by Joan H. Young

Created on: August 14, 2010

Animals are just as interested in getting an easy meal as you or I. When camping, it can be a challenge to prevent the critters from helping themselves to our dinner. If you are basecamping, metal containers may be provided, or your car is a relatively safe cache. But what should you do if you are backpacking away from a vehicle?

“Bear,” probably raises the most anxiety when thinking about losing food to an animal. But chipmunks and squirrels can cause just as complete devastation of food supplies. Mice pollute and ruin foods. Even insects or slugs can create problems if food is handled improperly.

Never keep food in your tent at night. Never leave food open and unprotected for extended periods of time. Try to cook a significant distance from your tent.

There are different styles of camping. In some management areas you will be required to camp in designated locations. These campsites will have greater animal problems than where dispersed camping is allowed. Animals will have identified those established campsites as prime food collection areas. In some areas, such as the eastern High Peaks of the Adirondacks, the bears simply come through every day and take what they want. One has even been observed opening a “bear-proof” canister.

Here are five tips to minimize the chances that you will need to cut your trip short because some small or large beast has enjoyed a free meal at your expense.

Tip #1
Hang your food, toothpaste, lotions, etc. from a high branch or bear pole. Line your food bag with a plastic bag. Animals can still smell it, but not from as far away, and the plastic will also protect it from rain and heavy dew. There are several methods of roping a cache bag over a high branch out of the reach of animals. To be bear safe, the bag must be 12 feet off the ground and at least 3 feet from the trunk of any nearby tree. In areas where bears are “savvy,” you can not simply loop the rope over a branch and tie it off; the bear will know enough to slash the rope. Research alternate roping methods.

Tip #2
Consider a bear canister. These canisters have smooth sides with nothing for an animal with paws to hold on to.  The disadvantage is that they are too small for extended trips, and they are expensive. The kind that open by using a tool or coin to unscrew the lid are more secure.

Tip #3
The Ursack  is a bag woven of bullet-proof material that a bear or other animal can not bite through. It packs better than a canister,

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