BEARS?!?!?!

[DeeDee]

We will be camping there around the end of July on Birch Lake and I noticed on a map that it was located in the middle of 'bear country' I guess you could call it, and I as wondering what are my chances of being lunch or dinner for one of these beautiful yet terribly scary animals. I wasnt really thinking about it until the web site said I should bring pepper spray and an air horn...

[fishroger]

There more often scared of you, except if you leave food laying around. They have a keen sense of smell especially for anything greasy, sweet, or salty. Just like a dog. Dont have food in your tent. Keep food secure in vehicle or if your canoeing hang it high in a tree. Didnt say where in Minnesota. No need for firearms or pepper spray. If you see one bang some pots and pans and make alot of noise, ussually scares them off. Important thing is keep food secured and clean up or burn scraps.

[DeeDee]

is there anything they dont like, that would keep them away? kinda like mothballs and snakes

[sparcebag]

Dont worry about bears at Birch Lake,Very seldom a problem,further north and east there are more bears,not to worry!

[fishroger]

If its birch lake near hackensack I wouldnt worry to much, there hasnt been a bear attack for a long time around here. Like I said their more afraid of you than anything

[sparcebag]

Is there a campground on that Birch lake by Hackensack?

[IFallsRon]

You need to be more specific about the location of your Birch Lake.

As said previously, keep your food in your vehicle and you should be OK. I once had a cooler in the front seat of my truck and the window was open a crack. Raccoons chewed up the weather seal and scratched up the paint pretty good, trying to get in.

[DeeDee]

I copied this from the reservation page.

Description:

Birch Lake Campground is located in the Kawishiwi Ranger District of the Superior National Forest approximately 13 miles outside of Ely in northern Minnesota and near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

[sparcebag]

Wrong Birch lake for me,I assumed Birch (Contact Us Please) forest! Sorry! say Hi to yogi & Booboo for for me I'm sure you'll see them.

[swamptiger]

Looks like a well-developed campground - I wouldn't worry about bears. There probably will be quite a few other campers around. Keep the campsite clean and don't leave food laying around or in the tent.

[DeeDee]

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say Hi to yogi & Booboo

for for me I'm sure you'll see them.

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I think I'll pick another place...

What about http://www.canoecountryoutfitters.com/cabins-and-campground.html

[Finns]

Very nice place. Wouldn't mind camping there myself.

[echotrail]

This is a beautiful area of MN. for camping and the probability of seeing a bear is small if you are responsible with your food storage. I've camped in the NE part of the state for 30+ years and only once did a bear come into our campsite. It was our fault, someone left a tub of butter out overnight and the bear did not bother anything else. If you have concerns call the outfitter/resort and ask what the bear activity has been this summer. Any part of NE MN has the potential of black bear presence.

[Fishing Junky]

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is there anything they dont like, that would keep them away? kinda like mothballs and snakes

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They hate porkchops. Just hang a few around your neck, and you'll be bear free.

[DeeDee]

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They hate porkchops. Just hang a few around your neck, and you'll be bear free.

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smart a$$

[fishermn]

If you want some good basic info, shoot me an email at dsmaki at yahoo, I can direct you to a nice guide that covers the issue. I wouldnt worry much, for the most part they are far more afraid of humans than we are of them...

[nofishfisherman]

Bears get a very bad name around these parts. I just read an article about a guy killing a bear as it entered his campsite and the way the article was written it made it sound like all the bears are on a war path and are out looking for human blood.

The media blows it way out of proportion, there will be maybe a handful of bears attacks nation wide every year, you are probably 1000 times more likely to die in a car accident on a drive to the park then being killed by a bear.

You really don't need to worry at all about bears, just make sure to keep a clean campsite and to keep food in a car or up in a tree. But if you are in a true campground with people all around you then you can probably leave your food packed up neatly under the picnic table and you'll never have a problem. Something more likely to worry about is a racoon getting into your food supply at night then a bear.

[Scott K]

I have a cabin in N. Wisconsin, bear country! We are there alot, camp out alot. I have never had a bear come into camp when we were there. Burn uneaten foods, clean up after yourself. Dispose of garbage, when your not there, or are sleeping put everything away, clean off the grill, keep sweets put away in car, or away from tents.

The bears will leave you alone, they just want food, and your not on the list of their favorites. But if you bring dohnuts, raisins, fruit, or any other sweet stuff in your tent with you, you may get a visitor, that isnt friendly. Just camp smart, there will be no problems. The bear, if you see one at a distance, just makes the camping expierence that much more exciting. Have fun!

[captshorelunch]

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There probably will be quite a few other campers around.

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That way the bears will have more choices on who to eat than you.

[swamptiger]

I've always had a healthy respect for bears after I had one come in the house with me when I was building my house...Good thing he was upstairs, and I was downstairs. Just got done eating a nice juicy hamburger - must have smelled good to him...