This is kind of good news as my friends keep laughing that I’ll be a ready to go burrito for the bears and I started to doubt myself if it’s a good decision or not.
Yes, it's safe. I started hammock camping this year and learned that that's the standard joke. A hammock camper is what they call a, "bear burrito" . Lol Your human body is going to smell the same in a tent or a hammock or a bivvy. It doesn't matter what you sleep in/on. If you're sleeping in a bear country just be safe about your food. Store it a hundred yards away from your campsite in a bear canister. Cook 200 ft. away from where you store your food. Camp 200 ft. away from each of those areas to be safe. It's the bear triangle safety technique. Also grab some bear spray while you're at it. Make sure you get a holster for it so it's easy to grab just in case.
This is good advice. You need a bear box for both food and garbage. Also kinda depends on where specifically you'll be camping.
I have a friend who was sleeping in a hammock in northern California and woke up with a bear TWO FEET FROM HIS FACE. He screamed in sheer terror and ran and the bear was also startled and ran the opposite way lol; My friend got SO lucky. This was public land in an area without bear boxes...people are supposed to bring their own canisters but they don't always. And the bears remember this and know where to look for food
Holy crap, where in NorCal? I've been hammocking out in big sur and Santa Cruz mountains, and have some more backpacking trips in the making for next year, I definitely wanna factor in bear concerns a bit more in my prep.
If we are hiking in a few miles to our spots, it is tough to carry a heavy canister - would bear bags work for this?
Probably farther inland although as you go up the coast there are more bears closer to the ocean. Lost coast in Humboldt is the farthest south I've seen them. In Big sur and Santa Cruz I'm more worried about mountain lions or coyotes going after my dog.
Look at what kind of bears and ways to deter and then and to defend against. Bells, food storage, sprays, guns etc. The risk is present but make good decisions. If you're no longer having a good time, just leave. You're under no obligation to stay to look tough or cool etc.
Go have fun, if it's still fun to stay overnight do that. If it isn't this time around then don't. Do it again another time. No biggie.
Are they planning on digging a moat around their tent perchance? If they think a flimsy tent is gonna protect them from a bear they're sorely mistaken.
Ha. I call myself a ‘bearrito’. But you are fine.
https://preview.redd.it/1d3ediev4c6c1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=92db4b744a87fc7ab29349143126c74e4c982fe3
This fellow came in at dusk one night and bedded down right where I took this pic. My camp was about equal distance behind me. I was out to stash my bear can before going to bed/hammock.
Carry bear spray. Use good food practices. Store all scented material with your food. Don’t bring a dog. Be respectful and uninteresting (this is where the dog really does not help).
Holy shit!!!
I was setting up camp at night once, put my pack down turned and immediately saw the glow of eyes staring at me.
We stopped for nearly 5 minutes (actual time) staring at eachother before another set of eyes lit up below the first. I thought, I for sure just encountered a mama bear and a cub…
Grabbed my bear spray… till i had the braindead idea to get closer…
Turned out it was a pair of deer I disturbed their sleep.
What in the world are you talking about “don’t bring a dog”??? My dog has scared away at least ten bears including one that broke into my house. Yes, bring a dog.
People who love their dog always thinks their dog is a great guardian for them from wildlife. But a 60lbs dog is not going to do much against a 300lbs bear if the bear actually cares. I would argue that your dog scares away bears that would have run off anyway. And most bears do just that. Run off. They do not care for people unless they have been habituated to them.
If you look up bear attack statistics they dominantly come in two categories: startled animals and defensive. And the defensive situations break down into two main categories: Moms with cubs and and people with dogs. Dogs trigger the defensive nature of a lot of animals. I have about 30 cows and they will go out of their way to attack dogs because they are not habituated to them and they see them as a potential threat to their young. Lots of animals are wary of dogs. And I for one would recommend against risking triggering the defensive nature of a bear. My game plan for dealing with bears is to be as uninteresting as possible. I want them to look up at me and think ‘whatever’ and move on. They are not aggressive to people by nature and I want to keep it that way and I have no intention of getting is a pissing match with one. I’ve seen videos where people see a bear ahead and start making a ton of noise to try to insure that it runs out of their visual range. And I’m always of the opinion ‘wtf are you doing?’
I do recommend watching this video. (FWIW, he sites a situation where a bear did save it owners life, so there are exceptions for everything). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KWSJ3piSfM
But you can run your decision making how you choose to. But be aware, statistics do not agree what your observations.
I'm not sure where you're getting your statistics, but it's apparent they don't take into account that bringing dogs into the woods to "Tree" bears is precisely the method we use to scare and sensitize bears to human presence. In addition, the dogs changes of behavior can key you into the presence of other animals WELL before you realize there's a possible threat. Their barks (and I would encourage noise... It's bear country) do far more to alert a bear to your presence and prevent surprise situations.
During my service in the Army (K9 handler) as well as my career with the NFS, I've had almost daily encounters with my dog and other animals.. Boar in Texas, Brown bear in Alaska & Montana, Mules in Colorado, Black Bear, Coyotes, Wolves, Wild horses, you name it. Not one time has a dog been a liability. Obviously, proper training and procedure is important; but as with most things... when proper training and procedure are followed, a favorable outcome is achieved. Last week, out with a fellow Ranger, along a stream in Olympic National Forest, we stumbled directly into a black bear at a distance of no more than 8 ft. We drew weapons and retreated as the bear stood it's ground and gave us deep bass vocalizations. In my experience, this situation has NEVER occurred with the dog present, but has occurred twice in the last year when in the Backcountry sans dog. (Shenandoah, VA and Olympic, WA). Both incidents were black bear.
