♪
One of my favorite things about hiking and camping in the wilderness is,
believe it or not, eating.
Food just tastes so much better after a long day on the trails.
So it all comes back to olive oil.
But human food isn't just tasty to people.
It’s tasty to animals too.
Storing your food incorrectly may attract rodents and pests
that could damage your gear and even spread disease.
[squeaking sounds]
But the smaller animals aren't our only concern.
Ahhh!
Bears are very smart.
[panting and popping]
As soon as one gets its paws on human food,
that bear is going to change its natural behavior to get a hold of more.
[chomping]
But this is bad all around.
[growling]
Ahhh!
Bears can also become destructive in their attempts to get human food,
and since we let it happen,
we’re responsible for cleaning up that mess.
♪
[growling] If a bear becomes too aggressive,
it may have to be killed before it hurts someone.
But a little advanced planning and proper food storage
can prevent all of this.
Bears are attracted to anything with a scent
so it's not just food that needs to be stored correctly.
It’s pretty much anything with a smell.
Chapstick and sunscreen.
So I start by separating out all food and scented items.
Trash.
The best way to prevent bears from getting at these items
is to store them in a bear container.
This boxed mac and cheese would have...
not fit very well
so I repackaged it here.
Bear containers have limited space,
and I repackage my food into plastic bags to cut down on bulk.
A bear will not get into this food container.
Food containers are extremely bear resistant.
Not even the smartest of bears will be able to break in.
[mumbling]
Just try not to leave your bear container in a risky location
like on a cliff
where it might get knocked over and lost forever.
[crash]
Food storage boxes are another way to store your food and scented items.
Very few campsites actually have food storage boxes,
and the ones that do get filled up quickly,
so I never rely on them.
Remember...
food storage boxes really are just for food.
They are not lockers to be used for general storage,
and you shouldn’t cache food in them for future use.
♪
Keeping tabs on our food at all times is really important.
[whispering]
I never leave my food unattended, even for just a moment.
I've got some chapstick.
And I have a wrapper.
Before going to bed at night or even taking a nap,
I check my pockets for the little things
that are easy to forget but should be stored in the bear can.
And I've got a bar.
♪
I would be one unhappy camper
if I woke up next to a surprise bedfellow!
[snoring & crickets] ♪