Get Outdoors - Tips and Techniques: Food Security- All Creatures Great and Small

In bearcountry, it is imperative that all food, including freeze-dried and canned foods, beverages, and odorous items such as soap, toothpaste, and sunscreen be secured from bears. Depending on the local guidelines, this may involve hanging your food or keeping it in a bear canister. Although less threatening, percautions must be taken to protect your food from mice and other small creatures too.Small Critters.

Mice and other small creatures will attempt to raid your food while you sleep. One strategy is to sleep with all of your food zipped up in your tent with you. If you are sleeping in a shelter, hang all food items. Mice are smarter than you may think; they are able to climb down a rope to your food bag. Take percautions to prevent this by punching a hole in an aluminum can or other obstacle and tying it half way down the rope with your food bag tied to the end. I have yet to encounter a mouse that is able to get past the obstacle to my food.

Some animals such as porcupines and skunks crave salt and will be attracted to sweaty boots and clothing. To avoid waking up to holey clothing, hang all sweaty items including your pack. Another tip to avoid small critter damage is to leave all of the pockets of your pack open so critters will not try to chew holes in it to get inside.In Bearcountry.

It is imperative to secure all food and food-related items from bears when not in use. Depending on the bear situation in your area and the land management agency's regulations, a bear hang, bear box or bear canister may be most appropriate. For example, in Yosemite National Park, the National Park Service strongly advises all backpackers to carry and use bear-resistant food storage canisters. In Yellowstone National Park, most backcountry campsites have food poles from which all food, cooking gear, and scented articles must be suspended when not being used. In most of Denali's backcountry units, all food and garbage must be stored in the special Bear Resistant Food Containers (BRFCs) that are issued with your backcountry permit.

Guidelines to help protect you, your food, and the bears.

Allowing a bear to obtain human food or garbage, even once, may cause it to seek out more human food. Eventually, if the bear becomes a threat to human safety, it will be killed. For your own protection, as well as to keep the bears healthy and wild, it is important to follow these food security guidelines.

Always store garbage, cosmetics, toothpaste, soap, or anything with any odor with food. This includes the clothes worn while cooking and eating.
Store water bottles out of sight with cooking gear.
Store items properly at all times except when preparing what is needed for your meal.
Odors attract bears, so avoid carrying or cooking odorous foods.
At night, leave empty packs on the ground with all pockets and flaps open.
Sleep a minimum of 100 yards (91 meters) from where you hang, cook, and eat your food. Keep your sleeping gear clean and free of food odor.
Do not leave packs containing food unattended, even for a few minutes.
Remember to pack out all trash when you move on to your next campsite. Never burn or bury trash of any kind.