How to Keep Black Bears Away from Your Campsite

Summer is upon us, so it’s prime time for hiking and camping. Before you camp anywhere, you need to research the potential threats and dangers so you can enjoy your adventure without any unforeseen incidents. If you’re camping in areas of the United States where black bears are common, such as the Pacific Northwest, the upper Midwest, certain parts of the South, and other regions, you need to take extra caution. It’s important to learn how to camp safely in black bear territory. The following tips are essential.

Why You Need to Beware of Bears

Make no mistake. Black bears can be dangerous. There have been many black bear attacks throughout the years, and some have been fatal. One of the most recent events occurred in Florida, where an 89-year-old man and his dog died after a black bear attack. Experts confirmed that the bear had caused the injuries after a DNA test was conducted. It’s believed that the bear approached the man’s home, and that’s when the dog tried to defend the property and was killed. Then, the bear entered his residence and killed the man in an altercation.

The point of this unfortunate story is to emphasize that you need to take the threat of bear attacks seriously, even if the chances of encountering one are low. Many people believe that grizzly bears pose the main threat due to their size and temperament. However, black bear attacks can and do occur, especially if you inadvertently attract them to your location. The best way to prevent an attack is to be proactive and avoid putting yourself in danger, especially when setting up camp for the night.

Stay Out of High-Traffic Bear Locations

When considering how to camp safely in black bear territory, the first step is to look for the signs that you may be in a high-traffic area. Before you go, research what bear feces look like so you can be aware of it on the trail. Fresh feces will be moist, and if it is, then a bear may be nearby. Also, if you’re traveling in a forested area where black bears are common, then you may also want to avoid camping where there are fresh food sources, such as near blueberry bushes or a river that’s full of tasty fish. Finally, be aware of bear footprints and scratches on trees. If anything seems amiss, continue on to the next campground.

If you happen to encounter a black bear while camping, don’t make any sudden moves. You should act in a way that allows both you and the bear to leave the situation safely. Do not move closer to the bear, or it may lash out in defense. You also don’t want to startle or frighten the bear. Instead, speak in a firm voice as you back away slowly and remove yourself from the area.

Be Cautious With Your Food

Another essential tip you need to follow to camp safely in black bear territory is to be cautious about what you do with your food. While the typical black bear diet includes berries, nuts, insects, grasses, and small mammals, they also like a lot of what you like. If they’re in the area and they smell your food, they are likely going to wander over to see if you have anything good.  By being cautious with your food, you help not only yourself but also future campers. It’s not uncommon for bears to find and eat food at campsites so frequently that they develop a taste for human food and begin to seek out campsites more regularly.

Keep Food Properly Contained

When you’re camping, you need to eat. However, you don’t need to advertise that you have food. The best way to keep the scent of food from attracting bears is to store it in a bear-proof canister. Most of these are airtight, so bears can’t smell what’s inside. Even if they can, they won’t be able to get into the canister, and they’ll move on.

Keep Food Away From Your Tent

Make it a habit to keep food away from your campsite to avoid attracting bears while you’re there or when you’re sleeping. The best practice is to put your food in a canister and store it 100 feet away from the tent. Keep your wrappers and food scraps in there as well. Even though banana peels and apple cores will decompose over time, you still shouldn’t toss them on the ground. Curious bears may catch the odor and see if there’s more where it came from. To be extra careful, you may even consider preparing and eating your meals 100 feet away, reserving your campsite solely as a place to gather and sleep.

Leave Food in a Tree

If you don’t feel comfortable leaving your food far from your campsite, hanging it from a tree is another option. A strong, sturdy tree limb will keep your food out of reach, and it may be high enough that the scent won’t attract bears. All you need is a sturdy bag and a rope. You can also purchase a bear pole that can hang your entire backpack high off the ground. The goal is to find a high branch that an animal can’t easily reach. Keep in mind that if a bear suspects you have food, it may still investigate your campsite. For this reason, many experts recommend keeping food stored 100 feet away.

Follow Leave-No-Trace Principles

When you leave your campsite, be sure to follow the various Leave No Trace principles. Respect nature and wildlife by taking all of your trash and food with you when you leave and disposing of it properly. Also, leave the campsite as you found it. You want to make the area appear as undisturbed as possible.

What Do You Do If a Bear Comes Around?

Even if you take proper precautions to keep predators at bay, it’s crucial to know what to do if you come into close contact with a bear.

Preparation is Key

Before you’re faced with this scary situation, you need to know the best form of defense: bear spray.  While it may sound humorous at first, bear spray is actually incredibly effective for keeping bears at bay. A study in Alaska revealed that bear spray deterred potentially dangerous incidents involving black bears 90% of the time. Most bear spray is made from oleoresin capsaicin, which is red pepper oil. It works by inflaming the upper respiratory system and the eyes of an attacking bear. Purchase a canister of bear spray and keep it in your backpack. At night, keep it with you in your tent.

In order to be effective with bear spray, practice with it before you leave for your camping trip. When you first get it, practice removing the safety clip so you can do it quickly if a bear approaches. When you depress the trigger, it will come out in a cone-shaped fog. For best results, use the spray when the bear is 20-30 feet away. Be especially cautious of wind direction. You do not want the spray to blow back at you, as it can cause pain. Even a small amount can cause health issues.

What If You’re In Your Sleeping Bag?

One of the greatest fears to consider is whether you’re sleeping or otherwise spending time in your tent when you hear a black bear outside. If you’ve followed all the steps above, a bear is unlikely to sniff around your campsite. Still, be sure to keep your bear spray in the tent with you just in case. When you’re in your tent and you can hear an animal moving around, try to scare it away by clapping, shouting, and making other loud noises. That may be enough to make the bear realize that it’s time to leave. If it doesn’t leave, the next step is to get out of the tent with a flashlight so the bear knows you’re human. Have your bear spray with you in case the bear gets too close or becomes a threat. If you’re in a group campsite, shout “bear” to alert other campers so they can take precautions as well.

Take Black Bear Safety Seriously

It’s essential that you take all of the necessary precautions to camp safely in black bear territory. The threat of a black bear attack is not high, but it is possible. If you live in bear country, take the proper steps before your camping trip to enjoy nature without fear.

The post How to Keep Black Bears Away from Your Campsite appeared first on A-Z Animals.