into your house and car all of the time? :rasta:


By not leaving it where I would be, now isnt that what I said in the first place? So you're saying that a bear containers safe in my tent? Wow, it must be.. its a bear container afterall.


Right, which is exactly why I wrote "If they can't get to your food then it is all just a waste of time and effort for them and they won't be as inclined to go into the next camp."

Just because it is "fair game" doesn't mean that you should make it easy for the bears, as you implied when you wrote "bears can get into both bags and containers without much difficulty. The big thing is to keep your food away from your tent."


When did I EVER say to feed the bears? Do you see it? God I missed it. I believe i said that a motivated bear could get into your bear bag or container anyway so keep IT out of your camp? I musta missed something.


One more thing, that could be important, but since Im a wreckless redneck yahoo I must not know about such things is that women NEED to deal with and store feminine products carefully. For more information check out http://www.griztrax.net/bearsafe_menstrual_risks.html They've thoughtfully written it all down.

Originally posted by XJJack
I've always hung food and trash, but why is it that at camp grounds it says you can't do this?

Because that brings them into the camp ground. It's openly available when its hung. Im assuming you're talking about non-primative camps that offer some services like food and trash lockers.

Originally posted by mike

Wow, I really dont know what to say. Evidentally any sarcasm or sense of humor or lightness is lost.

Actually I just re-read what you originally wrote and you are right, I missed the sarcasm. I thought that you were trying to be macho but after re-reading it I see that you were just joking. I aplogize (for real this time :flipoff2: ) for going off.

I do still get the impression from your posts that you feel that you shouldn't even TRY to hang food or put it in bear boxes because you think that they can just get it anyway. Although this is true in some cases, I still think that every possible precaution should be taken to keep food and trash from being accessible to the bears so they do not become dependent on humans and less afraid of us.

No, they don't have the lock boxes, they want you to keep it in your car, hard to do in a open top Jeep, and if you hang it then you get a ticket.

Originally posted by Dirty Harry


Actually I just re-read what you originally wrote and you are right, I missed the sarcasm. I thought that you were trying to be macho but after re-reading it I see that you were just joking. I aplogize (for real this time :flipoff2: ) for going off.

I do still get the impression from your posts that you feel that you shouldn't even TRY to hang food or put it in bear boxes because you think that they can just get it anyway. Although this is true in some cases, I still think that every possible precaution should be taken to keep food and trash from being accessible to the bears so they do not become dependent on humans and less afraid of us.

nope, I bag it. I just dont count on it being there the next morning is all. :D One more thing, leave the chapstick home.

My turn to chime in :)

Maybe I was stupid to leave my food box in my rig. But, in 25 plus years on the 'con, I've never seen anyone hang there food! Garbage- yes, food- never!

I think Joe posted this as a warning and reminder to all users to use caution and to ask for suggestions on how to be more bear prepared. That's all :)

Now, does anyone have any helpfull ideas beside hanging everything from a tree?

Originally posted by Rubicrawler


Now, does anyone have any helpfull ideas beside hanging everything from a tree?

Get a dog!:flipoff2:

Originally posted by Old Scout


Get a dog!:flipoff2:

Yep! Joie is some bear dog! I don't think she liked being put out of your tent :(

Ok I see it this way.

You either get the loud people partying all night and making noise
or you get the bears coming round when things are quiet.

So far the Loud partying people everyone complains about have never broken into my Ice chest and ate my food.

But then the bears haven't bothered me either.

Maybe they haven't imported the Yosemite bears that have mastered the vehicle door removal technique.

Kind a nice having an XJ to store my food in. I will say this until I have a bear decide that I should go door less.

It's been a long time, but when I was young (and in Boy Scouts) we use to go on hiking trips for 10 - 14 days in the mountains. We were inevitably in bear country.

ALL food went into the bear bags. When you're carrying everything you own on your back, you don't have to worry about things like coolers.

When I say ALL food, I mean ALL food. You NEVER want to have food in your tent with you. BAD idea. If you spill food on something, it should go in the bear bag also. For instance, I was sitting on my pack one day eating lunch. I dropped one of my peanut butter & jelly crackers on the pack. For the rest of the trip, it spent it's nights hoisted up on the bear line.

In addition to food items, anything that has a strong (artificial or otherwise) odor to it should also be on the bear line. This includes aftershave, deodorant, mouth wash, tooth paste, etc. Pretty much put your whole tioletries bag in there.

The key to the bear line setup is to have it suspended away from a limb or trunk (so they can't reach it) and anchored in two places (in case they get lucky and snap a line).

Some of the sites had preexisting metal lines strung from one trer to another. In that case, all we had to do was throw the line over the metal one, hoist up the crap, and tie it down.

Here's a picture to help.
http://offroadrepublic.com/fj40/pics-funnies/bear_line_setup.gif

My buddy just got back from day hiking in Montana. His friend (that lives there) gave him a 16 oz. can of bear repellent (pepper spray), just in case. Something else you might want to look into. Handy little gadget to keep on hand.

All of this may seem a little extreme, but I think it's worth being extra cautious. Luckily you have Grizzlies which are "smarter" about human interaction. They pretty much leave you alone. Black bears have been known to be almost vindictive, pursuing people just to kill them. Not even going after anything they have

Originally posted by DavidO

......In addition to food items, anything that has a strong (artificial or otherwise) odor to it should also be on the bear line. This includes aftershave, deodorant, mouth wash, tooth paste, etc. Pretty much put your whole tioletries bag in there.

etc....


