Unlike Yogi the bear and his sidekick, Boo Boo, who scurry around snatching food and trying to hide from the park ranger, having a bear try to eat out of your picnic basket (or cooler) is no laughing matter. But the fact is, if you are camping in bear country and have food, it’s a recipe for a bear visit.
While it may be an amazing experience to see a bear off in the distance, it’s quite another thing to have a bear rummaging around your camper for a snack. Let’s look at some things you can do to get as close to a bear-proof camper as possible and still enjoy your camping trip.
Do Bears Really Get Into RVs?
This is like asking if kids really eat cookies. Absolutely! Bears may live in the wild, but they are quite intelligent. They are also nosy by nature and when it comes to getting into things like tents, coolers, and even RVs, these animals are extremely capable.
Because of bears’ ability to figure out how to get into trash cans, buildings, and yes, even RVs, there can be a certain struggle with the bear population. (Hint: they can’t read, so “Do Not Enter” signs don’t help.) The driving force is, of course, food. Bears have an incredible sense of smell! They are like giant, curious bloodhounds with claws. If you think the bacon you’re cooking smells good, so do the bears. And if bears think the coast is clear, they might try to get into your RV for a little snack.
A surprising fact to many is that it isn’t just the smell of food that attracts bears. Many non-food items have scents that bears are drawn to investigate. Keep this in mind when packing for your trip. That scented body lotion you love? Probably not a good idea to wear it when you’re camping in bear country! That goes for sunscreen, too.
Even scented candles have the potential to lure curious bears to the source of their olfactory overload. Surprisingly, those citronella candles you might be using to keep the mosquitoes at bay can actually draw bears in! Hmmm, ward off bugs or attract bears? Might just be best to leave the candles home.
How to Bear Proof Campers
The number one thing you can do to reduce the chance of bears trying to get into your RV is to cut down on scents. Remember, any scents inside your RV are scents that bears can smell outside your RV. And, the curious sort they are, they will try to figure out a way to get inside to the source! So, scaling down on scents means less interest from bears. Try sticking to unscented or scentless toiletries for the duration of your trip and forgo any air fresheners or other “smell good” items.
Start by using travel containers to seal your food tightly. These containers can help you with portions and planning to make sure you have enough food for your trip. In addition to lessening the chances for spills, they pack and stack well, making them a great camping hack.
When it comes to your trash, be meticulous about cleaning up. The smallest crumb or wrapper can smell intriguing to a bear. Your trash is their treasure of tempting treats. Leaving anything out that could bring a bear by your campsite is bad news. Use the appropriate dumpsters whenever possible to dispose of your garbage.
Finally, don’t forget to keep your camper locked. Bears are like burglars, searching around looking for easy targets. Bears can be deterred from investigating an appealing scent emanating from your RV if there is no easy access because you’ve got it locked up tight.
Staying Safe at the Campground
When you are camping in parks and forests that frequently have bears, food lockers are often provided. These are generally made of metal and designed to keep bears out. They can hold your cooler and dry goods and are separate from your RV so they not only help keep your food safe from bears, they keep you safe from bears because all the yummy smells are not coming from your camper. It’s a big step toward a bear-proof camper. So, if the park you are visiting has food lockers, use them!
If you are boondocking and no food lockers are nearby, be extra vigilant about storing and disposing of trash. You can also check with the park you are visiting. Many national parks have food storage requirements such as bear canisters or hanging a bear bag. Check with the park where you are planning to stay for their specific rules.
Another way to bear-proof your camper and discourage bears from hunting around your campsite for food is to thoroughly clean up outside and especially after eating at picnic tables or around the campfire. The more trash you throw away and food scents you clean up, the less likely you’ll be to attract hungry, curious, nosy bears. You’ll be much more likely to safely enjoy your vacation in a bear-proof camper and campsite.
Contact RV Wholesale Superstore
The professionals at RV Wholesale Superstore are ready to help you find the perfect RV for you and your family. Visit us in-person at 5080 W. Alexis Road, in Sylvania, OH or call us at (419) 786-1126
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