Bears are attracted by odours. Reduce or eliminate odours from yourself, your camp and your tent.

Garbage Disposal

• Garbage should be deposited in bear-proof containers.
• If you do not have access to bear-proof containers, place all garbage in plastic bags; find two trees at least 6 to 8 metres apart and hang the bags suspended between them (at least 4 metres above the ground and 100 metres away from your camp).
• As a last resort, store garbage in your vehicle until it can be properly disposed of. NOTE: Your vehicle may be damaged by a bear seeking access to the garbage.

Food Storage

• Food should be stored in bear-proof storage lockers, your own bear-resistant food container, or hung suspended in the same manner as garbage (see above). Food should only be stored in your vehicle as a last resort.
• Never bring food or odoured non-food items into your tent - this includes toiletries, such as toothpaste and perfume, and snacks, like chocolate bars.
• Avoid bringing foods with strong odours, such as tuna. Burn food scraps and wash containers after eating.
• Pack everything out, even organic food scraps. Use bear-resistant food containers to do so.

Cooking

• Cook at least 100 metres downwind from your tent.
• Use your own portable barbeque rather than a fire pit.
• Do not sleep in the clothes that you cook in. Keep them with your food.
• Wash all dishes immediately after eating. Dump water in a designated gray water disposal site or well away from your campsite (min. 100 metres).

• Setup camp well away from natural travel corridors and streams, as bears are likely to use these routes. Camping next to a stream makes it hard for bears to hear you.
• Avoid setting up camp near natural bear food sources. Never camp near an animal carcass, garbage, or berry bushes that are bearing fruit.
• Avoid setting up camp on an animal trail or near bear sign such as tracks, droppings or tree scratchings.
• Pitch tents in a line or semicircle facing your cooking areas. You will be more likely to spot a bear that wanders into your camp and it will have a clear escape route.
• Investigate your site before setting up camp. If you detect garbage, food strewn in the bushes or obcious bear signs, look for a more suitable area to pitch your tent.
• Keep bear pepper spray or other deterrents handy at all times.
• Since Citronella products contain a compound that is very attractive to bears, it would be best not to burn candles containing'citronella' or use any citronella-based bug sprays on your person.
• consider surrounding your tent/camp with a portable electric fence.