CAMPING 
 WITH BEARS 
 
 One of the many reasons people come to the Superior 
 National Forest is to enjoy seeing native wildlife 
 species in their natural habitat. While pleasing to 
 watch, some of these animals have the ability to ruin 
 your trip. Most notable is the black bear. 
 
 There are no hard and fast rules to insure protection 
 from a bear. Bear behavior differs under different 
 conditions. The bears you may encounter while visit¬ 
 ing the Forest are wild animals and they can be 
 dangerous. 
 
 Here are a few tips designed to help you prevent bear 
 trouble during your visit: 
 
 • Bears have an excellent sense of smell and are 
 attracted by food odors. Don't leave your food 
 where they can get to it. While car-camping, 
 keep your food in your vehicle, preferably in the 
 trunk, at night or when you are away from the 
 campsite. 
 
 • While camping in the wilderness or in the back- 
 country, hang your food pack in the trees when 
 you leave your site and at night. As a rule of 
 thumb, remember that if an average sized person 
 can touch the suspended pack, so can a bear. 
 See illustrations on reverse side. 
 
 • Don't let an island campsite lull you into a false 
 sense of security. Bears are very good swim¬ 
 mers. 
 
 • Keep a clean campsite. Burn all food scraps and 
 left-over grease. Don't dispose of left-overs in 
 the wilderness latrine. Bears will find them and 
 destroy the latrine in the process. 
 
 • If you should leave your campsite, tie your tent 
 flaps open. Bears are naturally inquisitive and 
 may want to tour your temporary home. If the 
 tent is closed, they may make a new doorway. 
 
 • NEVER store food in your tent. Bears will use 
 their sense of smell and find any snack or candy 
 bar you may try to hide. 
 
 DEPOSITORY 
 
 MAY. 61987 
 
 USDA 
 
 FOREST SERVICE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 
 
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 
 
 3 0112 101844683 
 
 • If a bear does wander into your campsite, don't 
 panic. They are usually easily frightened by loud 
 noises. Try yelling or banging some cooking pots 
 together. Do not charge a bear—they may be¬ 
 come defensive. 
 
 • In case a bear refuses to leave or becomes hos¬ 
 tile, move to another campsite. 
 
 • Never stand between a mother and her cub. 
 Female bears are extremely protective of their 
 young. 
 
 Bears are a natural part of the Forest. If you have the 
 misfortune to have your camp raided by one, before 
 you get mad at the bear, look around your camp and 
 ask, "Did I invite it?" 
 
 Following are illustrations of two ways to hang your 
 food pack when camping in a wilderness or back- 
 country. Bears will stand up on two legs and can even 
 jump. They are very agile tree climbers and will climb 
 out on a branch and reach down, or just climb the 
 main trunk and reach out for your pack. 
 
 Hanging your pack by its shoulder straps will weak¬ 
 en or break them. Wrap rope around the pack. 
 
 ☆ GPO: 1987-743-631