SaintAgatha
Rising Sun Member
Oh nice, I didn't know this was a thing. Have you actually used it? Does it work?
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Bear Safety Advice?
- Thread starter joltman
- Start date
Unfortunately yes, and like I said. It takes the edge off. It’s definitely not a miracle wipe. It will also help you from spreading it all over your body.
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fyffer
Rising Sun Member
I have used Ammonia in a spray bottle when I am wheeling by myself, spray in and on Trasharoo and as of yet never had any problems. I started with it at Home in my Garbage can and was always bypassed by our Bear traffic. Up an down my street 3-5 times per week, various sizes Med/ Lrg/ Sau with cubs. They raid some garbage cans, 1 in particular that for over 10 years have to clean up their crap all over the street a few times per week (idiots).
Been very hard to find Ammonia lately (thanks meth heads), so all food products stay inside until pick up.
I have shooed several away by yelling an waving, from some of my immediate Neighbors, 20-30' away. So my experience is what Nancy stated, they'll run. Dog barking does not bother them much either by the way. Maybe they are more "domesticated" than in the wild??
Well, that has been my solution, FYI.
Been very hard to find Ammonia lately (thanks meth heads), so all food products stay inside until pick up.
I have shooed several away by yelling an waving, from some of my immediate Neighbors, 20-30' away. So my experience is what Nancy stated, they'll run. Dog barking does not bother them much either by the way. Maybe they are more "domesticated" than in the wild??
Well, that has been my solution, FYI.
SaintAgatha
Rising Sun Member
stusic
Land Use Coordinator
You'll find it hard to find an appropriate branch that sticks out far enough, but it can be done with enough looking.
joltman
Rising Sun Member
I really appreciate all the comments. Glad to know that everyone is looking out for others here. I'm sure everything will be fine up there, but I wanted us to cover our bases as best we could.
Rzeppa
Rising Sun Member
Ha! Same situation in Kittredge. Some people are slow learners, while others just never learn LOL!
We've been using a locking bear proof barrel provided by our collection service and have had no problems.
SaintAgatha
Rising Sun Member
Found some bear poop today just off our driveway. I'm generally on high(er) alert when I see the poo, so consider that as well.
Keep a clean camp, beyond not leaving food out be conscious about how you clean dishes. Just dumping food scraps in the bushes is a no no. Scrape everything into the trash. I’ve never had any issue with the soapy water that follows that but you can dig a hole to dump it in and bury as an extra precaution. Lock your food and garbage up at night and you should be fine. A wild bear will run off if you say boo.
Now if there is a habituated bear in the area that is an issue. Then you will have to resort to some of the previously mentioned tactics. I will echo the warning on bear spray. If you have to use it you’re almost guaranteed to experience it yourself. You’ll definitely need to move camp as well. The last habituated bear I dealt with got two barrels of rubber buck to its hind quarters. He bothered me no more.
Now if there is a habituated bear in the area that is an issue. Then you will have to resort to some of the previously mentioned tactics. I will echo the warning on bear spray. If you have to use it you’re almost guaranteed to experience it yourself. You’ll definitely need to move camp as well. The last habituated bear I dealt with got two barrels of rubber buck to its hind quarters. He bothered me no more.
stusic
Land Use Coordinator
You can tell a Black Bear from Brown Bear by their scat. Black bear droppings are smaller and often contain berries, leaves, and possibly bits of fur. Grizzly bear droppings tend to contain small bells and smell of pepper.
DaveInDenver
Rising Sun Ham Guru
I'm not an ursinologist (real word, a bear expert) but where there's regular interaction you're starting to see bear boxes at USFS and BLM established camps so that could be used as a clue to how aggressive the bears might be in a location.
We are seeing some bear boxes down here in some NFS campgrounds. There are boxes at the Florida River Campground group site which is an easy walk for a bear from my house. I’m not sure if they can be linked to aggressive bear behavior or stupid people behavior?
DaveInDenver
Rising Sun Ham Guru
Easy to pile on but it's some of both. Bears are smart and resourceful and even the best human still have inadvertent smells that are impossible to resist. The idea of bear boxes and cans is that when they find a food source, as they inevitably may, is to make it hard to get so it doesn't become habitual but even if they aren't successful the allure itself is behaviorally significant.
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I know. After living in bear country for 16 years we have made a handful of mistakes. But generally it’s very easy to keep them out of your stuff.
I see the stupidity every trash day as people refuse to get up early in the morning verse putting their trash out the night before. Bear buffets every time. I’m going to stop here or I’ll get stuck on this soap box for some time to come.
I see the stupidity every trash day as people refuse to get up early in the morning verse putting their trash out the night before. Bear buffets every time. I’m going to stop here or I’ll get stuck on this soap box for some time to come.
stusic
Land Use Coordinator
Often as a proactive deterrent to avoid issues... caused by stupid people behavior.
Rzeppa
Rising Sun Member
This ^^^^
At least in my neighborhood. Some people are REALLY slow learners and you see their trash strewn all over the street on a regular basis.
joltman
Rising Sun Member
We are back from our trip. It was a great, wet, cold time! We used all the advice here and we had no issues with critters or bears. So thank you to all who contributed and to @SaintAgatha for volunteering to be our emergency contact. It made us feel better to know we had help in case we needed it. Thank you!
stusic
Land Use Coordinator
A tidbit of knowledge to help you sleep on your next trip:
If you can see a mountain lion, don't worry, it means it's not hunting you.
If you can see a mountain lion, don't worry, it means it's not hunting you.
DaveInDenver
Rising Sun Ham Guru
A variation I've heard is that all you'll ever see of a cat is the tail. That's been my experience, heard a rustling and maybe a tail climbing Deer Creek one morning with a buddy.
Although I was once riding at night on Green Mountain and well beyond the edge of my light was a group of glowing eyes about shoulder high and one set about knee high a few dozen yards off to the side...
That was spooky.
I choose to think it was a fawn laying down when I turned around.
Does anyone else see this thread title and keep thinking it says "beer safety advice?" 