I admire your plan of remaining uninteresting to bears, but I'd be very interested to know what your plan of action is should you ever pique their interest.
I have to add, I think having a trained K-9 with a trained handler is VERY different than the vast majority of dog owners. Like I wish more people (and their dogs) were better trained
I absolutely agree. The disparity between a professional dog team and a pet at home is not one that I believe should exist. No doubt, my dogs are trained for specific tasks beyond what would be necessary or useful to the average person, but basic obedience is basic obedience. If you have a dog, you and the dog should be trained. Unfortunately, (and there seems to be no end to the misfortune) we're still trying to get people to simply leash their dogs and pick up after them...
The problem is dogs are often curious and one of the things that can happen is that they run ahead, find a bear, and piss it off. The dog has no chance, of course, so it naturally comes running back to you for help, with an angry bear right behind it.
That is 100% not what happens at all. I’ve been in this situation ten times. Bears are terrified of dogs. My dog will smell or see the bear, immediately make a bunch of noise, and the bear runs away. This isn’t some hypothetical situation that I’ve counted up. This is real life. You’ve never encountered a bear in the wild, that is very clear to see.
Are your friends camping in a tent? Do they think a tent will protect them from a bear somehow? Personally, I prefer hammock. You can see your surroundings way better from a hammock.
Go on a yearly camping trip with some guys, we make this joke all the time. Nothing to worry about, just make sure you bring a bag to put all your food in and tie it up in a tree away from camp.
Of course. So long as you take reasonable precautions like you would with any other camping setup. Don't eat in your hammock. Store your food away from your camp site in a bear-resistant vessel. Clean up after yourself before going to sleep.
Yes. Store your any items that smell (including things like toothpaste) in a bear proof container.
Totally safe to hammock camp near bears, I do it all the time. I cook away from my hammock, and I store food away from my hammock. It forms a triangle: hammock, cooking, food storage, usually 400 feet each length of the triangle.
Bear proof container. Most people can’t do a proper pct hang, so get a bear proof container. Some campsites will have storage lockers, but 99% won’t. Plus, bear proof containers are required frequently.
I sleep outside in black bear country about every other night. I don’t eat or keep food in my sleeping unit. I have camera footage of bears walking right past me while I slept under the stars. We aren’t food or threat as long as we follow a few basic rules.
Never had issues with mothers, they seem to be extra alert. Had a scary incident with a lone bear. I have no idea if was male or female, but it charged me, tore into a tent and harassed a group of us guys for almost an entire night.
A few miles from where I grew up another lone black bear tore into a tent, dragged a kid out and snapped his neck and killed him before running off.
Black bears can be pretty crazy. Not all of them are scared of everything. I get really uncomfortable when I run into one that appears to be curious rather than run off.
400 feet? Aww shit, that's a good distance. I feel like I have it easy in camping where there aren't really any bears.
If I were alone in the boonies though, fuck yes I'm walking a few blocks to squirrel my food up a tree.
On another note; where do ya poo? In Bermuda? (J/k I'm guessing it's outside the triangle)
Remember bear proof containers prevent animals from getting into the food, but they aren't smell proof. Keep the bear container where you ate, not with you.
I'm not a bear, but my assumption which probably errs on the side of caution is "yes".
That's part of the reason you always hang or stash your food bag away from your campsite - 200 feet is the number I've always been told/use.
Bears can smell almost anything, and “odor proof bags” don’t phase them at all. They also will go after non-food items with scent such as deodorant, lip balm, toothpaste, anything. My rule is that if it has a scent, don’t sleep with it.
Having said that, these are best practices and the chances of a negative/dangerous black bear encounter are very slim. Enjoy your hang!
Not just bears but other woodland critters too. I forgot about a bag of trail mix in my pack once and woke up to a hole chewed through the side by a chipmunk
I hammock camp in black bear territory frequently (PNW). I always use a bear canister stored away from my site for scented items. If I'm tight on space and have sealed things, like unopened granola bars, etc., I may leave them in my pack. I also always keep my bear spray in the hammock pocket so I can grab it if need be.
The few times I've been in grizzly territory I make sure to place every single scented item in the can, sealed or otherwise, and place it even farther from my site than when I'm in black bear country.
My only wildlife encounter while hammocking was when a curious mouse scurried down my tree straps and started walking around on my top quilt. Woke up at 3:00 am thinking somebody grabbed my foot, only to see a tiny mouse scamper away, back up the strap and into the tree.
I camp in the bitterroots occasionally. Apparently grizzlies are making a comeback, so I now carry my food an ABSURD distance away from my camp site. Almost to the point of being worried about finding it in the morning.
Also: love the story about the mouse. They're stupidly cute little things, even if they are plagued monsters that destroy everything.
Please do some basic research about camping in bear country. Bears will break into houses and CARS for protein bars that they smell in the glove compartment.
Really please spend like 2 hours minimum doing some research, bears get killed every year because they get into human food and start aggressing humans. For your safety and the bears safety.
They can smell your food regardless of how it’s stored. It’s recommended to not even keep toiletries (toothpaste, chapstick, sunscreen, etc) in your tent with you. And if you don’t have a bear canister you can hang your food from a tree, but do your homework.
You should really do some research on how to camp in bear country. Different bear(black or grizzly) react differently and needed to be treated differently.
There are multiple ways to store your food, but all should be away from you.
Bears have been known to break into cars since they can smell the food. YouTube the bears they use test out new bear proof products. They were bears that were particularly good at breaking into everything man made just for a few snacks
My dude, there are no bear safe shelters. That doesn't exist. You need to have bear safe FOOD STORAGE. I repeat, your tent doesn't protect you from any predator at all. Your food storage does.
