Bear Cannisters Defeated

[skerrane]

Saw this article in the NYTimes.com and thought you guys might be interested.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/nyregion/25bear.html?_r=1&em=&pagewanted=all

Apparently Yellow Yellow has learned a thing or two from Yogi

[Jim Davies]

That's pretty interesting. I wonder if Yellow-Yellow will teach the technique to other bears?

[BillMiddlebrook]

Bears are pretty smart!

Last fall while archery hunting for elk, I went to check one of my game cams and found it ripped off the tree. Thinking another hunter smashed it to the ground, I picked it up and started going through the photos (I had it set to take pics every 30 seconds after the motion sensor went off). Well, the last picture was of a bear walking in front of the camera. After it silently (no flash and hardly any sound when the digital pic is taken) took his picture, he stopped, climbed part-way up the tree and tore the camera off. He broke the straps off the back and cracked the front of it.

I should mention that the camera was hidden up in some branches and was very difficult to see.

Silly bear.

[ColoradoKrazy1]

You go Yellow Yellow, I'm betting Garcia taught her to boost sales of his canister that requires a coin or screw driver (which every camper or hiker I hike or camp with carries a "camping tool" of some kind so siting that as a reason over the Garcia model IMHO is moot) and then the press of a button to open and is smaller than the "Bear Vaults"

[Steve Gio]

That is pretty interesting stuff.

Just out of curiosity who here actually uses a baer canister for their food? I still hang my food in a bag and would be interested to hear any advise either way.

[skiwall]

Bears are pretty smart!

Last fall while archery hunting for elk, I went to check one of my game cams and found it ripped off the tree. Thinking another hunter smashed it to the ground, I picked it up and started going through the photos (I had it set to take pics every 30 seconds after the motion sensor went off). Well, the last picture was of a bear walking in front of the camera. After it silently (no flash and hardly any sound when the digital pic is taken) took his picture, he stopped, climbed part-way up the tree and tore the camera off. He broke the straps off the back and cracked the front of it.

I should mention that the camera was hidden up in some branches and was very difficult to see.

Silly bear.

@#$*%^@ hunter paparazzi. Can't a bear just walk through the woods without having his photo snapped?!

[bergsteigen]

Just out of curiosity who here actually uses a baer canister for their food?

I like my bear canister. It's like a seat while backpacking. It's waterproof, and I don't spend time morning and night hanging a bag. I'll take the extra weight for convenience.

As for the Adirondak bears, they are crafty! I've had quite the run-ins with them during my periodic backpacks into the high peaks region. I've even had to share food with my teammates when their food was eaten (hung bear bag compromised). It just means when I go back there to do my 17 peaks in 7 days trip, I'll need to get the other version of canister. Oh well!

[jrbren_vt]

The NY Times story is old news, I think. I bought my Bear canister last summer (2008), opting for this model
http://www.backpackerscache.com/products.asp
as the Bears in the Adirondack high peaks region has defeated the Bear Vault model LAST YEAR.
I thought the Bear Vault model was redsesigned last year for this, so the story being out this summer is surprising.

The Bear Canister I have adds 2.7lbs to my pack weight, with minimal volume. I stuff it full of stuff that would have been in my pack anyway. The carrying case seems like a waste of money, I am not sure what one would use that for. I put my canister inside my pack. Ditto for liners, any plastic bag from the grocery store will do.
This canister is easily opened with the bottle opener on my leatherman. It also makes a great camp stool for cooking & eating.

I don't camp that often, but I will likely bring this with me when I do since it saves the hastle of hanging food from a tree. Of the jillions of trees in the Adirondacks I never seem to find 2 of them the right size at a good distance to properly hang a bear bag.

What would folks do for above tree line camping in Colorado ? Do the Ravens (I recall Ravens being an issue on Mt Baker in WA, we even had to bury our blue bags when not in camp) or other critters pose a problem ?

Although they are called Bear Canisters, I am more concerned with all the other hungry critters I encounter much more frequently.

[randalmartin]

That is pretty interesting stuff.

Just out of curiosity who here actually uses a baer canister for their food? I still hang my food in a bag and would be interested to hear any advise either way.

Bear Canisters are required in RMNP if you are camping. I am backpacking in RMNP in September. My reservation confirmation letter has that requirement highlighted for emphasis.

[Papillon]

That is pretty interesting stuff.

Just out of curiosity who here actually uses a baer canister for their food? I still hang my food in a bag and would be interested to hear any advise either way.

Bear Canisters are required in RMNP if you are camping. I am backpacking in RMNP in September. My reservation confirmation letter has that requirement highlighted for emphasis.

I use one as well. They are also required in Yosemite as well parts of Olympic NP if I am not mistaken.

[brett.t.burch]

as well parts of Olympic NP if I am not mistaken.

Correct. I was in Olympic NP a few summers ago and was required to carry one. I saw a bear about 1/2 mile from my campsite (above treeline) and was told there was another one nearby from the Ranger who was checking our permit as we setup camp. Our campsite was right in the middle of a giant field of blueberries... pretty good setup for bears if you ask me. We probably picked $15 worth of blueberries for dinner that night.

[Tropical Flab]

The NY Times story is old news, I think. I bought my Bear canister last summer (2008), opting for this model
http://www.backpackerscache.com/products.asp
as the Bears in the Adirondack high peaks region has defeated the Bear Vault model LAST YEAR.
I thought the Bear Vault model was redsesigned last year for this, so the story being out this summer is surprising.

Actually, the story is about how the bear has learned how to get into the re-designed model.