RE: Camping with pets and a threat of bears...

[JemJen24]

 
Since we sometimes leave the dogs in the camper when we go take our showers or make a quick run to the store, I wondered this...
 
 We ll be camping in Black Bear county next month in Colorado.  I m starting to get nervous about leaving them in the camper if we go off for a while.  Will the bear consider them food?  They are very quiet and don t make any noise (just sleep) when we leave them in the camper, but I know a Bear s sense of smell is strong.
 
 Your comments....
 
 Jennifer

[tlhdoc]

 JemJen24
Yes bears will kill dogs.  I know people that had their beagle kennel raided by a black bear.  It killed several of the dogs.  Some bears will stay away from dogs, but not all.
 
 Do you really think you dogs will not bark at a bear if comes around your trailer?  I know mine would go wild if a bear came around.

[Tim5055]

 JemJen24
I agree, I would not leave Natasha alone in bear country.  She only stay alone in developed " tame"  campgrounds.

[JemJen24]

 JemJen24
Let me clarify myself...I KNOW my dogs would bark insanely if a bear were to attempt to break into the camper...what I meant was that they are, otherwise, always quiet and simply sleep.  I stated this because I don t think that they would attract any bears by the noise they would make, but simply their smell.
 
 Tim, I m starting to lean towards your side and am thinking of calling Anti Mary to watch the pupsters while we are in bear country.  Can t take  em on the trails anyhow.
 
 Jennifer

[tlhdoc]

 JemJen24
That might be a good idea for this trip.

[deniski]

 JemJen24
The bears are restless right now in my area (the rockies in south central Montana) because of the drought, heat and lack of food.  Several stories lately in the paper about bears having to be trapped and relocated from pretty populated campgrounds/trailheads and even a local church camp.  One young bear had to be destroyed this week because there is a three strikes and you re out rule - and he kept revisiting campgrounds even after he had been relocated.  
 
 If I was in a populated campground and was just going to take a shower or going to the campground store,  I wouldn t worry about leaving my dogs in the camper.    But in a more isolated campground or if I was going to be gone for a while, I d take them with me.    I don t think a bear would go after my camper with my 2 very large akitas barking at it from inside (and they would sound downright nasty and loud if a bear or anybody else was trying to break into the camper...), but you never know.    Generally, if I can t take the dogs with me on trails etc.  I kennel them up somewhere rather than take them on the trip.
 
 AND if you are in bear country, don t forget to be scrupulous about storing food only in your tow vehicle!  
 
 

[JemJen24]

 JemJen24
yes, I ve been reading about all the DOs and DON Ts when camping in bear country.  Looks like I ll have to store all dishes, food items, and anything that smells or looks like food in our vehicle.  They also recommend you change clothes after cooking.  Whew...I m gonna do a lot of laundry!
 
 I wonder if I should get some bear pepper spray?  I wonder how many people have ACTUALLY had a bear encounter while camping at a State Park in bear country.
 
 J.

[tlhdoc]

 JemJen24
We have seen bears in some PA state parks, but no problems with them so far.

[deniski]

 JemJen24
We ALWAYS carry bear spray.   Keep it in the camper with us at night too.
 
 We also have seen bears.  Lucky for us that they were not close enough to need to USE the bear spray!!!
 
 We are careful to keep food and trash in the tow vehicle, but we still have our dirty clothes in a bag under one of the benches in the camper.  Never really thought about those clothes smelling like the food we cooked earlier!

[vjm1639]

 JemJen24
just always be sure to leave the area if you ever have to spray a bear... studies have shown:-----
 
 []
 News Release
 U.S. Department of the Interior
 U.S. Geological Survey
 USGS Alaska Science Center
 USGS CAUTIONS PROPER USE OF PEPPER SPRAY TO AVOID BEAR ATTACKS
 Smith said that although research has shown that red pepper spray is highly effective as a deterrent in aggressive grizzly and brown bear encounters when sprayed directly in a bear s eyes or nose, his pilot study shows that spray residues did attract brown bears when used in nonaggressive situations. Brown bear responses to red pepper spray-treated sites in his study ranged from mere sniffing to whole body rolling in the residues, an uncommon bear behavior

[B-flat]

 JemJen24
I feel you should not take your dogs camping on this trip because there are serious risks involved.  Yes, the bears might smell the dogs and try to attack.  I have also heard that bears who are very hungry will try to break into tow vechicles just to get to food.  I would think twice before putting garbage or any kind of food inside a tow vehicle in bear country.

[CampinCrazy]

 JemJen24
Jen, I d vote to keep the pups safe at home.  They are much to important to put in danger - and even if they were safe, you d worry yourself sick.  Get a babysitter and enjoy your trip.

[MtnCamper]

 JemJen24
Jen, Having camped at Mueller, I think you should, if possible leave the dogs. You can t take them with you on the trails, so what fun is it?
 
 I would not worry about them in the camper getting eaten by bears at all. It s just that you can t take them with you. If you feel safer, bringing bear spray bring it. But you  won t see 1 sign of a bear.  This park is not wild country safari. It s a very popular (crowded park). If there was or is a problem with bears there, it s dealt with immediately.
 
 Don t worry, you ll be fine.

[JemJen24]

 JemJen24
Mntcamper....thanks for putting my mind at ease
 
 I may still, however, purchase some pepper spray.
 
 I ve gone ahead and gotten a pet sitter for that week.  It ll be hard camping without my babies and fellow hiking buddies there, but I think it s the best thing to do.
 
 Out of curiousity, does Mueller have bear secure storage containers?  If not, we ll HAVE TO put the food items in the Jeep and I ll make sure to cover them with a blanket.
 
 Jen

[Opie431]

 JemJen24
I put a large flannel shirt over my clothes when cooking in real bear countryand toss it in the car when I am done eating.
 If a campground has signs warning about bears and does not have bear proof garbage containers I do not worry.
 If the campground has special storage for you to put your food in, then I am very, very careful. At a Canadian campground we were at you had to go up three steps to put your trash in and then turn a handle to open the top.  Real bear couontry.