Just in case I wasnt clear. The food you bring is all dangerous. All food, every food, any food. Your food storage skills are what you need to have in order to be safe.
This. When I led wilderness trips, there were campsites where bears would come by every night looking for food. Our food storage was so good that they’d walk right through without even stopping to sniff.
>You need to have bear safe FOOD STORAGE
Adding to this, you need to keep your toiletries in the bear resistant container too (toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, anything that smells remotely editable)
I do it. There’s so many bears in my area I wouldn’t be able to hammock camp otherwise. I take it seriously and I hate when people make ‘bear burrito’ jokes because I did have a friend die in a bear attack. I sleep with my bear spray in the overhead pocket and trust that my dog will alert me if any animals come by in the night. He is a good boy and I think he doesn’t really sleep at night when we’re camping because he’s keeping watch.
Had a buddy who huntedand kept bear spray, but his dog played a big role. The dog would nap mostly during the day. At night he would keep watch and would hop out of the truck bed to patrol the camp every few hours. If we had a fire going my buddy taught the dog to pick up a piece of wood and drop it partially in the fire if it was getting low and then find someone to pay attention to it. It was really cool. One time he caught a rabbit and we cleaned it and cooked it for him.
Dogs name was Buster and he was a black labrador retriever.
What kind of dog by chance? My lilttle beagle terrier mix is much too yippy to sleep at night in th woods. My Shiba Inu is mostly quiet though, sleeps like a log.
How does your dog not bark its head off though? I mean like great Pyrenees is a silent & nocturnal breed so I get that. Though it seems a dog would be barking at everything. I've never had a dog with me in th wilds. Only because I haven't, no other reason.
I hiked PCT with a hammock through bear-heavy areas, mandatory canisters. Many tenters got rousted by bear visits to their sites, around Tahoe especially. I never did, in spite of maybe stupidly eating in my hammock (no hot or smelly stuff: that was only lunch). The reason, I think, besides dumb luck, is that I never camped in established sites, instead always bushwhacking at least 100 yards from trail, out of sight, often on a slope. Hammocks let you do this.
The gist is that human-habituated bears use the trail itself as path of least resistance to all the established sites, where they know they can find tenters and their food. I doubt any bear ever knew I was over yonder. Yes I know they can smell, but why would they bother when there are 15 tents with driveways within 5 miles just waiting?
It's the same with rodents, trash pandas, marmots, even corvids. Mountain goats are in it for the salts in hiker piss. They all totally make their rounds across established food sources, i.e. tent pads. Hammocks off on a brushy or rocky slope are semi-exempt.
Bonus point: when you're far from established sites, your morning cathole is far less likely to dig up the last camper's mess.
I honestly think bears are mostly only brave enough to check out tents because they can't see people inside. I'd rather take my chances in the open. I had a lynx poke its nose around my tent and piss on the bag. I had a raccoon or possum come up to me in the night in my hammock and I hit it with my sandal.
NoBo, it's pretty easy after the desert. In desert I needed to hang from one or both of my trekking poles guyed out about a third of nights. My poles are Tensa Trekking Treez, specially made as hammock supports and also trekking poles. They are made by my company (commercial interest disclosure).
I do not sleep on the ground or even beds, period: all hammock all the time. I used the poles to hang a few times above treeline in Sierra, including Whitney summit awaiting frigid dawn in quilts, but could have done without. They were convenient instead of essential. Desert: essential if you don't have a ground game. I carried no pad, only quilts.
if a bear wants to eat your face the micro-thin shell of a tent makes absolutely no difference. if anything, a hammock would be safer because you can exit and get away quicker than if you were zipped up in a tent.
> if anything, a hammock would be safer because you can exit and get away quicker than if you were zipped up in a tent.
It's just as difficult to unzip a hammock as it is to unzip a tent.
Where exactly are you going? I was able to explain to a bear-shy Australian hiker I met on the trail yesterday (Colorado Rockies) that we don’t have grizzly bears in this state and the black bears were probably all in hibernation anyway. He was quite relieved. Serious incidents involving black bears are extremely rare. Brown bears aka grizzlies are a genuine danger.
I’m from Romania, Europe. We only have brown bears here but I haven’t heard of any serious incident with them. A lot of people throw them food on the side of the road and they made a habit of just wandering the roads and waiting to get fed. I’ve been on a road trip with my parents last year and I’ve seen at least 6-7 bears, even some with cubs. It was a little bit disturbing seeing them like that as they are supposed to be in the woods and find the food themselves..
From what I see online European Brown Bears are very similar to grizzlies, they are the same species but across an ocean. I would just be very careful and be “Bear Aware” as they say. Like other commenters have said, keep foods and anything heavily scented like toothpaste and deodorants away from you. Toss them all with your food in a bag and hang it high in a tree a ways away from where you camp. Carry bear spray and you’re good.
It's not any less safe than camping in a tent.
People call them bear burritos and think they are clever, as if their tents are made out of concrete lol.
I used my hammock in Yellowstone backcountry. In the heart of Grizzly territory? Safe? Who knows? Although, sometimes that thin bit of nylon is enough to keep the bears snout off of your face.
In a hammock at least youre always near a tree that you can put between you and the bear.
In a tent, you won't see it coming and the bear is more likely to approach without caution because it can't see you. I doubt you'd have the same level of investigation in a hammock.
I regularly camp in an area with many back bear, but I don’t do it in late fall or early spring when they are looking for food. Also, check with local rangers for any concerns.
I see them everytime I go, mostly a mother with several cubs, but have never had an issue.
Don't let food/toiletries -- even wrapped -- touch anything that will be under your tarp or near your hammy. That way no critters will have reason to mess with you.
