Any ideas for keeping bears out?

[SouthParkSteve]

This may be an odd one. I have a 1978 bumper pull travel trailer that I park in my driveway. I do not keep food in it, but it is a 1978 trailer, so obviously many meals have been prepared inside it.

I live in an area where many people come to camp--at almost 11,000 feet at the base of the Continental Divide in central Colorado. My house is very near the Pike/San Isabel National Forest.

I bought my camper a year ago, and last year I had no troubles. However, this year, a bear decided he wanted to check out the inside of my camper--and tore the door off in the process. This happened about 5 days before I was supposed to leave on a week-long camping trip. I got if fixed and went on the trip, but then about 2 months later....he did it again:

I can't afford to replace the door several times per year, but I also can't really afford off-site storage.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to dissuade a bear from trying to enter an unoccupied camper?

[D_E_Bishop]

While it may not look like a bear intrusion, it may well be. If the door and screen are still latched, the culprit may well be a bear. As far as claw and teeth marks, that is not always in evidence. In Yosemite and other parks, bears open cars without biting and clawing.

It is typical for a bear, if it finds food in a silver Ford Explorer, to cruise the parking lot or campground and look for a silver Explorer and peel back the top of the door and not really leave any marks or bite the door.

The OP did not mention that there was any damage inside or if things were thrown around. Maybe he considered that to be minor in comparison to the door being ruined.

[coolbreeze01]

In case your thief is able to read http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bear-Trap-Sign-traps-trapping-hunting-log-cabin-/290956098457

[coolmom42]

I'm a little skeptical that it's a bear, also. A bear would have gone inside and made a big mess. If it's a bear, it's also a problem bear, and needs to be relocated. Call F&W and ask for their opinion.

I agree with the game camera idea.

[et2]

Maybe putting a picture of a few lions on the door might help.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

If it's a bear - he's a real professional. Knows exactly what to do.

When we camped in bear country, I sprayed ammonia around the compartment door that normally housed our charcoal grill; and the entry door.

But if that were my trailer, I think I'd build a fenced enclosure that's barely bigger than the trailer; then back it in. If there's not enough space for the bear (or human) to get to the door, I think they might go find another target?

[ken56]

I also think its a human. Shooting a bear out of season is illegal and will cost you big time, loss of firearms and a fine. Contacting the police and the wildlife management office is sound advice. Do both. Make a report. If it is a bear it could be desensitized to humans and potentially dangerous. Wildlife management would be interested in it. Also, booby traps like electrifying something could be against the law too. If that should kill someone, no matter them trying to break into your trailer, you are screwed. If an electrified type of thing is used it must be posted as such. Hope you have a good defense lawyer on speed dial. Get one of those motion activated cameras hunters use and locate it where it cant be reached easily and see what it shows.

[cyntdon2010]

Parked in your driveway. well next time the so-called bear (wink wink )

will be in your House..

Lock and Load Time

[Jack_Diane_Free]

Agree this is not a bear. We have a wilderness camp in northern Ontario with lots of bears around. When they do try to get into something it is badly clawed and chewed with muddy paw marks all over the area. I think you have had a human break in.

[Harvard]

WishWeWereCamping wrote:
Electric fence?

We live in bear country and we keep our garbage in an enclosed trailer with a wood box that is lined with chicken wire that we connect to an electric fencer. Works great.

[MTPockets1]

Simple; put a sign on door : "Bears and Burglers Stay Out!"

[J_L_Rivera]

Was the door still locked? a Human would have tried to open the door for an escape and not wiggle back out through the hole.

[Golden_HVAC]

I tend to think that you might need a security camera, alarm, and some sort of shock collar device that automatically clips onto the thing that is entering the door once it is open.

What did they take from inside? TV set? Camping gear? A bear would have used it's claws to open the drawers inside, and not lifted the latches. It would have been a royal mess inside.

Good luck finding the culprit!

Fred.

[AK49er]

For sure not a bear.

[Matt_Colie]

Steve,

I don't want to sound like a "Me Too" here, but I have never seen bear damage that did not also show claw marks. If it was a bear, then when he encountered the screen inside he would have just zipped it open with a claw. Only an intruder without claws would bother to bend the screen door away.

Good Luck

Matt

[pointrow]

IF it truly is a bear getting in how about a solar powered electric fence charger. Your camper appears to be metal so if you isolate it from the ground it would keep most all varmints away. A piece of rubber under the jacks would work for isolation and attach the hot wire to the siding. Would be fun to get a video of its encounter.