There are two main ways to prevent bears from invading your campsite:
- Eliminate reasons for a bear to want to visit.
- Compel a bear to leave or avoid a campsite.
The American Bear Association says a black bear can detect odors from more than a mile away. You want to eliminate as much foodlike aroma from your camp as possible.
Before you leave home:
- Know how to properly hang food out of a bear’s reach.
- Pack food and other odorous items in odor-proof bags or containers.
- Take airtight bags for trash, leftovers, clothes that you wore while cooking, etc.
Once you’re at your camping area:
- Choose a campsite that is naturally uninteresting to bears.
Select a spot that is upwind of your food stores and cooking area and away from natural food sources such as berry patches. - Set up a camp that creates distance between your sleeping, cooking/dining and food storage areas. There should be about 100 yards between these points, set up in a rough triangle with each area at a “point.” Your tent should be upwind of the two food areas.
- Create a bear hang.
If possible, hang your food in a waterproof and odor-free bag from a tree, out of reach of bears.
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