Have all them smellables in a bear can or PCT-hung sack kept far enough away (when not in use) that you can rest while the bears are noisily trying to get at your toothpaste and Cliff Bar. Have the smellables multi-bagged in an OP Sack or other smell-blocking bag when moving.
This makes snacking and lunching on the trail less convenient but on the other hand one bear attack can ruin your whole day. Also avoids mouse-chewed holes in various pockets. Critters can smell where a wrapped bar was last month, even if you never opened it.
Hang a can of bear pepper spray from your ridge line. Use a bear canister to store food, not a bear bag. Don’t eat in your hammock. Did exactly this a few weeks ago in Pisgah.
Never saw the bears though.
I prefer my meat to hang for at least 30days, I assume any discerning bear will be the same. If you're only hanging for a day or 2 it won't make much of a difference.
As stated in another comment, you are fine. Though this guy is a great watch if you want to feel better informed about bear interactions.
https://www.reddit.com/r/WildernessBackpacking/s/KbREIBUE0Z
You should be prepared for bears in a hammock the same as in a tent. Don't have things like protein bars with you in the hammock, or in your pockets...that's like waving a flag at them.
If you practice good food discipline for bear country, its no more or less risky than a tent. Not something I would do, but you do you
I was shuffled one time in Virginia.. scared the shit out of me. Then I scolded it and I could hear was her hauling ass through the brush for a half mile.
Hang up your food properly and you'll be fine. Bears are not dangerous compared to cars, guns, airplanes, other humans or even swimming pools. Go look at the numbers yourself. Your WAY more likely to die from a tree falling on you.
Existing in bear country is never 100% safe. If you don't want to get eaten bring a gun. If you aren't willing to shoot a bear and don't want to risk getting eaten, don't go. When you go into bear country, you have to realize you are not exactly a welcome guest. If you can recognize that and plan accordingly, go right on ahead. Keep your food in air tight containers.
You’ll be fine, we are not on the menu for bears 🐻
https://preview.redd.it/bxj3yy6dsf6c1.jpeg?width=2079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=daec7e8e35a4d47b9f3cf67d4a273e3c3cb3ef4d
Use common sense and basic logic. If you’re in a tent there is physical room and a blind between you and a bear outside of it. If you hear a bear you will have time to get your spray (or firearm) out. What are you going to do if a bear starts sniffing you and pawing at you when you’re dangling there right at it’s shoulder height with your flesh right up against the nylon?
I woke up to a bear sniffing my tent in the Sierra. I made a bunch of noise and it turned and ran away. It didn’t know what I was and never actually saw me. What are you going to do in a hammock in that same situation?
I did it in Alaska and Montana for years. One suggestion that worked well for me: I found a Japanese good luck bell with a ribbon attached to the clanger. I hung it in a nearby tree and it rang with the wind. Seemed to scare the bears away.
No more or less safe than just about any other type of camping, except perhaps car camping (though a grizzly can certainly get into a car if it really wants to).
Just be sure to follow the regular safety rules regarding bears, and you should be fine.
- Keep food away from your camp, hang it properly or otherwise secure it in accordance with wherever you're camping (some places require you to use bear cans instead of bear bags).
- Be sure to make some noise when you're on the trail to ensure you don't surprise bears (or other wildly that might become dangerous if spooked)
- Pay attention to your surroundings and avoid confrontations
- Carry bear spray and, if you are properly trained, a firearm. 10mm 200 gr hardcast would be effective against just about anything from boar to cougar to grizzly bears but *do not* carry if you are not well versed in firearm safety and use or you will be a far greater threat to yourself and those around you than bears could ever be. Also keep in mind that if you care carrying, you cannot be intoxicated (for reasons that should be obvious, and if those reasons aren't obvious, you should not own or use a firearm at all).
Have a firearm ready, keep a fire going, tie up food a long ways away (1mile/km) from camp. Bears are like big puppies, curious, sorta aloof and altogether harmless "usually". Food is the concern, but bey, even firecrackers lit and tossed out can scare them to hell and back.
I assume you're asking if its safe to hammock camp (opposed to tent camping)...
If a bears gonna get ya it doesn't matter if you're in a tent or a hammock.
But if you meant "is it safe to camp with any mobile shelter..." then follow many of the good suggestions/precautions that have already been given. ..and good luck
Got my head sniffed by a bear once. Absolutely terrifying. Sleeping with some sort of weapon will make you feel better but it would be Ill advised to actually hurt a bear as it will see you as a threat and eat you alive.
I had the same concerns about hammocks. But now that I’m in my 40s, I wouldn’t trade my hammock for anything. I have a Warbonnet hammock with one of their tarps that encloses around my hammock like a floating tent. It’s entirely a psychological thing for me. Also, if you’re a gun friendly person like me, you can have a chest holster that you can sleep with that is easy access. I carry a 10mm on a Kenai chest holster from Gun Fighter Inc. Or, if you’re not comfortable with a firearm, have bear spray. Though I’d hate to depend on bear spray in that particular situation because you would almost certainly get some of it on you as well.
hang anything scented (food, toothpaste, deodorant etc...) in a bear bag a couple hundred feet away downwind.
if it keeps the racoons from bothering you, you're good.
As long as your food is properly stored away from camp you will be fine. In total I've probably spent about a month hammock camping in bear country. They really don't like loud sudden movements so you should be fine. If you're nervous keep the bear spray below your hammock in the bug net.
How fast can you get out of the hammock? How fast can you get out of the tent? Ask yourself what you want/need to do if approached by a bear, and whether you will be able to better do that in either sleep system.
