Bears?

bikendan wrote:
does the places you camp have bear problems?
if you want to camp in a campground that has bear problems, simply "turtle" your hybrid, if you are worried.
even at Fishing Bridge CG, in Yellowstone, where they ban soft-sided trailers, they will allow a hybrid if they "turtle", by not deploying the canvas ends.

Two miles down the road from Fishing Bridge is a campground that permits soft side campers (They post signs "No Bears Allowed"). Its a bit silly to use the bears rationale at Fishing Bridge to keep out soft side campers. I believe it has more to do with Fishing bridge being more amenable to motorhomes, etc. The campground is most always full so they do not need to try to attract other campers.

To my knowledge no one in a softside camper has ever been injured by a bear at Yellowstone, but as mentioned in the other posts you need to use common sense and not put yourself intentionally at risk - There is always a first time. I believe the bears are much more wary when there are many people around and thus they are more easily scared off.

My only encounter was with a black bear while camping in a tent. This bear had been at the campground before and was not leaving until he got all the goodies he wanted (I think he was related to Yogi). I practically had to push him with my car to get him to leave.

While visiting Glacier NP a ranger told me a good compressed air boat horn is as effective as bear spray (and much cheaper). Also some say wasp spray is just as good. However, bear encounters are rare and you are much more likely to be struck by lighting. Oh yeah, look up at those big limbs overhanging your camper and imagine what the wind could do.

Enjoy the great outdoors and don't become too paranoid.

I certainly wouldn't choose/reject a rig type based on this parameter. Ours is a big country, and except for a few hot spots bears aren't that big a problem for recreationists unless camped in an "urban interface" area where once-wild bears have become accustomed to raiding garbage cans and other human-based food sources.

I've camped in remote "wild bear country" all over the Pacific Northwest, and the ONLY place I've ever seen a bear is on my own thirty-four acres here in Hadlock!

Also: the number of campgrounds that "restrict" to hard-sided only for this reason is very, very small.

In some parts of the country I'd recommend staying in campgrounds with bear boxes available for campers. Yes a determined bear can rip their way into most RVS if they choose to do so but it would be like breaking into a paper sack for a hybrid with bunk ends extended. If you turtle, you would have no issues not faced by everyone else. Keep in mind that MOST actual CAMPGROUNDS will have a number of folks in tents scattered around the campground and you're a few steps above them when it comes to bears.

gheicher wrote:

bikendan wrote:
does the places you camp have bear problems?
if you want to camp in a campground that has bear problems, simply "turtle" your hybrid, if you are worried.
even at Fishing Bridge CG, in Yellowstone, where they ban soft-sided trailers, they will allow a hybrid if they "turtle", by not deploying the canvas ends.

Two miles down the road from Fishing Bridge is a campground that permits soft side campers (They post signs "No Bears Allowed"). Its a bit silly to use the bears rationale at Fishing Bridge to keep out soft side campers. I believe it has more to do with Fishing bridge being more amenable to motorhomes, etc. The campground is most always full so they do not need to try to attract other campers.

there are many of us who think the same way about FB, since it's the only campground in YNP with hookups and most MH's and 5th wheels like to have hookups. i believe that they don't want soft-sided campers competing with the big rigs, for FB campsites.

When I read about CG suggesting that being in a hard sided trailer is safer than a soft worries me. It is giving a false sense of security. People will get a bit lazy when it comes to house keeping etc. If you are doing the right things a bear has no reason to come near your tent and want in it.

We have never been to one of these CG's or seen any such signs. I am not doubting that they are around. Has anyone seen one in Canada? Let me know where please.

As far as sprays go, they are a last resort. You have to be in arms length of the animal to spray the face. You also risk the chance of the wind blowing it into your face. Bear bells, those little ones you can get that go around your wrist are a total waste of money.

