Spotted a clever gear trick at a campsite near Lake Tahoe

I was up at Fallen Leaf Lake last weekend and saw a guy using a small, clear plastic bin as a bear-proof food container. He said he drilled a few holes in it and used a carabiner to lock the lid to a picnic table leg. It was way lighter than a normal bear canister and cost him maybe $10. Has anyone else tried a DIY setup like that for short trips?

3 comments

3 Comments

aaron_mitchell1mo ago

That guy is betting his snacks against a bear's problem solving skills. A plastic bin with holes is basically a cheese grater for a determined black bear. I've seen them peel car doors open like bananas. Saving a few pounds on your pack seems like a bad trade when you wake up to a raccoon convention eating your oatmeal.

finleyl391mo ago

Honestly, didn't some park service just post a video of a bear casually opening a screw-top jar?

dylan_brown301mo ago

Yeah, that was Glacier National Park last month. Saw the clip where the bear just twisted the lid right off like it was nothing. @aaron_mitchell is totally right about them peeling things open, their claws are basically built-in can openers. I read a whole thing from a ranger saying a regular plastic container just teaches bears how to solve new puzzles. Once they learn, they teach their cubs and then the whole area has a bigger problem.