food safety in bear country

[Ella1]

When boondocking in bear country, in your tin can, whether a car, van, or rv of whatever size, what do you do about food and garbage safety?  :s
No bear boxes around, no place to store opened  food or empty cans/garbage. Do you all carry your own bear boxes?
How do you keep your food and your garbage unnoticed by the bears----who surely know what cooking food smells like...  :huh:
Ella1

 

[Almost There]

When boondocking in bear country, in your tin can, whether a car, van, or rv of whatever size, what do you do about food and garbage safety?  :s
No bear boxes around, no place to store opened  food or empty cans/garbage. Do you all carry your own bear boxes?
How do you keep your food and your garbage unnoticed by the bears----who surely know what cooking food smells like...  :huh:
Ella1

In a van it's a little easier, particularly a cargo van. In a car, make sure that you throw a cover over the cooler. Depending on your area, the bears have learned to identify coolers...

All food needs to be put away inside the vehicle any time you're not preparing it. Garbage needs to be treated the same as food - put it away either inside or disposed of.

Also, some people forget and leave their barbecues out...that's a no no!

Bears tend to hang out either away from people or if they've become habituated, then around organized campgrounds. We have a fairly high population of bears in the area here - occasionally have one wander into town! The provincial park has more problems with the bears near the organized campgrounds because there's so many city folks coming camping that have no idea and actually think it's cute and okay to try to feed the bears...sigh!!

I go backcountry camping regularly (hiking or canoeing access only) and there are relatively few encounters with bears. Mostly we see the tail end of them heading into the bush!

Some of the national parks like Yosemite?? require bear barrels for interior use and carefully monitor the campers in the organized parts to try to prevent habituation of the bears.

You'll want to take the same precautions whether you're in a bear area or not...the squirrels, raccoons and mice are worse and more common campsite visitors than bears are - by about 100 to 1 ratio!!

 

[B and C]

When boondocking in bear country, in your tin can, whether a car, van, or rv of whatever size, what do you do about food and garbage safety?  :s
No bear boxes around, no place to store opened  food or empty cans/garbage. Do you all carry your own bear boxes?
How do you keep your food and your garbage unnoticed by the bears----who surely know what cooking food smells like...  :huh:
Ella1

X2 what Almost There said.  Keeping your campsite meticulously clean helps too.  If I drop anything edible on the ground, I scoop it up along with some of the dirt underneath it and cover the hole with fresh dirt.

 

[Wabbit]

I also burn what garbage I can that have smells(canned foods) or are paper products. The next day I pick out the cans, crush, and bag them. I save and use my grocery bags for daily garbage and then tie them up and put those into a large black trash bag until I see a dumpster or a useable garbage can.

 

[LeeRevell]

Bears can be attracted to soap and perfumes, basically anything manmade. They are serious moochers. But I have had much more trouble with opposums, raccoons and dogs.

 

[WriterMs]

You may also consider doing what non-motorized backcountry campers do: hang your food, garbage and scented hygiene items in bags/containers away from your rig and in a way that bears cannot reach.

Find tons of help on ways to do this by googling "bear bags" or "bear safety hanging food."

RVSue now has an outside air horn system on her trailer after having a bear try to get in one night: http://rvsueandcrew.net/air-horn/

I have a hand-pump air horn that I luckily have never needed to try out on a bear, but it works well for elk who decide that my mounted spare tire is a great place rub antlers.

I'm sure Bob will weigh in on this having spent so much time camping in Alaska.

 

[cdiggy]

Where ever you are it is important to check the boards at entrance/web sites. Some areas have real smart yogis and hanging from trees or bear bags don't work or are illegal. They may look stupid are are actually quite intelligent and have a great sense if smell. Grisleys are built like front end loaders and can easily rip apart even the most secured compartments if they smell something yummy!

 

[Ella1]

Thanks for all your replies. All these suggestions help. I do like that air horn...
Ella

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Sorta works it seems...

 

[SoulRaven]

Nobody's mentioned bear spray, this is a must have too.

 

[highdesertranger]

I have only experienced problem bears in developed campground, while boondocking never. like a lot posted, rats, skunks, raccoons, and the like are more of a problem. highdesertranger