Saturday, January 4, 2014

Question and Answer : Bears

Question :

"Hey Luke , I'm looking at buying a Hilleberg tent. The tent is a big investment. Someone claims while hiking AT a Black Bear kept showing up at shelter . Another hiker who had a tent setup near shelter felt unsafe in tent by himself . He leaves tent to stay at shelter with other hikers. Everyone wakes up in the morning o.k and the gentlemen with tent goes back and finds its missing from the campsite. He looks around a while and finds tent off in woods torn up. Two questions Luke, should have the hiker stayed with his tent? And I know a Black Bear is strong but would he rip up a tent and drag it into the woods? Thanks Luke for your time "


Answer :

  • Hey there XXXXX,
    How are you brother?

    As for bears and tents, when one is in their land it's a gamble. Bears have an incredible ability of smell and it's thought that they have the best sense of smell of any animal on earth. For example, the average dog’s sense of smell is 100 times better than a humans. A blood hound’s is 300 times better. A bear’s sense of smell is 7 times better than a blood hound’s or 2,100 times better than a human.

    Think of that and then the tent. Even the smallest amount of odor could possibly invite a bear.

    With the story in question, there isn't a right or wrong answer. The individual did what they felt comfortable with and made it without getting hurt.

    We have a lot of Black Bears here in my area and if they get interested in something they can do some serious damage. I've seen bears rip cars apart to get to chewing gum.

    Ultimately it's about doing your best to limit the animals interest.

    Let me know if you have any further questions.
    Luke

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