How to Avoid Bears While Backpacking

While bear attacks are rare and limited to small geographical pockets where aggressive bears live, when they do occur, they often cause severe injury and death. For those looking to backpack through bear-inhabited wilderness, it is important to know the proper ways to avoid an attack.

What Bears Want

Contrary to popular belief, bears typically try to avoid humans. The only reason they might venture into a campsite is because they are hungry and smell something resembling food. The food, however, does not have to be uneaten — bears often dig through garbage to try to find scraps, even if none exist. Additionally, bears are attracted to sweet-smelling products like toothpaste, bug spray, moisturizers and cosmetics.

How to Store Your Food

The traditional way of keeping your food away from these hungry predators is by using a “bear bag” suspended by rope at least 10 feet above the ground. Bed sheets make better bear bags than trash bags, which are prone to ripping. Others store their food cache in a bear-proof metal crate, located about 1/4 to a 1/2 mile from their campsite. It is important to never store food or trash in your tent or living area, as you will become a target for a potential attack.

Other Preventive Measures

Just the aroma from food left on sleeping areas can attract bears, so it is smart to cook far away from your sleeping area, ideally down wind. To prepare for a worst-case scenario, it is wise to pack a can of bear spray.