Camping: The "Bear" Facts

By Christopher Harper

It’s three AM, and you are awakened by a soft snuffling. You open your eyes, and try to focus in on the sound, trying to figure out where it is coming from. There is a full moon tonight, so the ambient light permeates your tent with a soft glow. The snuffling noise grows louder, interspersed with guttural grunting noises, as a large shadow passes alongside your tent. Your heart begins to pound as you realize the sounds you have been listening to is a large bear rummaging around in your camp. Your mind races as you go over in your mind if you have taken all the necessary precautions in setting up your camp. If you are camping in areas known for having a bear population, you need to be extra cautious. Planning along with a little common sense, is the key to safely camping in bear country, and could even save your life.

Below are a few practices I use that could help you avoid any unwanted company in your camp, and will give you some peace of mind during your stay in the backcountry. Always check out your campsite before you set up.  Look for any sign that bears have visited this site. Preceding hikers may not have been vigilant in keeping the site clean. The last thing you want to do is set up your camp in a location that is attractive to bears. If there are any signs of bears around any existing fire pits, you can be sure that bears have become attracted to this site. To be safe, even if you are tired, is to simply move on. Finally, when you are looking for a campsite, always give yourself enough daylight to properly inspect your site. You are likely to miss something if you try your inspection in the dark

Never prepare your meals near your campsite. You should always eliminate any food smells near your tent; a good rule of thumb is to cook several hundred yards downwind from your campsite. You should also avoid cooking more than you can eat and be sure to wash your dishes immediately after eating. If you do have leftover food, be sure to dispose of it well away from your campsite. Don't forget to wash your exposed skin for any lingering food particles, and a change of clothes is good if you have them. Some hikers will stop for their evening meal, and then hike for another hour or so before setting up camp. This method ensures plenty of separation between meals and your camp.

Always hang your food out of reach of bears. There are many techniques to hang your food to keep it out of reach of bears. Many backcountry campsites are now providing hanging poles for this reason. Be sure to always pack a minimum of 50 feet of good nylon rope to ensure your food is high enough. In most cases there is usually no hanging pole in the wilderness, so you may have to use two ropes. String one rope between two trees, and then hang your food from this first rope, leaving it hanging between the two trees. In the mountains and alpine areas, there may be no tall trees to enable you to hang your food. In this case, place it in several layers of zip lock bags (to reduce smells), and simply leave it on the ground several hundred yards from your camp site. In a lot of National Parks and Wilderness areas, you are required to have a bear canister in order to acquire the backcountry permit. So always check the regulations in the area(s) you will be hiking before you go.

Another consideration is your backpack, clothes, and other gear you bring with you. Squirrels, mice, porcupines and other nocturnal rodents will shred your gear as well, not usually your food. They are attracted to anything with salt on it. This means your hiking boots socks, backpack, and even your hat can make for a hearty snack for these nocturnal visitors. In areas where rodents are prevalent (which is pretty much everywhere), you should hang your entire pack out of reach, and your boots inside the tent with you. 

Check out the terrain surrounding your campsite for natural attractants. Bears are constantly on the move throughout their range and learning about their habits will also help you choose a better campsite. Avoid setting up camp in areas with visible game trails. Since bears will often use trees and shrubs as cover when approaching an area, setting up your   campsite in the open could be safer than an area with a lot of trees and shrubbery. If you are in a heavily wooded area, always try to find a site with a good climbing tree close to the tent. 

If you are hiking in the western United States, you are in grizzly country. Couples may want to consider using a larger 4-person tent. It has been documented that grizzlies habituated to garbage have been known to bite at objects brushing up against tent walls to see whether it is edible. This being said, the peace of mind that extra space in the tent provides is reassuring, and well worth the extra pounds that it adds to your pack.

In closing, there are never any guarantees when you are hiking in the backcountry. While the techniques discussed in this article could help you have a more enjoyable adventure, it is always wise to use discretion, and good common sense when in the wilderness. While we can only do so much, nature has her own set of rules and it is not always in our control. For comprehensive information on this subject, you can also visit Alaska’s DNR & Fish and Game websites, which has comprehensive information on the subject, having a large bear population in the state.