1strv
Winchester, Va.
Senior Member
Joined: 06/13/2004
View Profile
 Offline
|
I have been searching the website for bear safety protocols to include soft sided campers such as our hybrid, and have had not much luck. We are going to George Washington National Forest next weekend, and there have been black bears reported seen in the campground. Two large black bears, the largest being around 300 lbs, and two smaller ones. The rangers have been tossing firecrackers and M-80's at them to scare them away. I'm sure not cooking in the camper, nor storing food in the camper as this is a no-brainer, but any other suggestions or experiences by others would be appreciated. Thanks...
Scott and JaneAnn
Drew
|
1mtnman
Colorado
Senior Member
Joined: 01/18/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
No perfumes, shaving lotions etc. Also no pet foods other than canned.
http://i43.tinypic.com/n1qwas.jpg
|
mikerocchio
California
New Member
Joined: 08/04/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Put french fries in the truck, and leave the windows down, that will keep their focus and they won't bother the trailer!
At least that's what we did last year! Really happened luckily he didn't cause any real damage.
On a serious note we have spent many nights in the High Sierras without incident (not counting the one above). I think that if you use common sense and police your food inside and outside the trailer you should be fine.
97 F250HD CC 4X4 SRW
1999 Prowler Hybrid (SOLD)
2003 WW FT2200
|
bikendan
Napa, Cal.
Senior Member
Joined: 11/21/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
you can always have someone leave a minivan in the area, as Bait!
Dan- Firefighter , Shawn- Musician/Entrepreneur, Zoe- Faithful Golden Retriever , 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche LS, 2007 Rockwood Roo 23SS w/Equalizer and Prodigy, and 5 Mtn. bikes and 2 Road bikes
|
Chuck_S
Broadview Hts, OH, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 03/15/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
The number of black and brown bear attacks is staggering! Staggeringly low to the point of being practically nil. Probably on the order of meteorite strikes. Yeah, it could happen... The sky is not falling.
-- Chuck
'06 Roo 23SS behind '07 Expedition out of Cleveland
Our Photo pages
|
|
|
Steveo35
Ohio
Senior Member
Joined: 06/16/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
|
I have to agree with Chuck, don't sweat this one too much.
I used to backpack a Loooong time ago in bear country and learned to deal with the bears. Be smart about food and garbage and things that scream food, like coolers. We still laugh at my bear stories, they are all funny and not at all tragic.
The first camping trip my DW ever took was during our first summer together. We camped in a leaky tent in Cades Cove and listened to the bears bang on the bear proof garbage cans and moan in frustration each night. She was terrified, I enjoyed it because I knew there was nothing in our tent that they wanted. They never bothered us.
If they are really that bold, no trailer would be safe. They can easily force their way into your TV if they want to.
|
Padlin
W. Ma.
Senior Member
Joined: 06/15/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Avoiding bears is easy, just go look for them. I agree with Steveo and Chuck, with all the time I've spent in the woods I've never seen a bear. Driving down the road is a different story.
Bob & Deb
W Ma.
04 GMC 1500 4X4, 5.3L
06 Starcraft 18SB
|
shum02
Burlington ON CDA
Senior Member
Joined: 04/22/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Camped in Algonquin up here in Ontario which has literally thousands of black bears, in tents, popups and HTT's for years and never once has a bear openned up the camper looking for my picknik basket. Use common sence about cleaning up and storing food and you'll be fine.
Had one walk through our site this past summer during the night, checked out my empty garbage container and then continued on his/her merry way even ignoring my teenage son camped out in a tent. My son knows the rules regarding animals and tents and lets face it teenage boys smell worse than most bears anyway!
2007 F150 XLT CC 4x4 5.4L 3.73LS
2007 KZ2505QSS-F Outdoorsman
Camping Pic's and Mods
Winter Camping Tips and Tricks
|
Steveo35
Ohio
Senior Member
Joined: 06/16/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
|
'coons are far worse and much more plentiful than bears. I can remember as a kid watching one open the latch on our camp kitchen. They are a major pain in the rear at home, the little buggers can easily open garbage cans!
|
BUFFALODAN
Buffalo NY
Senior Member
Joined: 06/10/2004
View Profile
|
I've camped in the Adirondacks in NYS many times, there are lots of black bears there and they frequent the campground(s). There are lots of folks who camp in popups and hybrids. The only instances I've heard of where bears became a problem was with people leaving their campsites to go exploring and they left food laying out everywhere. Be smart as others have said- clean up thoroughly after cooking, throw garbage in the dumpsters, keep your coolers, grills (cleaned), out of sight and you should be fine.
2006 KZ Frontier 2505
2005 Chevy Suburban 1500 Z71 4WD
2007 GMC Yukon XL 1500 4WD
1 DW
3DD's
|
|
|