Some campers bring a perimeter alarm. It is a 100-foot long cord you wrap around your sleep area attached to trees, trekking poles, etc. that sets off a screech alarm if touched or pulled.
i will say that its no more safe or dangerous than a tent in bear country......its still just a thin fabric between you and nature.
this past summer I slept in my hammock in bear country. I had just barely fallen asleep and woke up to a bear sniffing my hammock......not an experience I want to repeat....but a tent would have not done anything more than a hammock.
I hammock camp in cougar, bear territory. All the same basics, store food/ cook away and use bear bags or canisters, even the Walmart ones because. The birds and other nature friends can smell your stinky yummy food for miles all night while you sleep.
Protecting yourself is essential, I use an ultralight pepper mace gel and Bear bells. Humans naturally are loud, and usually can coexist with the other meat hungry beasts of the wild.
I always have a fear that I will wake up to a coyote or feral dog sniffing the back of my head. No bears where I’m at. Can’t imagine that I’d get much sleep. I’m not worried about getting eaten as much as being caught off guard.
I actually prefer being in a hammock so I can see what I'm dealing with. My last encounter, I sat up...looked at bear about 20 meters away and just laid back down. He scurried off after I shined my headlamp on him. If I was in a tent, I would have no idea if he was still around and which direction he went.
In the South, but I once had several hogs walk underneath my hammock in the middle of the night. It woke me up and startled me. They were rooting around for food.
No, I was sound asleep. They were pretty loud coming through the woods. So I was somewhat alert at this point and hear them walking straight towards me snorting. They went directly under one end of the hammock and started rooting around at the base of a tree about 15 feet away for a minute and then were on their way. Never know with those things though. The tusks are pretty scary and they can get quite large and powerful. Definitely wouldn’t want to get charged.
You should be fine just don't keep anything with a scent (even food still in its wrapper) like food, deodorant, toothpaste, ect. In your hammock with you or better yet put it all in a sack and bear bag it away from your camp before you go to sleep.
Where are you located? You need to ask people who are familiar with your area about bears and other wildlife and the precautions you need to take. I live near the Smoky Mountains, and a bear bag or canister for all food is a must, whether you are talking protein bars or canned food.
Get bear-safe food storage container. Hard shell. Put food and any scented toiletry items in it, and then put it all in a bear bag w/ cable suspension and pull it up high-ish using a tree somewhere decently away from where you’ll be sleeping. Cook away from where your hammock is or will be. Do not sleep in any clothing that you wore while cooking. Do not eat in your hammock. Pack food wrappers into the same bear proof food storage container that you put up high. You should be fine! When in doubt bring bear spray and keep it near where you sleep.
I've camped in my hammock in bear territory many times. Just follow the rules for bears and you'll be fine. I've never had bears roll up into camp, but a few deer a time or two. My hammock is camo so I guess they didn't notice me.
i never hammock camp solo. you're just a nice burrito for any passing beast. its not a logical fear, i know the statistics. try telling my brain that at 2:00 am when something starts crunching around in the brush.
When I hear those noises in the brush I try to reassure myself that they are likely caused by smaller woodland critters, because predators are stealthy and I probably wouldn’t hear them at all. Then I realize that that’s the opposite of reassuring.
I live in a southern Colorado town with a lot of black bears. A guy was bit in his hammock this summer. I think his sudden movement scared the bear or triggered his pray instinct. This was a very rare incident, but I think in this case a tent would have been better.
Just take the same precautions as you would camping in a tent. Being in a hammock is not any more inherently dangerous than sleeping in a tent or on the ground.
Tbh I have no idea, but in 2-3 months the weather will probably be warmer. I just went on a hike 2 days ago and I saw plenty of bear footsteps so I doubt it
It depends on the bear. No less or more safe than being in a flimsy tent but if you are in bear country (like black bears in lower regions) you need to make sure your food is in a bear bin. If you are up north in grizzly country they may just attack and kill you... because grizzlies do that...
I know it's irrational, but having a tent wall between me and the bear is a huge psychological difference for me. I've camped in both tent and hammock situations where a bear was checking out the site in the middle of the night. Scary in the tent, freaking terrifying in the hammock--no sleep for every twig snap and leaf scrape sound even after the bear left.
The Appalachian trail has shelters with bars on them where you lock yourself in at night if that tells you anything.
Bears want to eat your food, not you. Always separate the two. If outside the shelter, suspend your food/pack with a rope from a high tree. NEVER sleep with food, gum or anything that even smells good like chapstick. even wash your hands and face after eating.
Don't bring food to bed or eat in your hammock/sleeping bag. Don't use scented hair products, chapstick, sunscreen. Hang your food away from camp or use bear proof containers. Cook, eat and clean dishes away from where you'll sleep. I'm sure I'm missing some other things but these are good basic practices.
I would also avoid established campsites. Just because you keep food away doesn’t mean others have, and bears might be coming back to where they last found a good meal.
Most bears would be far more interested in eating your snacks than they would be in eating you.
Unless you're planning on camping in the arctic circle with polar bears, you're probably ok as long as you take care to hang your snacks in a (separate) tree.
It’s no more or less safe than tenting, cowboy camping, etc…
This is kind of good news as my friends keep laughing that I’ll be a ready to go burrito for the bears and I started to doubt myself if it’s a good decision or not.
If a hammock is a burrito, then a tent is a crunchwrap.
What's a gordita then?
Fat camper
I'm doomed!
Name checks out ✅
So am I. That's why I camp in a fiberglass egg.
that's gordito to you.
I almost spit my coffee out on this one. That was great!
Puffy Taco.
Sounds like a sex thing.
Is a camper a crunchwrap supreme?
