# Camping w/no bear boxes (WTF??) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 22, 2010, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566 "2010-07-22T04:54:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566/41 "2010-07-23T14:03:04Z")
But in Ontario, you have the right to bare arms (and chests) ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566/42 "2010-07-29T04:44:57Z")
I just checked in to see if **ArchiveGuy** had gone camping yet and I see he has posted today, so I assume not. There _are_ bears in the woods, and they are angry. > **[Bear kills man, injures two near Yellowstone Park](https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66R5VK20100728?type=domesticNews)** > > One man was killed and a man and a woman were injured by bear attacks in the middle of the night on Wednesday at a popular campground on the edge of Yellowstone Park, wildlife officials said. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566/43 "2010-08-03T18:06:45Z")
Nope, not until Labor Day weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566/44 "2010-08-03T18:33:59Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > My first thought was bear box? I just hoist it up a tree in a sack. I didn’t know that was old school. Same deal here. I didn’t even know “bear boxes” existed. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566/45 "2010-08-03T18:43:56Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > > [@In\_Winnipeg](#): > > > > Up north of the border, we’re all laughing at you. > > > > Just sayin’. > > Remember, down here the bears have guns. Of course!!! It’s in the constitution, ya know…every citizen has the right to arm bears… (d & R) (sorry…but it _had_ to be said. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566/46 "2010-08-03T18:48:07Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Duh! Just **don’t bring any food!** Bring a gun. (What’s a good caliber for bear?) 105mm ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566/47 "2010-08-03T19:23:50Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > Nope, not until Labor Day weekend. As I understand it, Labor Day is Tahoe’s prime bear season. They’re getting ready for hibernation and are attracted by the mooks who don’t know any better and leave their food & trash easily accessible. Worse are the few who want a bear photo-op and deliberately leave out food. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566/48 "2010-08-03T19:34:22Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I just want to know how they get the bear into the box. It’s a very long box but too narrow for the bear to comforatbly turn around. The bear gets lured in with donuts and a big bag of stuff at the other end, which closes the entrance hatch when pulled. Yeah, I just watched the relocation of a Tahoe nuisance bear on a Nat Geo channel last night. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566/49 "2010-08-03T19:49:47Z")
Bear boxes? _Bears?_? And you _camp_ in that? What’s **wrong** with you people? Come to England, the most dangerous camping scenario involves [these](http://www.natures-desktop.com/animal-wallpapers/wild-rabbit.php) critters ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566/50 "2010-08-03T20:04:26Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Come to England, the most dangerous camping scenario involves [these](http://www.natures-desktop.com/animal-wallpapers/wild-rabbit.php) critters That’s the most foul, cruel, and bad-tempered rodent I ever set eyes on! ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566/51 "2010-08-03T20:06:33Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Bear boxes? _Bears?_? And you _camp_ in that? What’s **wrong** with you people? > > Come to England, the most dangerous camping scenario involves [these](http://www.natures-desktop.com/animal-wallpapers/wild-rabbit.php) critters I’m afraid the Second Amendment does not cover the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch, so we have no defense against that creature. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566/52 "2010-08-03T20:15:54Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > > [@SanVito](#): > > > > Bear boxes? _Bears?_? And you _camp_ in that? What’s **wrong** with you people? > > > > Come to England, the most dangerous camping scenario involves [these](http://www.natures-desktop.com/animal-wallpapers/wild-rabbit.php) critters > > I’m afraid the Second Amendment does not cover the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch, so we have no defense against that creature. How do you think we built an empire? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566/53 "2010-08-03T20:45:51Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Same deal here. I didn’t even know “bear boxes” existed. In some places (like the Adirondacks High Peaks) hanging food simply doesn’t work. The bears are smart enough and have seen it enough that they will defeat any hanging scheme you devise. Rather than bear boxes, the DEC has made bear canisters mandatory, and even then the bears (one in particular) has figured out how to open one model. They’re smarter than the average human, let alone the average bear. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566/54 "2010-08-03T20:47:45Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > > [@Oakminster](#): > > > > Same deal here. I didn’t even know “bear boxes” existed. > > In some places (like the Adirondacks High Peaks) hanging food simply doesn’t work. The bears are smart enough and have seen it enough that they will defeat any hanging scheme you devise. Rather than bear boxes, the DEC has made bear canisters mandatory, and even then the bears (one in particular) has figured out how to open one model. > > They’re smarter than the average human, let alone the average bear. Well, when they get opposible thumbs and start driving David Drake’s hover tanks, then I’ll be impressed. Until then, I’ll bet on the humans (as a whole). ---
**Author:** ![capeo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@capeo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capeo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566/55 "2010-08-03T20:57:45Z")
I lived in west side of the Sierras for years and always just used a bear canister when in the back country. I know in the Bishop area Sierra Mountain Sports and Wilson’s rented them. I can’t imagine that the Tahoe area wouldn’t have places to rent them. I was a porter so I bought my own. I’ve also had quite a few (utter harmless and quite neat) run ins with black bears. A canister really is the way to go anyway. Just put it far from your camp at night (along with your cooking gear) and you should be good. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566/56 "2010-08-03T21:32:17Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Well, when they get opposible thumbs and start driving David Drake’s hover tanks, then I’ll be impressed. Until then, I’ll bet on the humans (as a whole). I’m still betting on the bears. [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/nyregion/25bear.html](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/nyregion/25bear.html) ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566/57 "2010-08-20T23:40:19Z")
[Uh Oh](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703723504575425670167473634.html). ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566/58 "2010-08-21T02:23:24Z")
As a point of interest, REI sells [bear-proof food containers](http://www.rei.com/product/768902), the idea being that you put your food in there and then the bears just swat the thing around trying to get at the food inside. This is nothing new and all fine and dandy, but at the bottom of the page there is a warning regarding a particular area which contains a particular bear which has, in fact, figured out how to open these things. For some reason, I find this hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566/59 "2010-08-21T02:44:08Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > Nope, not until Labor Day weekend. I see I’m not too late to this thread … Icehouse may be near Tahoe on the map, but it’s on the west slope of the Sierra, separated by quite a bit of exposed granite. The problem bears from Tahoe City & Incline won’t be over there. Bear boxes are only important in places like Yosemite where the bears are experienced, resourceful and persistent. You’ll be just fine storing food in the car, as long as it’s out of sight; preferably in the trunk. Just don’t leave unattended food out when you’re not cooking or eating. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566/60 "2010-08-21T02:59:29Z")
I used to go camping at Icehouse all the time back in high school/college. Of course, we never took any precautions concerning bears (because we were young and therefore impervious to harm). Previous experience notwithstanding, I’d be a bit more careful now that I’m old and feeble. And just remember…you don’t need to outrun the bear, you just need to outrun the guy next to you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-w-no-bear-boxes-wtf/547566.md?page=4)