Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2007 22:45:57 -0600
Reply-To: Tom Buese <tombuese@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Buese <tombuese@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: in bear country - food in the van or not?
In-Reply-To: <46B401EB.9030609@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
There was an 11 year old boy killed by a black bear in a popular camp
spot here in Utah last month or so:
http://www.sltrib.com//ci_6376597?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-
www.sltrib.com
This letter to the editor afterwards hits the nail on the head in my
opinion.
Sleep well,
Tom B.-Yogi & BooBoo are only in the cartoons
On Aug 3, 2007, at 10:34 PM, Michael Elliott wrote:
> Ranger lady at Highland Lakes didn't see a problem with our poptop.
> Said
> that folks leave their food unprotected then seem surprised that bears
> get it. Same at Woods Lake and Silver Creek and East Fork. Poptops
> don't
> seem to trigger any warnings from the folk who try to keep us idiots
> from getting into too much trouble.
>
> We kept an eye on the food during the day, brought it inside at night.
> The Sierra black bears can be real tenacious and fearless, but they
> aren't grizzlies. The rule is if the bear has the food, give it up,
> because he or she won't. If you get to the food first, the bear will
> most likely concede ownership. "Most likely" is the key word here,
> because they are not completely predictable. I think of Sierra black
> bears as really large and potentially lethal raccoons, but about as
> likely to break into my bedroom as a raccoon. Will snoop around though
> and try doorknobs. The sliding door handle is too easy for them to
> open,
> so we kept it locked at night.
>
> Do the bears a favor: keep your food from them. Bears that succeed at
> getting your food will be emboldened to try to get it from someone
> else.
> Such bears get relocated. If they continue to be a nuisance they
> may be
> killed.
>
> --
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
> KG6RCR
>
>
>
> Jeffrey Olson typed:
>> There are two kinds of California bears, those that are hunted and
>> those
>> that aren't. Those in Yosemite, and this drought year those in
>> populated areas of the Sierra, will eat your food. One woman in
>> South
>> Tahoe reported a bear tapped her on the side while she was emptying
>> garbage into her garbage can - a very polite bear. If a
>> campground has
>> bear boxes, use them. Bears have been known to break into cars
>> based on
>> food in coolers. Yosemite keeps a running count of the damage
>> done by
>> bears to cars each year - it's hundreds of thousands of dollars.
>>
>> You will have nocturnal visitors, bears and raccoons. But most bears
>> are hunted and afraid of humans. There is a small minority that will
>> not fear you. Throw rocks at them and make loud noises - bang big
>> spoons on metal pots and yell. Shine your million candlepower
>> flashlight in their eyes and whoop. This usually works.
>>
>> It's all part of the experience after all - enjoy your contact with
>> nature!!! It's their world...
>>
>> Jeff Olson
>> Martin, SD
>>
>>
>>
>>> Anyone have any estimate of what's "safe" versus what's "paranoid"?
>>> I'd really like to go happily back up into bear country
>>> (California's
>>> Sierras ... among the most glorious parts of this earth that I've
>>> ever
>>> seen!!! :-D)
>>>
>>>
>>> (Just becuz yer paranoid duzn't mean they're not out to get ya!!!)
>>>
>>>
>>
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