Simple Tips For Cooking Safely While Camping In Bear Country

Bears inhabit a wide swath of North America. In fact, many of the most visited campsites in the United States and Canada are home to dangerous types of bears such as black bears and grizzlies. However, this is certainly no reason to avoid visiting and even camping in these areas. In fact, for many campers, the bears themselves -– and getting to see them -– is a major reason they visit certain campsites and national parks.

While it is certainly possible for campers to peacefully coexist with bears, whenever you are overnighting in bear country, it is important to avoid mistakes that attract bears to campsites. Unfortunately, while the highlight of many camping trips is campfire cooking, this is actually the root of numerous bear-attracting mistakes. However, that does not mean you have to leave those favorite camping recipes at home. You can still enjoy camp-cooked meals as long as you follow some simple tips for cooking safely while camping in bear country.

Cooking safely in bear country relies largely on where and how you set up your camp kitchen and do your cooking. For starters, you should always cook at least 100 yards away from your sleeping area and well away from any potential natural source of food for bears, such as berry patches. It is equally important before, during, and after cooking that you properly store food in airtight containers. If you are at a drive-up campsite, store those containers in your vehicle at night. Some campsites also provide secure food storage lockers, which should be utilized if available. If you are without a vehicle or storage locker, food containers and cooking utensils should be hung high off the ground if at all possible.

The cooking area should be thoroughly cleaned after each use. After washing pots, pans, and dishes, strain any food from the dishwater and pack it in your trash. Next, dig a hole in which to pour the used dishwater. Make sure it is well away from both the campsite and cooking area, but not near any water source. Do not toss out or bury your scraps and leftovers. Rather, those, too, should be stored in airtight containers and taken out with you when you leave. 

Bears have an extraordinary sense of smell. Therefore, scents can act as both an attractant and repellent to these curious mammals. Two scents that are known to repel bears are bleach and ammonia. While these scents are not generally considered pleasant to people either, campers can utilize them to help keep bears away from their campsites, particularly while cooking. One way to do this is to soak sponges or rags in either ammonia or bleach and carry them to your campsite in a sealed container. You can then place the containers around the perimeter of the campsite and cooking area with the lid open. Be sure to reseal the containers and pack the chemical-soaked rags and sponges out when you leave. As an aside, it is important to use either ammonia or bleach and never mix the two as this combination creates toxic gases that can be lethal, according to Healthline.

While it is helpful to use scents that repel bears, you always want to avoid scents that attract them as well. So, as enticing as meat may be, items like bacon and steaks can attract bears. If camping in a bear-rich environment, it may be best to leave those at home. Also, be mindful that your clothes will soak scents from cooking. To avoid attracting bears, keep these garments in an airtight container away from your sleeping area.