Keep Bears Away While Barbecuing With These Simple Tips

Americans love to cook outdoors, whether it be barbecuing or grilling. According to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, although Americans have long loved to cook outdoors, the number of meals being prepared in backyards across the United States is at a historically high level. HPBA statistics show over 80 percent of American households have one or more grills and the number of meals prepared on those outdoor cooking devices has been steadily increasing throughout the 2020s.

During that time frame, the black bear population has been steadily increasing as well. In fact, 40 of the 50 states in the U.S. have a confirmed black bear population, including several which also house a population of grizzly bears. This means at least four-fifths of the states in which people are cooking outdoors are also home to dangerous types of bears. Given that masking scents that bears find enticing, such as food, is one the best ways to keep bears away from your home, how is it possible to barbecue safely in bear country? Potential pitmasters need not worry, it is easy enough to keep bears away while barbecuing with these simple tips.

With smoke scented with the smell of cooking meat wafting through air, one of the best ways to ensure bears don't join your backyard barbecue is to be loud. This works on the same premise as making noise to avoid bears when hiking. Bears, especially black bears, are typically shy and avoid noisy areas. While a variety of noisemakers marketed for deterring bears, the sound of humans talking or singing is usually enough to keep bears at bay. This is simple enough if there is a large group, as the ongoing conversation will typically generate plenty of noise. If it's just you or you and a couple of others, having music playing or a television showing a ballgame in the background can accomplish the same thing.

If you plan to barbecue after dark, be sure to have plenty of lights in the area, including lights well beyond the perimeter of your backyard if possible. Motion activated lights that illuminate as a bear approaches are very effective, as is keeping the backyard well lit with string lights or flood lights. Adding some unpleasant scents — for bears that is — to the mix can also help keep bears away from your barbecue. Several common cleaning products, such as Pine-Sol and ammonia, have been proven to keep bears away from campsites and homes. Simply place rags soaked in these cleaners or containers of cleaners with holes punched in the lids around the edges of your yard.

Another way to ensure your barbecue will be bear-free is to not allow them an easy opportunity to have a free meal. This means never letting the food be left unattended. Only bring the uncooked food out when it is ready to be placed on the grill. After it is taken off the grill, promptly take it back inside. If dining outdoors is on the agenda, don't bring the food to the table until it is ready to be eaten and make sure someone is always around as long as food is out.

Finally, be sure to keep your grill clean before and after each use and promptly clean up any spilled food or drink after eating. This will ensure the smell of cooked food does not linger, drawing bears close and potentially causing them to view your house, yard, or grill as a potential food source. So, while it may be tempting to wait until morning to clean up, that would provide bears a great opportunity to ransack your yard overnight. Instead, clean the food remnants from the grill with a wire brush while it's still hot. Once it's cool, clean any remaining food or grease. Clean tables, chairs and eating areas as soon as everyone is done eating and make sure to dispose of leftover food in disposal or bear-proof containers. Never throw meat or heavily scented foods in a compost pile.