Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2004 15:25:24 -0700
Reply-To: JD Foster <jidd@JIDDWARE.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: JD Foster <jidd@JIDDWARE.COM>
Subject: Re: Bears, no offensive commentary included
In-Reply-To: <200408192121.i7JLLiFU080736@deimos.aros.net>
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Hi Mark,
Yosemite is one such place (I happen to currently be working there).
Here is a quote taken from the following URL:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/bears/
"**You may store food in your car *only* during daylight hours. Do *not*
store food in your car after dark: use a food locker. Remember to clear
your car of food wrappers, crumbs in baby seats, and baby wipes. Even
canned food and drinks must be removed from your car"
I would assume that the difference between Yosemite and the other areas
you listed as places you've frequented is the sheer number of visitors
that Yosemite receives annually. While it is bear country, Yosemite
Valley (just a *very* small portion of the park for those not familiar)
can hardly be considered a wilderness area. Considering that a *large*
number of these visitors are not wilderness/wildlife-savvy, the bears
have learned they are a source of easy & tasty treats (their food,
hopefully not the visitors themselves <g>).
The entrance station rangers and campground rangers are good about
letting visitors know about the requirements, and I believe that there
may be a notice on the bear boxes indicating that you can be fined for
improper food storage. Bear incidents are up quite a bit this year.
Below is a blurb taken from the daily employee newsletter here at Yosemite:
*"Bear Facts August 1 - August 7*
*Did you know?* Common *myths* about black bears
.Bears are active only at night. *FALSE*. Bears are active both day and
night and food should be stored properly at all times.
.If bears are breaking into cars for food, they must not have enough
natural food. *FALSE*. There is plenty of natural food for bears
(berries, acorns, grass, insects...), but they are opportunistic. If
they smell food they may attempt to get it.
*Bear Last This *
*Incidents Week Year* *
Campgrounds: 6 137
Parking lots: 22 181
Wilderness: 1 102
Other 2 50
TOTAL: 31 470
* To date
The total number of incidents this week in 2003 was 31. Incidents are up
112% from last year and down 47% since 1998. The Wild Bear Project was
established in 1999 to respond to increasing incidents.
Incidents may be higher than reported.
What are the bears doing?
Bears have been getting lots of food by breaking into cars in the Curry
Village, Camp 4, Ahwahnee and Wilderness parking lots. There were 22
break-ins this week!
.Bears have also been obtaining food in Housekeeping Camp and the Pines
Campgrounds from bear lockers that were not closed properly.
.Bears are finding windows of opportunity when visitors are too far from
their food. Treat your bear locker like a refrigerator. Only open it
when you need something and close it immediately."
I hope this helps to shed a little bit of light onto the bear situation
here at Yosemite.
Cheers,
JD
PS Listees: I realize that the formatting may be funky, sorry. I had
some formatting for Mark's benefit. I assume that gerry will strip the
formatted version and just pass through the plain text.
Mark Edwards wrote:
>I am reading posts from folks who say they, or someone they know, gets
>ticketed for having a candy bar on the seat, or even just for visible food
>in their car.
>
>I admit I never checked all the URLs that were posted. Slow connection on
>my laptop, so I avoid the web for the most part......
>
>I haven't been everywhere just yet, but in years of traveling and camping
>in bear country in WY, ID, MT and even UT, I have not ever heard of such
>rules and regs. Yellowstone is my second home, and no slouch in bear
>issues, and if you DON'T store your food in the car, you are in big
>trouble :-) There are bear boxes but they are mostly a courtesy, not
>mandatory, except for back country which seldom includes a car :-)
>
>Where are these places where you cannot store food in your car? I ask in
>disbelief, but I don't dispute anyone's word. Its just that after 25 years
>of camping in bear country, that is news to me. I thought all NF, NP, BLM,
>etc rules pertaining to bears and wildlife were basically the same
>everywhere. From now on, maybe identifying these places will benefit
>others in future visits.
>
>If I travel to these places that does not allow food in the car, will I
>see this information posted, or given to me upon entrance? All my camping
>life, I have been told that a car is where the food goes, so I guess its
>good to read all the posts around here so I can learn even more <shrug>
>
>Thanks,
>
>Mark
>
>
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