Bear country vs fridge

[Get outside]

I've been eyeing and hoping to add a fridge to the camp set up for a wile now and have always wondered about how to deal with it when in bear country. And by that I mean real bear territory like Yellowstone and others alike! Not that other places bears wouldn't break in but the likelihood when the population is greater and bigger becomes more real to me (maybe i'm completely wrong here too!).
Anyways, just looking for insight and open to listen to those with experience!
Thanks

 

[AlaskanWheeler]

Electric fence

 

[romey]

your local park office should have all the info you need to bearproof your site. store food in a locked vehicle, Windows closed. we even put blankets over coolers as bears will recognize them inside a car and will try and pry windows n doors to get at it.

try not to attract bears with food smells from stuff fallen to the ground or even toothpaste spits. always lock up garbage or use a food hang up high on a tree for storing food and food waste.

 

[skidplate]

^^ ...and I always spit in the fire while brushing my teeth.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Electric fence

good answer especially if you are in an open to FJ40.

 

[Get outside]

I'm pretty good at keeping things clean at camp and always make use of the lock boxes and all! My main wondering is with the fridge inside the vehicle (that I don't even have yet - hence why I'm asking)! You can't really take it out to the lock box since it has to run of course! Do they seal up pretty good? I guess the hiding with a blanket or a towel is a very good idea! What they can't see won't be attractive but then there's the nose...

 

[Helipilot]

Good Luck! While flying in Alaska I once saw a silver back totally destroy a Bell 206L3 because the idiot pilot of that aircraft had buzzed him earlier and he saw where they landed just up river. I and my Forest Service customer had to pull the pilot and his two passengers out. An electric fence might work along with the other tips the previous Mudders have suggested.

 

[cruiserpilot]

Its not the fridge specifically that will attract the bears to your car. Its the smells. Keep the fridge latched, and make sure it's
wiped down with no spills on the outside. Its the garbage in your car with heavy smells that initially attracts animals. Dirty food
cans, diapers, food containers thrown in garbage bag without being wiped clean. Keep it clean, and sterile. Covering things works
in it also keeps the smells under cover as well.
I like to keep pots and steel utensils laying around, they make good noise if you are startled by a bear in camp, and it will probably
be fairly effective at driving them off, at least initially.

 

[rusty_tlc]

I belive the sight association is more a problem in established campgrounds than the backcountry. In the Tahoe area bears don't bother sniffing around if they see a cooler, they go straight for the low fruit.

 

[Mace]

Bear + ARB = Broken ARB..

 

[skidplate]

Bears are clever. When I was a kid we had a bear come into camp in broad daylight, tear open the grub box my Dad had made, took out a jar of mayonaise, unscrew the lid and lick the jar clean. If they want it they'll get it. This was in a national park where bears associate people with food. I feel so much safer camping in the back country where bears are afraid of people.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

I hear they also like the odd pic-I-nic basket.

 

[derelict]

Electric fence

Claymores. Claymores are the answer.

I echo the suggestion to call the place you are heading to. They will have suggestions, tips, and know how active the population is where you are heading.

 

[Rubiconcruiser]

Do not even let the thought of a bear not seeing your fridge covered with a blanket I've watched them take the doors off a VW to access a sandwich the Boy Scout didn't finish eating enroute to camp. Inside a locked cabinet is the best or raise it into the trees.