Originally Posted by
Roughstuff
I have bacon, homefries and eggs for breakfast a lot on tours, and sausage/potatoes/carrots/onions for dinner fairly often as well. Needless to say the food odors and fumes from cooking these delectables gets in EVERYTHING...clothes, panniers, tent and gear. With all this, I have had very few bear problems (meaning visits...no confrontations) and only a few 'coons here and there, in nearly 40 years of touring. I really can NOT explain my "success." I do not carry bear repellent. When in bear country I carry 2 or 3 emergency flares (the kind you see around auto accidents) that I snag at a local hardware store. It is a rare animal that isn't repulsed by flame, smoke, and sound, which these flares provide. Again I have rarely had to use them, so i can't say they "worked" all the time. The animal may have left anyway.
But it sure raises a fuss!
I wasn't kidding, I forage and come across black bears many times a year (and more dangerous, moose). During the day they are less of a problem (unless they learned that scaring people often means they drop their food). At night time is when they turn into giant racoons and can wreak havoc.