Bears in Campsite

[Mhoward324]

Camping in Old Forge, NY for a long weekend. Here about two hours and did not get the cooler put away fast enough. Momma bear and cub came into the site, knocked the cooler over and grabbed a snack!!!!

[Skaling]

Black bears or Grizzlies? Pictures??
I came face to face with a black bear mom and cub while I was fishing at a river one time.. They must have smelled my catches.. Sitting on the dock, dog started barking, I turned around and there they where, 2 feet away.. Luckily my friends dog was with me and he had a mean bark and scared them away...had to change my shorts after that one...

[alaskahofferts]

Must be black bears, no Grizzlies in NY.

[Mhoward324]

They were definitely black bears. Wasn't quick enough with the camera, but we have it ready if there is a next time. Did hear someones car alarm going off just a few sites down and and someone yelling to get out of his car. Just need to make sure all the food is put away securely.

[33 RLDS]

I have had numerous deer on sites in Old forge but never a bear. I notice Old Forge camping resort has electric wires around the dumpsters to keep them away !!

[Bassdogs]

Have had Black bears in Smokey Mtn campsite and a griz at mid day near a site in Yellowstone a few years ago. Also got a warning from the rangers for leaving an empty [and clean] cooler on the roof rack of my SUV. They gave me the cooler back the next am but explained its not just smell that the bears are attracted to. The ol Yogy bear picnic basket skit was pretty much on target. Bears are visual as well as adept at smelling. Cooler/ picnic basket/ backpack equals food.

We upgraded to a hardsided TT after 2 of our friends had bears tear open their pop ups out west.

[mike837go]

We camp about 20mi south of Old Forge. No reported bear sightings nearby. Porcupine and bobcat, yes.


Keeping food inside and dealing with garbage properly has always been a priority with us.

[Roy W.]

We're at Singing Waters for the summer. One bear last year. None so far this year

[SilverEscape]

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

We upgraded to a hardsided TT after 2 of our friends had bears tear open their pop ups out west.

When we bought our PUP I refused to camp in bear country again for that exact reason. We had little kids and knew we'd be storing food in the trailer and cooking in it at times. And once you've cooked in it, the bears can smell it even if you don't cook in for the trip to bear country.

For 9 years we camped at lakes on the south side of our province with less forest and smaller trees just because I didn't want to worry about bears.

Last summer we upgrade to a TT and the first thing I did was book camp sites at our old bear country lakes we went to when we tent camped. I missed those forests and 100 foot evergreen style trees. And this summer we're even going to an area near Grizzlies! I believe the campground we're in doesn't get Grizzly activity but half an hour away they make anyone in a tent, PUP or hybrid stay in a camground that is surrounded by an electric fence to keep the bears out.

[saintsfan]

Just spent three days at Elkmont CG in the Smokies. During check in the ranger explained how to "bear proof" your campsite including not leaving
BABY WIPES laying around, attracts the bears as much as bacon. Did not know that...
We have soft sides on our X18D hybrid so we moved the food from the pantry to the suv and cooked/ate all of our meals outside as usually.

The only bears we saw were at Cades Cove during the driving tour. While at the park there was a news report that a 16 year old hiker was attacked while sleeping in his hammock over night at a backcountry campsite. Rescued by fellow campers transported by boat then later helicopter in serious condition.

After we heard that report we made sure the campsite stayed extra clean...

[SilverEscape]

That's very sad saintsfan. Any update on the teen?

[edatlanta]

We all have local critters to be concerned about I guess. This guy or gal walked through my site a couple of years ago.