http://cgi.ebay.com/Camping-ALARM-Motion-Detector-Emergency-SURVIVAL-GEAR-/200574823958?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eb330ee16
>
> > ---- Scott Greiner <greines@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> > > I would like to ask the people that camp in bear
> country that bring dogs.
> > Do
> > dogs help with safety or cause bears to come closer
> when sleeping in a
> > Westy and
> > the dogs start barking when they hear the bears coming
> near the camp site?
> > I am
> > >talking medium to large dogs. We have a blank lab
> and a golden retreiver.
> >
> > Scott, this from the Coronado National Forest Camping
> site:
> >
> > . "Won't my dog protect me against wild animals?
> >
> > Most dogs will sound an alarm when they sense nearby
> wildlife. It is also
> > true that many dogs will defend their owners if
> necessary. And despite the
> > occasional heart-warming story of a dog saving her
> owner from a bear attack,
> > the fact is that a single dog, no matter what the
> breed or how large, is no
> > match for a hungry bear or lion. Even these
> heart-warming stories often end
> > in tragedy for the dog.
> >
> > Unfortunately, dogs in the wild often become the prey
> of prowling black
> > bears and mountain lions -- the scent of a dog in the
> breeze may actually
> > draw these large carnivores into your camp. Generally,
> dogs unused to wild
> > surroundings will spend most of the night warning
> their owner of every
> > rabbit, ground squirrel, and cricket within a hundred
> yards, until the
> > sleep-deprived and frazzled owner tells the dog to
> shut up. It is usually
> > about that time -- when the owner is angrily
> chastising the dog for its
> > incessant warnings -- that a bear or lion wanders into
> camp.
> >
> > Also, remember that skunks are common visitors to
> campsites, and they seem
> > to take special delight in spraying curious puppies.
> So, unless you brought
> > five gallons of tomato juice camping with you to
> neutralize the skunk odor,
> > the ride home with Lucky in the back seat will be
> quite memorable.
> >
> >
> > Conclusion
> >
> > We all love our canine friends, and we want to take
> them with us wherever
> > we go. And though it may be fine to exercise Scruffy
> on a trail or a picnic
> > during the daylight when the weather is appropriate,
> camping with a dog --
> > especially a dog that is unused to wild surroundings
> -- can be a significant
> > challenge for the owner, the dog, and any other
> campers within earshot.
> >
> > As a rule, if you have not previously introduced your
> buddy to the wild
> > with many day hikes and picnics, don't bring him
> camping.
> >
> > Also as a rule, if your dog is boisterous and poorly
> behaved at home, a
> > camping trip will not improve the dog's behavior.
> You'll do him -- and any
> > nearby campers -- a favor by leaving him at home.
> >
> > Finally, please remember that wild areas can be very
> dangerous places for
> > dogs. Use great care when bringing your pet with
> you."
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Sent: Sat, February 12, 2011 6:39:34 AM
> > Subject: Re: camping amidst bears, safety question
> >
> > Re if they find nothing, they will not come
> back: In Yosemite, where
> > campers
> > outside the developed campgrounds are required to use
> bear boxes and
> > advised to
> > sleep 100 yards from their storage and cooking site,
> they are also told to
> > leave
> > the bear box in plain site. The bears have
> learned that if the box is
> > there, it
> > means that they can't get food. Here I am
> talking about the portable boxes
> > that
> > we carry when backpacking. I have not camped in
> Yosemite, nor even near
> > there
> > in many years, but I reviewed the regulations last
> year when I was
> > considering
> > it. Chose another trip for other reasons.
> In Yellowstone, however, we
> > were
> > told that even if we carry a box, we must hang the
> box. Same in Glacier,
> > though
> > at some locations in Glacier, there was nothing to
> hang it from.
> >
> > mcneely
> >
> > ---- neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
> wrote:
> > > On Fri, Feb 11, 2011 at 2:25 PM, Richard A Jones
> <Jones@colorado.edu>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > 1) more and more campgrounds have
> bear-proof food lockers so
> > > > there will NOT be bear problems. As
> they say: A Fed Bear Is A
> > > > Dead Bear. If one wanders through camp
> and finds nothing it
> > > > might not come back. If it does find
> something it will come back.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > Good point. Hadn't thought of my Jedidiah CG
> experience in that light.
> > >
> > > They are creatures of habit. I can attest to
> that. Like clock work, any
> > time
> > > the neighbours leave their garbage out the night
> before pickup, Mr. or
> > Mrs.
> > > Bear comes by, eats the garbage in my yard and
> leaves a coil of a calling
> > > card.
> > >
> > > ;)
> > >
> > > Neil.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
> > >
> > > http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
> > >
> > >
> > http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
> >
> > --
> > David McNeely
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > David McNeely
> >
>