Quote:
Originally Posted by eubank  Include pretty much anything with a strong odor in that list.
Several years ago, one of the Boy Scouts over at Cimarron (Philmont) was killed by a bear when it entered his tent. The only thing anybody could figure out was that the kid had some nice, strawberry-aroma shampoo.
Lynn |
If you're talking about back in '86, there were a couple kids, but they were scalped pretty badly as the bear drug them out of the tent by their heads. Neither died, but it was traumatic. We had a deodorant war and wrestling match the night before, and I think one of them got the worst of it, thus him getting targeted due to the perfume smells.
It was the result of many things coming together which I can see happening in Yellowstone. It was a sick female bear that was very hungry and had become conditioned to seeing hikers walking by. She learned that the orange things had easy prey inside due to an interaction a week or so earlier with another hiker.
The camp was actually a group of treks in the same area, all camped in the same valley, but spread out a bit. There had been quite a few deer in the area munching on the lush grass the night before as well, so the bear had to know that was a great place to get something to eat.
Tie in the stupid idea of some kids smearing deodorant all over each other, a bunch of tents in the middle of the valley lit up by the moonlight, and a hungry, desperate bear and the result was actually surprising that nobody did get killed.
So for the original poster of this thread, respect the bear. Especially in a place where they are used to people. Go to Yellowstone and enjoy it, just take the recommended precautions. I would also suggest not even cooking in your Airstream while there. Cook outside as far away as is convenient. I've seen a minivan passenger door folded down at the window frame where the bear stuck his claws in at the top, and just pulled. If he wants in to your airstream, he's getting in, so make him think there are easier targets by not keeping smelly things like peanut butter in the RV.
I would also consider having a large handgun, or a shotgun in the trailer. Better to pay the fine if you have to take him out than to have a family member attacked while inside sleeping. Prevention and stopping it are a whole lot better than waiting for a rescue and a medivac while an angry, hungry bear is circling you until dawn. Trust me.
The other thing I've learned while being out in the wild since then is that if you see a black bear... She's stalking you. She wants you to see her so you let your guard down. This doesn't necessarily apply in Yellowstone because bears are fairly common looking for handouts. If you see a grizzly, it's because it's pretty much indifferent to your presence, and then usually just wants to get away. Unless you're waving a salmon at it perhaps,. or between a momma and cubs.
Regardless, it's the sick, injured bear you really need to be wary of.
I don't mean to scare anybody off from camping. I still go all the time. Just do what you can to minimize any exposure to the bears, and be prepared to go to war with nature if you have to.