This Household Essential Has An Odor That'll Send Bears Running From Your Campsite

Bear populations have been increasing across North America over the past few decades. In fact, bears have now regained a foothold in many states where they had once been extirpated. So it is of little surprise that some of the most breathtaking places to camp in the United States are home to a population of black or brown bears –- or both. However, the presence of these dangerous types of bears has hardly been a deterrent for visitors. In fact, bear viewing has become quite popular, and many of the most visited campsites in America are home to healthy bear populations, including the most visited national park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is renowned for its incredible views of black bears.

Although many outdoor adventurers seek out the opportunity to view bears, no one wants to be surprised by a bear wandering through their camping area. With that in mind, if you are overnighting in an area where these mammoth mammals are known to roam, it's important to avoid making any mistakes that attract bears to your campsite. It also makes sense to be proactive and utilize bear deterrents to make sure bears not only don't enter but actually stay far away from your camp. To accomplish that, look in your cleaning closet, because this household essential has an odor that'll send bears running from your campsite.

While there are a wide number of scents that attract bears, there are also some aromas bears can't stand. According to Bear Vault, ammonia tops the list of smells that send bears running.

Anyone who has ever used ammonia for cleaning or other tasks around the house certainly knows the effects the vapor-like fumes can have. Smelling straight ammonia or a strong ammonia mixture can leave your eyes burning, your nose running, and your throat irritated. Considering that a bear's sense of smell is 100 times stronger than a human's, it's easy to understand why they are repelled by the smell of ammonia.

Given that their strong sense of smell allows them to detect scents from miles away, it is also easy to see how the smell of ammonia emanating from your campsite will help ensure bears stay a safe distance away. It's simply a matter of utilizing the ammonia in a manner that is effective in repelling bears, yet doesn't harm them or detract from your ability to enjoy a fume-free campsite.

There are a number of ways to be able to utilize enough ammonia to deter bears without making your campsite miserable to campers. For starters, ammonia-based cleaners can be effective as well as straight ammonia. So, utilize various glass cleaners or all-purpose cleaners that are made from ammonia to clean camping equipment, coolers, tables, chairs, etc. before, during, and after a camping trip.

To add another invisible barrier, soak rags for sponges in ammonia and store them in watertight containers. The containers will prevent the liquid from leaking onto other camp gear during transport. Once you have your campsite set up, place these containers around the perimeter of your camping area and open the lids. Another method would be to fill a small container with the solution and then punch holes in the lid to allow the scent to escape.

It is important to note these methods do not harm the bear; they just deter them from entering camp. What campers do want to avoid is squirting bears with ammonia or creating a bear bomb – an ammonia-filled balloon covered with honey that is meant to soak the bear with ammonia once it's popped. The danger here is that liquid ammonia sprayed on, splashing, or soaking a bear can destroy its sense of smell and cause blindness. This not only harms the animal but also makes the encounter much more dangerous for both the campers and the bear.