So many people are not educated for being around bears, we camp in Northern Ontario bears are there. We try to educate ourselves as much as possible.
If you see a bear, you are too close, any bear. We have seen so many people doing the...get a bit closer for a picture.

We would not be turned off camping in bear country. We would definitely buy the RV of our choice if it has soft sides or not.

Choose what you like and buy it.

loulou57 wrote:

If you see a bear, you are too close, any bear. We have seen so many people doing the...get a bit closer for a picture.

EXACTLY what led to this "experienced hiker"'s death in 2010, and this time there was photographic proof of the fact in his camera. The other victim of his stupidity was the innocent bear whose territory he invaded. It had to be shot now that it was a "proven maneater".

News story wrote:
Richard White, 49, was standing 50 to 100 yards away from the bear that ultimately mauled him Friday, according to images found on his camera, park spokeswoman Maureen McLaughlin said. He is the first person to die in a bear attack in the history of the park, which covers 4.7-million acres.

Hikers are typically advised to stay at least 300 yards away from a bear, McLaughlin said.

loulou57 wrote:
When I read about CG suggesting that being in a hard sided trailer is safer than a soft worries me. It is giving a false sense of security. People will get a bit lazy when it comes to house keeping etc. If you are doing the right things a bear has no reason to come near your tent and want in it.
You are definitely safer in a hard sided RV than something made of tent material. I don't see how that can be argued. Of course given enough time a bear can get into a hard sided RV as well but it's just not as likely or as easy. Finally, I don't see any evidence to suggest people in hard sided RV are "lazy" when it comes to housekeeping. It was the tenters next to us that left coolers out



As far as sprays go, they are a last resort. You have to be in arms length of the animal to spray the face. You also risk the chance of the wind blowing it into your face. Bear bells, those little ones you can get that go around your wrist are a total waste of money.
And the rangers I saw interviewed on TV said that was the biggest mistake people make with sprays - they wait for the bear to get too close. The spray should be used 15~25 from a charging bear.


We would not be turned off camping in bear country. We would definitely buy the RV of our choice if it has soft sides or not.

Choose what you like and buy it.

And make decisions using your common sense to keep your family safe.

Scott....you read me wrong. I am not suggesting that people in hard sided RV's are lazy, we have one. What I am saying is that if you think you are safer in a hard sided unit then you may think because you are safer then it is easier to let things slide as far as keeping things secure. There are people who camp in all types of RV's or canvas that are not as tidy.

We have been told by our park superintendents that bear spray is to be used as I had posted. I would find it hard to aim and hit a charging bear in the face with spray at 25'.

I guess we all will learn different ideas from different people. I can only go by what we have been taught.

I certainly didn't intend to offend anyone and if I did I am sorry. Because we live in an area where bears are present it is something we take seriously. I have seen the devestation to RV's as well as the worse, how easily a life can end by bears.

We bought an HTT that sleeps 5 when turtles so we could hard camp in bear (or busy!) campgrounds, have done it a few times but still don't enjoy camping when there are bears in the area.

loulou57 wrote:
Scott....you read me wrong. I am not suggesting that people in hard sided RV's are lazy, we have one. What I am saying is that if you think you are safer in a hard sided unit then you may think because you are safer then it is easier to let things slide as far as keeping things secure. There are people who camp in all types of RV's or canvas that are not as tidy.

We have been told by our park superintendents that bear spray is to be used as I had posted. I would find it hard to aim and hit a charging bear in the face with spray at 25'.

I guess we all will learn different ideas from different people. I can only go by what we have been taught.

I certainly didn't intend to offend anyone and if I did I am sorry. Because we live in an area where bears are present it is something we take seriously. I have seen the devestation to RV's as well as the worse, how easily a life can end by bears.

Sorry for the tone Lou, no offense taken. If you can find a video of a can being used it might surprise you how big a cloud it makes. It basically envelopes the bear.
Frankly, if it was trying to get into my trailer I'd pop him a few times with a firearm - but that's probably a different discussion..

Scott