Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2004 11:21:45 -0800
Reply-To: Jack <john.cook58@VERIZON.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jack <john.cook58@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: bears burgling for food?
In-Reply-To: <007401c4854a$820953e0$4ff5db0c@MAIN>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Actually, pitching rocks at bears was the recommended tactic at one time and
in some areas. Before I sacked out, I typically put a few small rocks
within reach (backpacking - mostly in the eastern Sierra). I ran off a few
bears that way. The objective was to scare & discourage, not to hurt.
Hopefully, enough of that and they will return to their native food
foraging. We didn't have bear boxes or tall enough trees so we had to bury
our food under rocks and pots & pans so we'd know when we had visitors.
Understand that these are black bears, NOT grizzlies. Big difference!
But this NVC topic has gone on too long already. Be happy to continue with
PMail if anyone's interested.
Advice: Again - get current local advice!!!
//Jack
From: Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
> -snip-
> > It was my hail of rocks that caused him to drop the box and run splashing
> into
> > the lake with nothing but a bag of marshmallows, missing out on some
> choice
> > eats.
> -snip-
>
> Unbelievable. Even a 'small' bear can run you down and rip you to pieces if
> it wigs out on you. There wasn't anything in that box that was worth the risk
> to your life. If you think I'm being melodramatic, do a little googling and
> see how often people get injured or killed thinking they can 'handle' a bear.
>
> > They stored food inside, and claimed that they scared the
> > bear off by whacking against the canvas side when they heard him bumping
> around
> > out there. They had been camping there annually for years this way.
>
> They didn't 'scare the bear'. And they've been lucky, not smart.
> >
> > Lacking bear-proof lockers, my vote is with the top of the van or maybe
> inside
> > as a last resort. -Phil
>
> The old-school (as in, pre-white man) method is to pick a good tree limb some
> distance from your camping/sleeping area that's convenient and within sight,
> secure a rope to your food container, throw the rope over the tree limb
> towards the end at a point where it's sturdy enough to support the container
> but not a bear, pull the container up until it's at least four feet under the
> limb and at least ten feet off the ground. Secure the rope to the tree around
> shoulder-height. Assuming your local bear isn't Boo-Boo and figures out how
> to work the rope, your food should be safe (also assuming your container is
> secure against squirrels and the like).
>
> Making contact with a bear in the woods is very much like making contact with
> a shark in the ocean; your are in its element and you look like food. Don't
> play with the bears.
>
> Cya,
> Robert
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