Bear Proofing a VW Camper

[BellePlaine]

A bear attack near Yellowstone was in the news this morning. It's got me wondering what are the steps that can we VW camper owners can take to bear proof our campers. I've seen first hand damage caused by a bear entering a Westy Vanagon through the rear hatch screen and exiting out of the poptop canvas. Thank goodness the owners, a retired couple, were out playing golf at the time.

We camp with a yellow lab and the most convenient location for me to store his dogfood is strapped to the luggage rack but I worry that the smell will attract animals. Any thoughts?

[RSorak 71Westy]

The best way is prevention. Keep all food stored in a bear proof container away from your vehicle. i.e seen the bear boxes in the Nat'l Parks? If this is not an option....tie it up in a tree branch.

[sped372]

I agree; you aren't going to bear-proof a bus. Keep your food elsewhere and hope for the best. I was nervous in the Smokies and those are "just" black bears.

[patayres]

Closing the rear hatch whilst away from the campsite could have prevented that story about the couple with the Vanagon... that's just common sense isn't it? Or even while sleeping in the bus when camping in bear country.

The bear attack in Yellowstone this week is a horrible scenario, but it sounds like those attacked were tent camping. No information has been released about whether those attacked had food in their tents, but I suspect they may have.

Yet another reason I love living and camping in the Pacific Northwest... our little black bears are so skiddish that many people spend their whole lives here without seeing one. My wife is from Bozeman & we spend a fair bit of time in the North Yellowstone area... bear evidence is everywhere out there

[BumbleBus]

I've always thought of busses as the hard candy with the soft chewy center. If a bear wants in there is no stopping it.

Having said that I do sleep much more soundly in a bus than in a tent that's for sure. Just use the common sense stuff mentioned above regarding food and you'll be fine. I also wouldn't take a lady friend camping during her "time of the month" nor use deodorants, perfumes or anything else attractively smelly. Oh... and don't cook in the bus even if you're storing food up a tree. Duh. Common. Sense.

[whc03grady]

Closing the rear hatch (and all other doors, I should say since apparently closing the hatch isn't common sense) is going to discourage almost any bear. They're not going to climb up to get in through the top unless you like to do really enticing things, like fry bacon up there. BellePlaine--that dog food in the luggage rack is probably pretty enticing. You might want to consider one of those bear-proof cans if you have to take a lot of dog food with you.

In the overwhelming majority of cases though, a bear is going to walk right on by a buttoned-up VW camper; too much work: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principle_of_least_effort

[BellePlaine]

BellePlaine--that dog food in the luggage rack is probably pretty enticing. You might want to consider one of those bear-proof cans if you have to take a lot of dog food with you.

I have just not been satisfied with a spot for dogfood storage inside the cabin. I think that I might go check out this at REI...


It's 8.3 inches wide and would probably fit nicely inside the rim of my spare tire. Here:


I'll just take have to store it away from the bus at night.

[bretski]

'Taint nuthin' that will bear-proof any vehicle, short of maybe an armored personnel carrier. Much less a VW. Do like Rick suggests, and use bear-resistant containers when in their domain...I've used the ones they sell @ REI. No issues when backpacking in bear country, so I'm sure it would be fine for storing your dog food.

Coincidentally, my wife got a call from one of her friends yesterday. A bear broke into their Volvo, and was still sitting in the seat when discovered. Yikes!

This happened in Breckenridge. No food was in the car--apparently it went after the smell of some hand-lotion or something similar.

[yondermtn]

I recently saw a similar story about a bear getting into a car. I think it was in Douglas County(CO). Bear got stuck and destroyed the interior.

[chitwnvw]

Dang, and I thought squirrels were a nuisance.

[Quadratrückseite]

I recently saw a similar story about a bear getting into a car. I think it was in Douglas County(CO). Bear got stuck and destroyed the interior.

Weird. That was in Larkspur CO (which is in Douglas County), the next town down from us. I hadn't heard anything about it.

[airkooledchris]

remember it's not just food, it's all of your scented stuff like deodorant, toothpaste, toiletries/etc. should be stored in the provided bear lockers at places like Yellowstone. the bears there are so desensitized towards people and noise that your normal methods of bear-proofing are likely to fail.


this is a scary story though...

"Everyone appeared to have followed all food storage regulations"

[blatzer]

belleplaine, that roof spare storage is outtasite! wherefrom came the inspiration?

[Hippie]

I was out there when that happened. In fact, the rangers blew by us with the lights and sirens on, on the way to the campsite.
Those folks were all in tents. They banned all tent camping in the park until the bear was caught and destroyed.

[tristessa]

They banned all tent camping in the park until the bear was caught and destroyed

Yikes! Yeah, probably not a bad idea to do that. Bear burgers, anyone?

I hadn't looked at this thread earlier, thought the subject was "Beer Proofing a VW Camper" .. which I have no interest in.