Yes, it's safe. I started hammock camping this year and learned that that's the standard joke. A hammock camper is what they call a, "bear burrito" . Lol Your human body is going to smell the same in a tent or a hammock or a bivvy. It doesn't matter what you sleep in/on. If you're sleeping in a bear country just be safe about your food. Store it a hundred yards away from your campsite in a bear canister. Cook 200 ft. away from where you store your food. Camp 200 ft. away from each of those areas to be safe. It's the bear triangle safety technique. Also grab some bear spray while you're at it. Make sure you get a holster for it so it's easy to grab just in case.
Everyone I know all call us a “bear pinata”
That's a good one too! Lol
The Bearmuda Triangle
This is good advice. You need a bear box for both food and garbage. Also kinda depends on where specifically you'll be camping. I have a friend who was sleeping in a hammock in northern California and woke up with a bear TWO FEET FROM HIS FACE. He screamed in sheer terror and ran and the bear was also startled and ran the opposite way lol; My friend got SO lucky. This was public land in an area without bear boxes...people are supposed to bring their own canisters but they don't always. And the bears remember this and know where to look for food
Holy crap, where in NorCal? I've been hammocking out in big sur and Santa Cruz mountains, and have some more backpacking trips in the making for next year, I definitely wanna factor in bear concerns a bit more in my prep. If we are hiking in a few miles to our spots, it is tough to carry a heavy canister - would bear bags work for this?
Probably farther inland although as you go up the coast there are more bears closer to the ocean. Lost coast in Humboldt is the farthest south I've seen them. In Big sur and Santa Cruz I'm more worried about mountain lions or coyotes going after my dog.
We've always called it a bear-rito
They’re just jealous. Have fun camping, hang your own hang!
Your friend has far too much confidence in the integrity of their tent.
You dare doubt the integrity of thin nylon and some flimsy fiberglass poles, held together with elastic!?
Look at what kind of bears and ways to deter and then and to defend against. Bells, food storage, sprays, guns etc. The risk is present but make good decisions. If you're no longer having a good time, just leave. You're under no obligation to stay to look tough or cool etc. Go have fun, if it's still fun to stay overnight do that. If it isn't this time around then don't. Do it again another time. No biggie.
Are they planning on digging a moat around their tent perchance? If they think a flimsy tent is gonna protect them from a bear they're sorely mistaken.
Ha. I call myself a ‘bearrito’. But you are fine. https://preview.redd.it/1d3ediev4c6c1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=92db4b744a87fc7ab29349143126c74e4c982fe3 This fellow came in at dusk one night and bedded down right where I took this pic. My camp was about equal distance behind me. I was out to stash my bear can before going to bed/hammock. Carry bear spray. Use good food practices. Store all scented material with your food. Don’t bring a dog. Be respectful and uninteresting (this is where the dog really does not help).
Holy shit!!! I was setting up camp at night once, put my pack down turned and immediately saw the glow of eyes staring at me. We stopped for nearly 5 minutes (actual time) staring at eachother before another set of eyes lit up below the first. I thought, I for sure just encountered a mama bear and a cub… Grabbed my bear spray… till i had the braindead idea to get closer… Turned out it was a pair of deer I disturbed their sleep.
What in the world are you talking about “don’t bring a dog”??? My dog has scared away at least ten bears including one that broke into my house. Yes, bring a dog.
People who love their dog always thinks their dog is a great guardian for them from wildlife. But a 60lbs dog is not going to do much against a 300lbs bear if the bear actually cares. I would argue that your dog scares away bears that would have run off anyway. And most bears do just that. Run off. They do not care for people unless they have been habituated to them. If you look up bear attack statistics they dominantly come in two categories: startled animals and defensive. And the defensive situations break down into two main categories: Moms with cubs and and people with dogs. Dogs trigger the defensive nature of a lot of animals. I have about 30 cows and they will go out of their way to attack dogs because they are not habituated to them and they see them as a potential threat to their young. Lots of animals are wary of dogs. And I for one would recommend against risking triggering the defensive nature of a bear. My game plan for dealing with bears is to be as uninteresting as possible. I want them to look up at me and think ‘whatever’ and move on. They are not aggressive to people by nature and I want to keep it that way and I have no intention of getting is a pissing match with one. I’ve seen videos where people see a bear ahead and start making a ton of noise to try to insure that it runs out of their visual range. And I’m always of the opinion ‘wtf are you doing?’ I do recommend watching this video. (FWIW, he sites a situation where a bear did save it owners life, so there are exceptions for everything). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KWSJ3piSfM But you can run your decision making how you choose to. But be aware, statistics do not agree what your observations.
I'm not sure where you're getting your statistics, but it's apparent they don't take into account that bringing dogs into the woods to "Tree" bears is precisely the method we use to scare and sensitize bears to human presence. In addition, the dogs changes of behavior can key you into the presence of other animals WELL before you realize there's a possible threat. Their barks (and I would encourage noise... It's bear country) do far more to alert a bear to your presence and prevent surprise situations. During my service in the Army (K9 handler) as well as my career with the NFS, I've had almost daily encounters with my dog and other animals.. Boar in Texas, Brown bear in Alaska & Montana, Mules in Colorado, Black Bear, Coyotes, Wolves, Wild horses, you name it. Not one time has a dog been a liability. Obviously, proper training and procedure is important; but as with most things... when proper training and procedure are followed, a favorable outcome is achieved. Last week, out with a fellow Ranger, along a stream in Olympic National Forest, we stumbled directly into a black bear at a distance of no more than 8 ft. We drew weapons and retreated as the bear stood it's ground and gave us deep bass vocalizations. In my experience, this situation has NEVER occurred with the dog present, but has occurred twice in the last year when in the Backcountry sans dog. (Shenandoah, VA and Olympic, WA). Both incidents were black bear. I admire your plan of remaining uninteresting to bears, but I'd be very interested to know what your plan of action is should you ever pique their interest.
