Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: Updated Bear Report
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kanoes |
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Merganser |
quote kanoes: "were those the "blue" barrels? :)" Ripped apart would imply blue barrel and not something really bear proof. In addition I would submit that unless you provide a handle (pack) a Bear Vault, or other similar container, is not going to be carried off. |
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kanoes |
btw...thanks for these updates moosetrack. |
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nolanbunch |
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MooseTrack |
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nolanbunch |
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fishguts |
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serenityseeker |
* Backpacker Model 812 (Garcia) www.backpackerscache.com * BearVault 110b, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, and 500 www.bearvault.com * Bearikade Weekender MKII (1766 and higher) and Expedition MKII (1766 and higher) www.wild-ideas.net * The Bear Keg (Counter Assault) www.counterassault.com * The Bare Boxer Contender (101) and Champ (202) www.bareboxer.com * Purple Mountain Engineering Tahoe (This canister is no longer in production or available for purchase) |
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MooseTrack |
As far as we knew the bears were happily munching berries until recently. Here are a few reports we've received this week: • active and curious bear around the Wood and Hula Lake area. • NE side of Ensign--bear came into camp and ate a cooler (hopefully the food in the cooler and not too much of the cooler itself) • bear was scared out of campsite on Ensign--SE portion near Boot portage • Disappointment--bear took food barrels--east side on north side of big peninsula • Parent L.--bear ripped apart a bear barrel, there were packs in the woods behind the site--site closest to portage into Disappointment |
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AndySG |
So much for the Blue Barrels. Thanks serenity for the web info on bear proof containers. |
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Amok |
quote MooseTrack: "FYI..received this info from the USFS this morning... I'm seeing an assumption about these 'food' barrels being blue barrels. The first one? sure, probably was. But the last entry says clearly 'bear barrel' which implies to me that it is NOT a blue barrel -tho I have seen people call blue barrels bear barrels which is not correct... even tho I own 3 and have no qualms using them instead of hanging. Also, I read somewhere that 'bearproof' means that it takes a bear longer than 10 minutes to break into it. That is all. Nothing is truely bear proof. |
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wtgmonkey |
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mwd1976 |
quote SANS PEUR: "quote BWPaddler: "quote SANS PEUR: "Just returned from Disappointment (campsite on left just past the island site...coming from Snowbank). Had sow and her two cubs 'stalk' us around the perimeter of our site for about an hour. They wanted our food pack and even pulled the rope down where we hung our food(pack wasn't hung at the time). There was no aggression. They basically were trying to see if they could get our food. They weren't afraid of us, more like shy. All six of us banged pots and pans and yelled. They eventually moved on without any incident and never returned. My advice is to do just what we did however consider hanging your food pack somewhere besides the two perfect trees about 50 yds from the camp. The bears went right to that spot cause I'm sure most campers hang their pack there. " I think it goes to show that while the blue barrels may not be bear proof, neither is hanging a pack. In fact most bear stories Ive heard start with "I heard a thud when he got the food pack out of the tree" I use the blue barrels and have never had issues. Whether by luck or success I don't know. I know they are not bear proof and I hide them away from camp. I certainly don't believe they are any worse than hanging at preventing bear encounters. |
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oldgentleman |
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SunCatcher |
quote arctic: "What do all of the bear problem sites have in common? They are in areas that are packed with people all summer. The scent of food is nearly constant. Bears are not stupid critters; if they can get an easy meal, they will." That is why Yogi and Boo Boo always went for the Pic a nic Basket. SunCatcher |
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mc2mens |
quote oldgentleman: "Most people that hang packs never have a problem. Most people that use blue barrels or bear proof canisters never have a problem. Keep your camp, and your pack and your barrel clean and you may never have a problem. " well said og. |
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arctic |
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ekffazr |
quote oldgentleman: "Most people that hang packs never have a problem. Most people that use blue barrels or bear proof canisters never have a problem. Keep your camp, and your pack and your barrel clean and you may never have a problem. " sorry but that's entirely too logical |
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SANS PEUR |
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BWPaddler |
quote SANS PEUR: "Just returned from Disappointment (campsite on left just past the island site...coming from Snowbank). Had sow and her two cubs 'stalk' us around the perimeter of our site for about an hour. They wanted our food pack and even pulled the rope down where we hung our food(pack wasn't hung at the time). There was no aggression. They basically were trying to see if they could get our food. They weren't afraid of us, more like shy. All six of us banged pots and pans and yelled. They eventually moved on without any incident and never returned. My advice is to do just what we did however consider hanging your food pack somewhere besides the two perfect trees about 50 yds from the camp. The bears went right to that spot cause I'm sure most campers hang their pack there. " Was your food pack on the ground at the time then? |
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SANS PEUR |
quote BWPaddler: "quote SANS PEUR: "Just returned from Disappointment (campsite on left just past the island site...coming from Snowbank). Had sow and her two cubs 'stalk' us around the perimeter of our site for about an hour. They wanted our food pack and even pulled the rope down where we hung our food(pack wasn't hung at the time). There was no aggression. They basically were trying to see if they could get our food. They weren't afraid of us, more like shy. All six of us banged pots and pans and yelled. They eventually moved on without any incident and never returned. My advice is to do just what we did however consider hanging your food pack somewhere besides the two perfect trees about 50 yds from the camp. The bears went right to that spot cause I'm sure most campers hang their pack there. " It was, but it was at the site with us. For some reason they went to the rope and swung at it even though there was no food pack hanging...Pavlov's bears I guess. |
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Bang |
quote fishguts: " " That is not the hard plastic 60 Liter Blue Barrel that we use on our trips. |
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edgeways |
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overthehill |
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snakecharmer |
quote nonamesleft47: "Just an idea and maybe a stupid one but if you're using an airtight barrel could you not anchor it offshore rather than hang it? You could paddle out to it, get what you need and leave the barrel there. That would probably work, but it sounds like alot of monkey business. Unless you're heading into a known problem area, the standard practices and precautions should suffice. Bears just are not that wide spread of an issue to warrant all the hype IMHO. |
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nonamesleft47 |
Also, are the bear problems mainly happening out of Ely? The group I go with have been going up the Gunflint for 20+ years and have never seen a bear. I'm on my 5th trip and have seen tracks, once and that was far from any camp. The only problem we ever have in camp is mice. The sows with cubs would worry me. They are raising generations of bears that are habituated with using humans to get food. Sounds like a case where rubber bullets and bear dogs would do some good. |
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BWPaddler |
PEPPER SPRAY. |