How to Bear Proof Your Campsite for Camping Safety
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How to Bear Proof Your Campsite for Camping Safety
After hours and hours of backpacking, you finally stumble upon your ideal camping spot. Perhaps it’s in a nice clearing, near a small creek, or even in a secluded pine grove. Once you finish getting everything set up, you sit back to relax and enjoy your surroundings. You decide to pull your binoculars out to further scout the area, when you notice a bear far off in the distance. While it’s currently far enough away that it doesn’t pose a threat, there are precautions you should take to make sure things stay that way. Here are some effective methods of how to bear proof your campsite to ensure camping safety.
Food Storage
The main reason bears tend to wander into campsites is when they’re hunting for a snack. They possess an excellent sense of smell, which science believes is the best of any animal on Earth. To put it in perspective, a blood hound has a sense of smell 300 times greater than that of humans. A bear, on the other hand, is upwards of 2,100 times that of a human. As a result, once you finish consuming your meal, it is important to store extra ingredients, leftovers and scraps properly to mask their scent. Also, now is a good time to mention that you should NEVER take any food or drinks (other than water) into your tent for any reason. By hiding your food, you effectively help protector yourself from bears during your camping trip.
When it comes to food storage, there are two primary options – bear bags (often referred to as a bear hang), and bear canisters. A bear bag is a special bag designed to mask the odor of its contents. From there, through the use of a cord system and carabineers, it is hoisted into a high tree branch away from your campsite. This serves not only to keep your food safe from bears, but rodents as well.
Next, bear canisters are very sturdy, hard-sided containers weighing up to around 4lbs. They are composed of extremely strong materials such as carbon fiber, ABS plastic, and polycarbonate. Bear canisters usually feature a special type of lid that is recessed, which keeps it from being pulled off by force. Finally, the top tier models even include a gasket configuration to keep the container air tight and fragrance free.
Clothing
It is important to note that you should always change your clothes after cooking. With such a highly tuned sense of smell, bears can easily pick up a hint of last night’s dinner from your favorite sweater. The last thing you want is a bear thinking that you’re going to taste like that delicious fresh salmon. After changing, you can also store your previous clothing in a bear bag or canister.
Other Attractants
Is easy to mistakenly think that consumables are the only thing you need to worry about when it comes to attracting bears. On the contrary, the real list is actually quite long. Anything that comes in contact with food and beverages can draw bears in. This includes things such as pots and pans, utensils, tablecloths, and even cooking implements. Other items that produce fragrances that may attract wild animals are coolers (even when empty), garbage, pet food, and even gasoline. As you can see, keeping a clean campsite really goes a long way to keeping animals at bay.
Sleeping
When it comes time to turn in, if you find yourself in bear country you should never sleep outside of your shelter. While a flimsy tent isn’t actually likely to physically protect you against a 600lb black bear, much less a 1300lb brown bear, it does keep you hidden from sight. As long as you changed your clothes after dinner and stored your scraps far from camp, bears should have no reason to mess with your tent. Now you can see why I mentioned not taking any food or beverages into your tent. Out of sight (and smell), out of mind.
Other Campsite Protection
With all other preparation complete, it’s time to make sure you’ve got a few extra essentials at the ready. A tactical flashlight can be a valuable accessory, and not just to keep you from tripping over a tree root in the middle of the night. Modern tactical flashlights are equipped with extremely bright and powerful lights. This can allow you to light up the forest if you hear something go bump in the middle of the night, and possibly even blind a bear.
Next, bear spray should always be close at hand. Bear spray is quite similar to traditional pepper spray, but there is a key difference between the two. While both are composed of the same main ingredient – oleoresin capsicum, bear spray uses a vastly lower concentration. Pepper spray can contain anywhere from 10-30%, while that of the bear variety sits around 1-2%. It is important to note that you should only use bear spray if you come in close contact with one. Do not spray it on your clothes, tent, or other surroundings, as strange smells will only serve to attract bears and other animals. Bear spray should be one of the last go to options to protect yourself from bears while out camping. Do not spray a bear if the situation doesn’t call for it.
What If I Come in Contact with a Bear?
In the unfortunate circumstance that you find yourself in close proximity to a bear, you should always try to avoid eye contact with the animal. The number one rule in this scenario is to never turn tail and run. Even if you’re an all star track sprinter, you’ll never beat a bear that can travel up to 35 miles per hour. If the bear hasn’t yet noticed you, quietly begin moving away from the animal, because this isn’t the time for a photo op.
On the other hand, it’s always possible that you’ve already been spotted. In this case, make a lot of noise while waving your arms slowly up and down, all the while walking backwards away from the bear. Once you have created enough space between you and the bear and can no longer see one another, only then should you turn and begin to move faster. Continue moving until you have found safety, briefly looking back once in a while to make sure the bear isn’t tracking you.
Gear Recommendations
If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution bear bag, the Selkirk Design Ultralight Hanging Food Bag System is worth looking into. It provides all the necessary parts to a successful bear bag, including carabineers, paracord, and food bag. They’ve also provided what they call a “Rock Sok”, which you load with stones, attach to the rope, and toss over your target branch. This, along with their 2-in-1 pulley system allows you to effortlessly get your belongings high into the air. The Selkirk Bear Bag is waterproof and odor resistant, making it the perfect combination for your food storage needs.
Next, one of the highest rated bear canisters on the market is the Backpacker’s Cache Bear Proof Container. This solidly constructed canister features a lid design that requires some specific dexterity to open, making it the perfect option for keeping bears out. It also excels at reducing odor transmission, allowing you peace of mind that no bears are tracking your leftovers while you sleep. All in all, we feel this particular model has all the right features for a price that’s just right. While it will add a few extra pounds to your backpack, the trade off is well worth it.
Moving on, supplying all your flashlight needs is the J5 Tactical V1-Pro flashlight. Coming in at under $15, this little guy can focus a beam of light onto an object up to 600 feet away. Featuring IPX4 water resistance, the J5 is a tough and rugged option, capable of handling high drops and temporary water submersion. It also comes with 3 modes – low, high, and strobe, allowing its 300 lumen light to temporarily blind an assailant or bear. To put that in perspective, 300 lumens are around 10 times brighter than incandescent lights. As well made as this flashlight is, it might be the last light you’ll ever own.
Finally, if you find yourself too close for comfort, this Sabre Frontiersman Bear Spray is an extremely handy option. Boasting “maximum range and protection” this spray can travel up to 10 feet, allowing you to keep your distance. The Sabre Frontiersman produces a dense fog of 1.58 Oz per 1-second burst, completely saturating the airspace between you and your target. This makes the idea of charging much less inviting, and helps deter a potential attack. It comes with a belt holster, allowing you to quickly arm the spray when you need it most.
How to Bear Proof Your Campsite for Camping Safety - Conclusion
Backpacking and camping can take you anywhere in the world. It’s important to research ahead of time as to what special challenges each location can hold. Every situation is different, so preparation is the key to staying safe while having a great time. While bears are magnificent creatures, camping isn’t the time to admire them. Minding your surroundings, avoiding dangerous situations, and keeping your space clean should be your top priorities. With these tips in mind, we here at Backpacking Nut hope you now fully understand how to properly bear proof your campsite, and will enjoy fulfilling outdoor experiences for years to come. Happy traveling! If you’re looking at prepare your first aid kit for your next camping trip, check out our article “What Should Be In A Backpacking First Aid Kit?“.
