Bears and Meals

[Black_Fly]

I’m taking mostly freeze dried meals on my September excursions. They don’t fit real good in my Bear Vaults. Im wondering if there isn’t a better way to haul these meals, and if bears can even smell them inside their pouches. Anyone ever hear of a bear getting into sealed FD meals?

 

[Alan Gage]

How are they packaged now that they don't fit well? Can you just repackage them into zip locks?

Alan

 

[Boatman53]

My dog gets interested in the pouches when I bring them out to pack.
Jim

 

[yknpdlr]

When I flew an AF cargo plane into the Philippines with military passengers, we were required to stop on the tarmac and keep the doors closed (in 100F temp) until local inspectors could visit us with scent dogs. The pilot frantically tried to capture a moth fluttering inside the window before they arrived. Once onboard, a dog, a German shepherd, alerted on one airman's luggage bag. The local country military cops tore it apart and finally determined that ther airman had a sealed can of tuna fish that the dog was most interested in. That was it, nothing else. Bears are known to have an even more sensitive sense of smell than dogs. Being in SAR, I am always impressed when a canine is able locate a down and buried subject, even after a year in some cases.

I have no doubt that most any kind of closely sealed packaging is not barrier to the nose of a bear. Some bears, a famous example named
"yellow-yellow" for her ear tags, have learned to open the cover of the Bear Vault, and even taught its cubs how to do the same. Several campers over a couple of years lost the well sealed contents and the canister. The DEC then made that canister illegal to use in that region of the Adirondacks.

I saw a returned rental Garcia canister (the black canister) where the renter camper observed a red squirrel work on chewing it over a period of three days. The critter eventually was able to chew through a bottom corner and got into the interior. If I was the rental shop I would have charged him the full replacement cost.

 

[Black_Fly]

Meh, these bear cans add about 6 lbs to my load alone. A square one would fit these meal pouches better.

 

[Gamma1214]

I think the safe bet is to assume that the bear can smell it and will eat whatever is available. I guess barrels or vaults are required now in the BWCA but I'd still hang. (Better safe than hungry)

 

[Black_Fly]

I used to hang in the BWCA, but the trees are so damaged around the best campsites I started stashing a can.

 

[PaddlingPika]

Do Ursacks meet bear resistant requirements for the areas you plan to travel?

 

[yknpdlr]

Do Ursacks meet bear resistant requirements for the areas you plan to travel?

In NY, no, the ursack since it is not solid and non-pliable material does not meet the requirements where a bear resistant canister is mandatory:

Only canisters successfully tested by the IGBC pass the certification test. IGBC Certification: Products that successfully withstand the bear testing for a specified duration are certified as bear-resistant by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC).

Bear-Resistant Canisters

Using a bear-resistant canister is the most effective way to prevent bears from becoming emboldened to obtain food from back-country campers.

dec.ny.gov

Selecting a Bear-Resistant Canister

Bear-resistant canister means a commercially made container constructed of solid, non-pliable material manufactured for the specific purpose of resisting entry by bears.

Tested and approved bear-resistant canisters can be purchased or rented from many local, national, and web-based outdoor recreation retailers. However, black bears in the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness have regularly defeated bear-resistant canisters made of clear plastic. Campers are encouraged (although not required) to use another type of bear-resistant canister to prevent the loss of food. When selecting a bear-resistant canister consider the following:

Has the canister passed rigorous testing with live bears?

Is the canister made of solid, non-pliable hard plastic or metal with smooth, rounded edges and no handles?

There shouldn’t be any features that a bears' claws or teeth could grip under or that would allow a bear to carry the canister away.

Is the canister large enough to store all scented items for the entire duration of your trip?


Canisters typically are 8 inches by 12 inches in size and hold up to 5 days of food for 1 person, when properly packed.

Does the canister have a lid that is easy to remove and secure? This will help ensure scented items can be easily secured after each use.

A Bear Can: Use it or Lose it | Adirondack Mountain Club

New York State law states that, during the period April 1 through November 30, no overnight camper in the Eastern/Central High Peaks Zone shall fail to use bear-resistant canisters for the storage of all food.

adk.org

 

[ppine]

Bears can smell everything. That includes canned goods, toothpaste, pouch food, your dog and you.

 

[memaquay]

Not to be nosey, but do your September trips still involve coming up to Ontario? My memory is not the best now, but I seem to recall you had been speculating about a trip in Wabakimi maybe? If that is the case, don't worry about the bear vault, just put your food bag outside your tent, if you have bearanoia, put it at a distance and put some pots on it so you know if something is disturbing it. If it does turn out to be a bear, very unlikely, just do the Canadian thing and fight it, we usually win.

 

[Gamma1214]

...we usually win

and if not... I guess it makes the TR more interesting.

 

[ppine]

Last night I was at a concert in the general store of a little mountain town near where I live. Forrest Van Tuyl was playing.
During the intermission out in front of the store, the local black bear showed up in broad daylight. He waited awhile, saw an opening and scooted down the street. He was a large boar with dark chocolate fur.