My buddy just got back from day hiking in Montana. His friend (that lives there) gave him a 16 oz. can of bear repellent (pepper spray), just in case. Something else you might want to look into. Handy little gadget to keep on hand.



I heard that bears like people with a light coating of pepper spray, adds just the right seasoning;)

Seriously though, DO NOT fire off any pepper spray unless you are being attacked by a bear, otherwise it works like a lure... [bear thought]*sniff sniff*... hmmmm.... smells interesting, let's go investigate*[/bear thought]
:eek:

I have heard that cups of ammonia set around your tent/campsite will keep them away as well. THis coming from the campground host up at French Meadows (definite bear country).

Might be worth a try?

Originally posted by Kendo
I have heard that cups of ammonia set around your tent/campsite will keep them away as well. THis coming from the campground host up at French Meadows (definite bear country).

Might be worth a try?

Sure, my grandpa swore by peeing around the campsite

Originally posted by mike


Sure, my grandpa swore by peeing around the campsite

Maybe that's why my group and I have never had a "close" envcounter, we drink enough :beer: and pee non-stop, hell, I don't even like being around sometimes. :D

Originally posted by Rubicrawler
I think Joe posted this as a warning and reminder to all users to use caution and to ask for suggestions on how to be more bear prepared. That's all :)


In a nut shell. Up until I meet the Sluice Box Bear I had not heard of any sightings of bears around the popular camping areas.

I don't want to see the bear to become dependent on human food or :beer: for that matter

Just what we need is an article by the Greens that our actions resulting in killing of bear.

Joe

10 feet up and four feet out from the trunk, and tie your rope off on a different tree. I just spent the week in yellowstone and we hung four coolers and three bags of food every night (more afraid of a fine than the bears :rolleyes: ).

Originally posted by jdjanda




I don't want to see the bear to become dependent on human food or :beer: for that matter


Joe

As soon as a bear touches the :beer: , someone better get a video camera, cause it's AWN!!! Wrestlemania time Mr. Bear. :D

Originally posted by SeaBass44

because bears are not carnovious[sp] :rolleyes:

Huh? California bears vegitarian now?

Assuming you meant carnivorous, yes bears are flesh eaters.

Originally posted by Rubicrawler
Now, does anyone have any helpfull ideas beside hanging everything from a tree?


I wedge my coolers under my rig. The siren for my alarm points roughly towards the ground and it's megadecibels is equally alarming and annoying. ;)

I also keep a very clean camp, with the garbage bags on the outside perimeter of camp.

Screw the wildlife have you seen the size of the ants up there:flipoff2: If you pack your stuff with noisy crap on top of it pots pans that will help they have great noses so its almost impossible to seal your food and not very practical. I have the same philosophy that they were their first and don't ever feed the wildlife including squirrels its not good for them. Plus it encourages them to eat and look for food from humans. Canned food and dry are good the less sweets out there the better.

Originally posted by TDW


Huh? California bears vegitarian now?

Assuming you meant carnivorous, yes bears are flesh eaters.

The wild bears in the California Sierra are mostly herbivores. They are classed as an omnivore which meanis they will eat anything including the door skin of your car ;) but in general, the wild ones eat berries, nuts, grubs and maybe some rodents. They will eat fish but except in areas that have some sort of a spawning run don't have much chance for a meal.

Also, they don't hunt any land animals except again maybe rodents. They might eat some carrion, but they won't stalk a deer for a meal.

State's black bear population on the rise

July 26, 2002

By KEVIN HOWE
Monterey County Herald


An estimated 25,000 to 35,000 black bears now roam California, according to the most recent estimates, a significant increase from the past few decades.

That population surge, added to the state's human population growth and the pressure of increased development in once-empty areas, has resulted in more close encounters of the bear kind, according to Jeff Cann, associate wildlife biologist with the Department of Fish and Game.

Earlier this week, a bear was chased up a tree in residential Monrovia and remained there all day until it could be shot with a tranquilizer dart and transported back into the wilderness.

With a drought year in progress, Cann said, residents can expect to see more bears and other wildlife looking for food and water.

Once bears discover the abundance of garbage and fruit trees in settled areas, Cann said, "they don't want to leave."

Wildlife officials have discovered that relocating "problem bears" back to wilderness areas just doesn't work, Cann said. These "civilized" bears often have to be killed.

Department experts are meeting in Sacramento this week to discuss the problem, particularly ways to educate the public to be "bear aware."

The thinking now, Cann said, is to get the bears headed back into the wilderness when they hit the periphery of civilization.

Rural residents should keep garbage covered and secured, pick up and dispose of dropped fruit and other edibles from trees, and make sure homes and food storage buildings are closed up, he said.

When bears appear in a yard, "we hope people will make noise, bang pots and pans together, to discourage them and move them back," Cann said.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yup, the bear population is on the rise. The bears are even moving
back into areas where they were hunted out over 100 years ago.
Within the last year a bear was shot and killed in Ramona, an
eastern suburb of San Diego.

Yeah, we use to have that same problem in Houston.


:flipoff2: ~dso