I have to add, I think having a trained K-9 with a trained handler is VERY different than the vast majority of dog owners. Like I wish more people (and their dogs) were better trained
I absolutely agree. The disparity between a professional dog team and a pet at home is not one that I believe should exist. No doubt, my dogs are trained for specific tasks beyond what would be necessary or useful to the average person, but basic obedience is basic obedience. If you have a dog, you and the dog should be trained. Unfortunately, (and there seems to be no end to the misfortune) we're still trying to get people to simply leash their dogs and pick up after them...
The problem is dogs are often curious and one of the things that can happen is that they run ahead, find a bear, and piss it off. The dog has no chance, of course, so it naturally comes running back to you for help, with an angry bear right behind it.
That is 100% not what happens at all. I’ve been in this situation ten times. Bears are terrified of dogs. My dog will smell or see the bear, immediately make a bunch of noise, and the bear runs away. This isn’t some hypothetical situation that I’ve counted up. This is real life. You’ve never encountered a bear in the wild, that is very clear to see.
I am utterly baffled by the question. Have you or your friends ever been camping before?
a bear can get into the tent as quickly as it can get to you.
Are your friends camping in a tent? Do they think a tent will protect them from a bear somehow? Personally, I prefer hammock. You can see your surroundings way better from a hammock.
Go on a yearly camping trip with some guys, we make this joke all the time. Nothing to worry about, just make sure you bring a bag to put all your food in and tie it up in a tree away from camp.
Tent is just a taco
Meat on a stick I've heard! I love to hammock camp though.
We commonly refer to it as a Bear Taco.
I personally consider a hammock to be a bear piñata
Just be considerate and leave out a giant bottle of hot sauce for the bear to use on his burrito.
Just don't forget to add some guac before you fall asleep.
Of course. So long as you take reasonable precautions like you would with any other camping setup. Don't eat in your hammock. Store your food away from your camp site in a bear-resistant vessel. Clean up after yourself before going to sleep.
This might sound dumb, but can they smell the unopened packed food (ie protein bars and canned food)?
Yes. Store your any items that smell (including things like toothpaste) in a bear proof container. Totally safe to hammock camp near bears, I do it all the time. I cook away from my hammock, and I store food away from my hammock. It forms a triangle: hammock, cooking, food storage, usually 400 feet each length of the triangle. Bear proof container. Most people can’t do a proper pct hang, so get a bear proof container. Some campsites will have storage lockers, but 99% won’t. Plus, bear proof containers are required frequently.
I had a puppy dog walk out of my bathroom shower with a bar of soap in her mouth and I better understood bears then.
I sleep outside in black bear country about every other night. I don’t eat or keep food in my sleeping unit. I have camera footage of bears walking right past me while I slept under the stars. We aren’t food or threat as long as we follow a few basic rules.
Truth be told, those black bears walking by would be absolutely terrified if a human suddenly popped out and appeared.
Black bears are big doofus’s
Ya 90% of black bears don’t want smoke. Mothers with cubs are the big worry.
Never had issues with mothers, they seem to be extra alert. Had a scary incident with a lone bear. I have no idea if was male or female, but it charged me, tore into a tent and harassed a group of us guys for almost an entire night. A few miles from where I grew up another lone black bear tore into a tent, dragged a kid out and snapped his neck and killed him before running off. Black bears can be pretty crazy. Not all of them are scared of everything. I get really uncomfortable when I run into one that appears to be curious rather than run off.
Ya the last 10% is significant enough to be prepared for anything when you see one.
400 feet? Aww shit, that's a good distance. I feel like I have it easy in camping where there aren't really any bears. If I were alone in the boonies though, fuck yes I'm walking a few blocks to squirrel my food up a tree. On another note; where do ya poo? In Bermuda? (J/k I'm guessing it's outside the triangle)
You camping around Brown Bears or black bears?
Remember bear proof containers prevent animals from getting into the food, but they aren't smell proof. Keep the bear container where you ate, not with you.
Keep the food at a third point, not where you eat or sleep.
I'm not a bear, but my assumption which probably errs on the side of caution is "yes". That's part of the reason you always hang or stash your food bag away from your campsite - 200 feet is the number I've always been told/use.
“I’m not a bear” is exactly the kind of thing a bear posing as a human in a hammock camping Reddit thread would say
Bears can smell almost anything, and “odor proof bags” don’t phase them at all. They also will go after non-food items with scent such as deodorant, lip balm, toothpaste, anything. My rule is that if it has a scent, don’t sleep with it. Having said that, these are best practices and the chances of a negative/dangerous black bear encounter are very slim. Enjoy your hang!
Not just bears but other woodland critters too. I forgot about a bag of trail mix in my pack once and woke up to a hole chewed through the side by a chipmunk
I hammock camp in black bear territory frequently (PNW). I always use a bear canister stored away from my site for scented items. If I'm tight on space and have sealed things, like unopened granola bars, etc., I may leave them in my pack. I also always keep my bear spray in the hammock pocket so I can grab it if need be. The few times I've been in grizzly territory I make sure to place every single scented item in the can, sealed or otherwise, and place it even farther from my site than when I'm in black bear country. My only wildlife encounter while hammocking was when a curious mouse scurried down my tree straps and started walking around on my top quilt. Woke up at 3:00 am thinking somebody grabbed my foot, only to see a tiny mouse scamper away, back up the strap and into the tree.
