Tent Camping & Animal Proofing Your Food

I'm planning a weekend camping trip on my bike and am wondering what some of you do to animal proof your food items. Normally when I've camped I've had a car to put stuff in, so this will be my first time on a motorcycle, and not sure where/how to store food safely away from my bike and tent.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

HI there! Jim Mann, Scoutmaster for Troop 198, Boy Scouts of America. Consider a bear bag....

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Or, a sealed container that keeps the smells in, in your saddle bag far enough away from where you're going to be sleeping that if a bear (or raccoon, possum or bobcat) meanders through your campsite, it goes towards the bike and away from you.

Not that you're going in a car, but bears at places like Yosemite have learned how to pry open car doors in search of food.
And, Yogi knows what a cooler looks like as well as a picnic basket. Just a thought. :smile:

They do have bear proof containers, check the local REI or camping store. Most I've seen would fit in a 40L trunk bag or could be cargo netted to the seat. Or check and see if the site offers a food locker. I'd probably still tie it up like Jim shows, but I suspect the bears are smart enough to take down the tie lines if they can break in your car.

Most US National Parks have Bear Boxes for food storage if there is an issue in the area.

What could happen anyway?
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I feel lucky. Worst we have to worry about are possums and dogs. Not as smart as the average bear I think. Marine ply tucker box will suffice in Aussie.

5thGenJim has the right idea and a decent length of lightweight rope is economical, light weight, and can be stuffed into just about any place on your bike. My next door neighbor recently had a bear tear the rear spoiler off of his Nissan Maxima and bend the right corner of his trunk lid up at about a 45 degree angle to get at food stored inside. Bear bins are great but not every place has them. Nothing is cheaper, easier, faster, or more effective than hanging it out of reach!

For this trip, I'm probably more worried about the smaller nighttime animals, raccoons, etc..., but you never no if a black bear might be around. While I don't want them near my tent, I also don't want them going near the bike either. :smile: Maybe I can hoist the bike and food...



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[image: View Post]Dexter, on 27 September 2011 - 07:14 AM, said:

http://www.360digitalpics.com/bear.jpg

You're gonna need a heavier rope... :goofy:

I tell my boys on every outing to seal the food up and keep it out of the tent. My son (of all the scouts) didn't listen at Summer Camp and was raided by raccoons one night. Luckily he slept through it and all they wanted was the food - but he lost his care package from home.

The bear box is great, in the trailer (we haul our gear in an 8x12 trailer) if there's no bear box. But if you don't have either, your best bet is in a bag, hoisted about 15-20 feet in the air and far enough away from large rocks and other trees so you don't wake up at 0200 hrs to large woodland creatures hanging off your bear bag. :lol:

Stay in a hotel. The only thing you have to worry about there is cougars trying to get in your pants.

[image: View Post]5thGenJim, on 27 September 2011 - 09:12 AM, said:

I tell my boys on every outing to seal the food up and keep it out of the tent. My son (of all the scouts) didn't listen at Summer Camp and was raided by raccoons one night. Luckily he slept through it and all they wanted was the food - but he lost his care package from home.

The bear box is great, in the trailer (we haul our gear in an 8x12 trailer) if there's no bear box. But if you don't have either, your best bet is in a bag, hoisted about 15-20 feet in the air and far enough away from large rocks and other trees so you don't wake up at 0200 hrs to large woodland creatures hanging off your bear bag. :lol:
Besides food keep anything aromatic out of the tent, including deodorants, shampoos, soaps, hand sanitizers, etc.