Bears!!! Yosemite, Can I wake this thread up?

There are certain locations where you are much more likely to encounter bears for a number of reasons, including being in bear habitat where they are foraging or along the trails that they use. For example in Glacier NP the Many Glaciers campground is far more likely to have bears around than any other in the park. These favored campgrounds are more dangerous and more people are attacked and even killed.

If you check the history of bear incidents you can find campgrounds where none have been reported and that will help a great deal in avoiding problems. There are also times of the year when the bears are more actively searching out food sources and more likely to be aggressive.

Don't assume that because the park service or forestry service or other agency put a location in a given location that it is a safe bear free area as this is often not the case.

we were told by the Yosemite ranger that food in the fridge was fine, since it's airtight, otherwise it wouldn't cool.
any toiletries and edibles that had been opened, should go in the bear box.

We had a bear in camp years ago. My wife's chili made it run for water ;)

Would something like a empty pop or beer can be enough to attract a bear? What about a empty bag of chips? A gum wrapper? A candy bar wrapper?

Remember there are no bears in my area I'm just curious and that's why I'm asking.

Caveman Charlie wrote:
Would something like a empty pop or beer can be enough to attract a bear? What about a empty bag of chips? A gum wrapper? A candy bar wrapper?

Remember there are no bears in my area I'm just curious and that's why I'm asking.

In Yosemite, yes to all of the above. All garbage and trash needs to be in the approved containers. No leaving any scented garbage "unsecured". ALL of it.

There is one little trick that will keep bears away from your campsite.

After dark and everyone has already gone to bed, just walk down to the far edge of the campground, the furthest from you. Smear some peanut butter or anchovy paste on the side of the RV furthest away.

You will not be bothered by bears at YOUR campsite... :)

Caveman Charlie wrote:
Would something like a empty pop or beer can be enough to attract a bear? What about a empty bag of chips? A gum wrapper? A candy bar wrapper?

Remember there are no bears in my area I'm just curious and that's why I'm asking.

Not only the above but toothpaste can be a problem. ONE french-fry lost between the seats will result in a couple of thousand in repairs to your car or truck.

A thousand years or so ago when we tented camped with our young children at Charles V. Stanton County Park in Canyonville OR and the DW left a Jolly Time Popcorn fryer on the picnic table next to our tent. The residue of the oil was viciously attacked by a Banana Slug. In fact there it sat gorged into a food coma on the table the next morning. You've got to be careful with those guys, get their slime on you clothes or skin and it is terrible to get off.

Seriously though, bears can cause terrible havoc and damage to not only ALL vehicles used in camping but while uncommon, with campers too.

Some of these answers refer to Yosemite and others to Yellowstone. We have camped at both - Yosemite many times. The ranger at Yellowstone told us that their bears "had not yet learned those Yosemite tricks."

In Yosemite we are very careful to keep all food out of sight, blinds down and windows/vents closed if we are away from the hard sided RV. No trash, garbage or recyclables are left in the rig. I clean the kitchen area carefully before we leave home, and then do all the cooking outside. Bears not only have an amazing sense of smell, but Yosemite bears have also learned visual clues, like storage boxes, coolers, and grocery bags.

Yes, bears do break into hard sided RVs, but only when a smell or sight trigger is obvious (the example we were given was that someone left a box of food on the counter next to the window.)

When we tent camped, absolutely everything (including toiletries and citronella candles) went into the bear box. Same when we moved to a tent trailer.

We have had many exciting bear encounters, but over the years, the encounters now tend to be more natural and less often in the campground. Bears have to be destroyed when they become aggressive about people food. Keep your stuff in the bear box and save a bear's life!

Happy Camping!

By the way, seeing a bear doing natural bear stuff in the wild is an amazing, breath taking experience.

Bears in Yosemite now associate mini-vans with food (most likely left by children). They can rip the door off with one swipe of their claws. 'Splain that to your insurance adjuster.



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