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Post by Campfires&Concierges on Mar 20, 2017 14:20:44 GMT -8
Wasn't really sure where to post this. I have a bit of a dilemma in that later this year I'll be taking a 6-month road trip with my dog, mostly car camping with some hotels thrown in. I know in Yosemite you can't even leave food in your car because of bears, which poses a problem since I will essentially be living in my car, with dog food, human food, etc.
We're not planning on visiting Yosemite, but are there other areas I need to be worried about black bears prying my car open?
We'll be visiting Colorado/Oregon/Lake Tahoe/Utah(desert and mountains)/Arizona/New Mexico from late August through the end of the year.
Thanks, all!
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Post by Lamebeaver on Mar 20, 2017 18:17:21 GMT -8
I don't necessarily think it's food you have to worry about, but open food that bears can smell. Obviously, you wouldn't want to leave an open can of tuna on your dashboard. When we go car camping, we usually lock the coolers in the cars at night. We've never had any problems. There may be areas, like Yosemite, where bears have figured out that cars = food, but these are relatively rare.
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Post by Sleeping Bag Man! on Mar 20, 2017 18:38:52 GMT -8
I've picked up a few hitchhiking bears
Not as dangerous as everybody says. But yeah, say goodbye to your huckleberry stash.
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whistlepunk
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Post by whistlepunk on Mar 20, 2017 20:51:24 GMT -8
Wait until after dark and everyone has one to bed. Smear some peanut butter or anchovy paste on the car farthest away from you in the other side of the campground. Then you will not be bothered by bears in your site.
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bass
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Post by bass on Mar 21, 2017 3:42:46 GMT -8
I've never had a problem. I did have a bear wake me up by sniffing around the door in Alaska. But the bear ran away when it saw movement in my van. In some campgrounds and trailhead parking areas this is a big concern. I have heard that bears have learned to recognize coolers in cars in some parking areas and will break into a car to get to the cooler. Most of the time there are signs warning that bears are a problem. But making sure that your cooler is out of sight and that minimizing storage of foods that may produce odors is good advise. There are some youtube videos that you might want to watch - BLACK BEAR Breaks into Car in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 3:55:51 GMT -8
I've picked up a few hitchhiking bears Not as dangerous as everybody says. But yeah, say goodbye to your huckleberry stash.  No, not the bears toooooooo! |
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Post by msdoolittle on Mar 21, 2017 7:59:19 GMT -8
I'm with Lamebeaver. Just make sure your cooler and food stash is stored away in the car. We've never had any issues in Colorado. Most campgrounds (Forest Service and the like) will provide bear boxes if they'd had issues with bears and such. On the other hand, if you plan on staying outside of the campgrounds, just stash stuff away in your car. You'll likely never see a bear. And please be sure to say 'hi' while you're in town. We'll even put you up, complete with a shower, if we're in town ourselves.  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 9:00:20 GMT -8
Sounds like a good reason to own a sedan rather than a hatchback!
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talus
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Post by talus on Mar 21, 2017 9:41:25 GMT -8
I always ask about this when I'm parking a car at a trailhead for a few days, and Yosemite seems to be the only place where this problem is so extreme. Rodents chewing wires and hoses is a different story...
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Post by msdoolittle on Mar 21, 2017 9:44:50 GMT -8
I always ask about this when I'm parking a car at a trailhead for a few days, and Yosemite seems to be the only place where this problem is so extreme. Rodents chewing wires and hoses is a different story... Stoopid porcupines. |
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talus
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Post by talus on Mar 21, 2017 10:58:17 GMT -8
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Post by msdoolittle on Mar 21, 2017 10:59:21 GMT -8
Good question. Someone should do a study on that.  |
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talus
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Post by talus on Mar 21, 2017 11:07:14 GMT -8
Good question. Someone should do a study on that. I've seen them eat the shingles off a trailhead kiosk. |
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Post by msdoolittle on Mar 21, 2017 12:43:56 GMT -8
I've seen them eat the shingles off a trailhead kiosk. Why does that not surprise me? Those things are like goats. |
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Post by absarokanaut on Mar 21, 2017 14:19:31 GMT -8
Bears in Yosemite cued in on Toyaots Camrys because they figured out that it was really easy to pop their trunks, then rip up the seat, etc., and get into the passenger compartment.
DO NOT leave a window cracked IN THE SLIGHTEST. You do that anywhere and you could have a bear tear your door open like a sardine can.
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