Bearproof Your Food and Smelly Things

Sharing a habitat with Yosemite’s bruins means taking care to keep these wild animals wild. Follow these precautions while in bear country.

Author:: Staff
Publish date:: Jan 21, 2015

Bearproof food storage lockers in Yosemite. Photo by Grant Ordelheide — Bearproof food storage lockers in Yosemite. Photo by Grant Ordelheide
Grant Ordelheide

Sharing a habitat with Yosemite’s bruins means taking care to keep these wild animals wild. Follow these precautions while in bear country.

Food Storage In Campgrounds and Tent Cabins

After dark, pack everything that has a scent—including food, soap, toothpaste, and trash—inside the bear lockers provided. Only remove items when you’re using them.
Never leave food or other smelly items in your car, truck bed, or roof compartment overnight. Bears can and do break into cars.

Food Storage In Backcountry Campsites

Pack food and scented items in a park-approved bear canister. At night, place the canister 100 yards from the tent. Find a list of approved containers at www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/containers.htm
Don’t hang your food from a tree. Yosemite bears are experts at raiding bear bags (and it’s against park rules).

Black bear illustration by Elizabeth Traynor

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