bears disturbing tents at night

[Bear Cables]

Judging by the reviews on Amazon, that book appears to be selling fear..

or maybe the people reviewing it just like to be afraid.

I think a better source of bear knowlege would be Bear.org of the North American Bear Research Center. They don't peddle fear, just teach what they have observed.

[HIKER7s]

I think you just have to do what is working for you. With how loose or tight you adhere to knowledgable practices consistent with the type of threat your in.

[Many Walks]

We were in the boundary waters of MN/Canada for our honeymoon and had several bear visits. One was a VERY LARGE male who made his way out to an island where we were camping. The food was hung and the camp was clean. He tried for the food bag then circled around the tent a few times and about that time we realized we still had an open pack of gun in the tent. He stopped on my side sniffing so close the nylon was moving in and out. He stayed there for a while, tried for the food bag again, then moved on. We've had other incidents with bears circling at night with our food in the tent with us, but no problems. I really think they are strictly looking for food and determine the risk isn't worth the reward if people are present. I agree with the “possession” theory. Of course there are exceptions with some bears who have lost their fear of people and with older grizzlies who see people as an easy meal, but for the most part people in tents are left alone at night.


To better understand bears I recommend a great DVD called “Staying Safe in Bear Country” presented by the Safety in Bear Country Society in cooperation with the International Association for Bear Research and Management. It doesn't push fear, but is intended to increase knowledge of bear behavior and to help prevent bear encounters and attacks. It's a good visual presentation to help read and understand bear behavior in order to appreciate them in their environment.

[SouthMark]

Peddling fear is entertainment and sells.

[the goat]

two days ago, 3 feet from the front stoop of my parent's house, not far from thornton gap.

[Toolshed]

I know (and practice) about keeping a clean campsite, cooking far from the campsite, storing food yet somewhere else and so on..

but I am just curious -- how often does a black bear actually disturb a tent in which people are sleeping?

If rarely, why is that? Are they afraid of what tents look like?

They're afraid of the zippers (Just like Sheep) that's why I wear a kilt in the puckerbrush......

[Del Q]

Butterfly Farts. Now I need to put hearing THAT on my Bucket List!

[Tinker]

Bears will run away when a butterfly farts. So long as you're still breathing, you're gonna be okay.

What a mind picture!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been hiking for 30+ years and hadn't seen a bear on the trail (One at a shelter at night and one in a neighborhood back yard near an access trail in NY).
I HAVE heard VERY heavy animals tearing through the woods in the opposite direction when I've approached them on the trail on numerous occasions. Could've been just about anything, but I didn't always hear the tell-tale pounding of hoofed feet.
Most folks will concur that black bears,though extremely curious are, for the most part VERY afraid of adult humans. I can only imagine how terrified they are to hear me snore at night.

[skinewmexico]

I don't know that they never do anything to an occupied tent. A bear pulled a lady out of a tent in the Sandias (New Mexico) a couple of days ago. They did have food, and a small barky dog stored in the tent too.

[modiyooch]

What about hammocks? Does the risk go up with a smaller setup and in the trees? Do we resemble a food bag at that point? When I slept in my hammock I was concerned about being bumped.

[Manwich]

What about hammocks? Does the risk go up with a smaller setup and in the trees? Do we resemble a food bag at that point? When I slept in my hammock I was concerned about being bumped.

You are now infinitely more likely to get struck by lightning than disturbed by a bear, now that you're tied to two grounding trees.

[Dogwood]

Bears are attracted to scents, even from food wrappers, sunscreen toothpaste, bug repellant, cookware, even from food odors left on clothing if you cooked in that clothing. Some bears associate humans with a possible food source(read Chin Music's post above). Some bears are curious.

[Panzer1]

I read somewhere that a current theory is the psychology of the bear understands possession or 'property rights'. If they see something out in the open it is fair game and that is why some people will tell you that hanging food is bad because it will bring around persistent bear activity.

There may also be 'criminal' bears that don't care about property rights and are inclined to mug you.

Panzer

[Sierra Echo]

There may also be 'criminal' bears that don't care about property rights and are inclined to mug you.

Panzer

LOL you can tell those bears by the bandanas pulled up over their snouts!

[TIDE-HSV]

LOL you can tell those bears by the bandanas pulled up over their snouts!

Or caps worn bill backwards...

[Sierra Echo]

Or caps worn bill backwards...

LOL and they pants hanging off their butts~!

[Manwich]