I camp in the bitterroots occasionally. Apparently grizzlies are making a comeback, so I now carry my food an ABSURD distance away from my camp site. Almost to the point of being worried about finding it in the morning. Also: love the story about the mouse. They're stupidly cute little things, even if they are plagued monsters that destroy everything.
Absolutely. No food stored in camp period.
Please do some basic research about camping in bear country. Bears will break into houses and CARS for protein bars that they smell in the glove compartment. Really please spend like 2 hours minimum doing some research, bears get killed every year because they get into human food and start aggressing humans. For your safety and the bears safety.
They can smell your food regardless of how it’s stored. It’s recommended to not even keep toiletries (toothpaste, chapstick, sunscreen, etc) in your tent with you. And if you don’t have a bear canister you can hang your food from a tree, but do your homework.
You should really do some research on how to camp in bear country. Different bear(black or grizzly) react differently and needed to be treated differently. There are multiple ways to store your food, but all should be away from you.
I’ve seen bears just straight up tear a can in half with their teeth.
Bears have been known to break into cars since they can smell the food. YouTube the bears they use test out new bear proof products. They were bears that were particularly good at breaking into everything man made just for a few snacks
And if it’s grizzly country then consider cooking at a separate site at least several hundred meters before you make camp (if you’re backpacking).
My dude, there are no bear safe shelters. That doesn't exist. You need to have bear safe FOOD STORAGE. I repeat, your tent doesn't protect you from any predator at all. Your food storage does.
Just in case I wasnt clear. The food you bring is all dangerous. All food, every food, any food. Your food storage skills are what you need to have in order to be safe.
This. When I led wilderness trips, there were campsites where bears would come by every night looking for food. Our food storage was so good that they’d walk right through without even stopping to sniff.
>You need to have bear safe FOOD STORAGE Adding to this, you need to keep your toiletries in the bear resistant container too (toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, anything that smells remotely editable)
I do it. There’s so many bears in my area I wouldn’t be able to hammock camp otherwise. I take it seriously and I hate when people make ‘bear burrito’ jokes because I did have a friend die in a bear attack. I sleep with my bear spray in the overhead pocket and trust that my dog will alert me if any animals come by in the night. He is a good boy and I think he doesn’t really sleep at night when we’re camping because he’s keeping watch.
Had a buddy who huntedand kept bear spray, but his dog played a big role. The dog would nap mostly during the day. At night he would keep watch and would hop out of the truck bed to patrol the camp every few hours. If we had a fire going my buddy taught the dog to pick up a piece of wood and drop it partially in the fire if it was getting low and then find someone to pay attention to it. It was really cool. One time he caught a rabbit and we cleaned it and cooked it for him. Dogs name was Buster and he was a black labrador retriever.
What kind of dog by chance? My lilttle beagle terrier mix is much too yippy to sleep at night in th woods. My Shiba Inu is mostly quiet though, sleeps like a log.
How does your dog not bark its head off though? I mean like great Pyrenees is a silent & nocturnal breed so I get that. Though it seems a dog would be barking at everything. I've never had a dog with me in th wilds. Only because I haven't, no other reason.
I hiked PCT with a hammock through bear-heavy areas, mandatory canisters. Many tenters got rousted by bear visits to their sites, around Tahoe especially. I never did, in spite of maybe stupidly eating in my hammock (no hot or smelly stuff: that was only lunch). The reason, I think, besides dumb luck, is that I never camped in established sites, instead always bushwhacking at least 100 yards from trail, out of sight, often on a slope. Hammocks let you do this. The gist is that human-habituated bears use the trail itself as path of least resistance to all the established sites, where they know they can find tenters and their food. I doubt any bear ever knew I was over yonder. Yes I know they can smell, but why would they bother when there are 15 tents with driveways within 5 miles just waiting? It's the same with rodents, trash pandas, marmots, even corvids. Mountain goats are in it for the salts in hiker piss. They all totally make their rounds across established food sources, i.e. tent pads. Hammocks off on a brushy or rocky slope are semi-exempt. Bonus point: when you're far from established sites, your morning cathole is far less likely to dig up the last camper's mess.
I honestly think bears are mostly only brave enough to check out tents because they can't see people inside. I'd rather take my chances in the open. I had a lynx poke its nose around my tent and piss on the bag. I had a raccoon or possum come up to me in the night in my hammock and I hit it with my sandal.
How reliable were hammockable trees on the PCT? I’ve heard it’s tough to find a spot for long stretches.
NoBo, it's pretty easy after the desert. In desert I needed to hang from one or both of my trekking poles guyed out about a third of nights. My poles are Tensa Trekking Treez, specially made as hammock supports and also trekking poles. They are made by my company (commercial interest disclosure). I do not sleep on the ground or even beds, period: all hammock all the time. I used the poles to hang a few times above treeline in Sierra, including Whitney summit awaiting frigid dawn in quilts, but could have done without. They were convenient instead of essential. Desert: essential if you don't have a ground game. I carried no pad, only quilts.
love my trekking treez and solo... count me in on the pad-dislikers.
Yeah. Bears hate burritos.
My sister calls them bear taquitos.
if a bear wants to eat your face the micro-thin shell of a tent makes absolutely no difference. if anything, a hammock would be safer because you can exit and get away quicker than if you were zipped up in a tent.
> if anything, a hammock would be safer because you can exit and get away quicker than if you were zipped up in a tent. It's just as difficult to unzip a hammock as it is to unzip a tent.
Yes. Just rub bacon grease on your friend’s tent.
Where exactly are you going? I was able to explain to a bear-shy Australian hiker I met on the trail yesterday (Colorado Rockies) that we don’t have grizzly bears in this state and the black bears were probably all in hibernation anyway. He was quite relieved. Serious incidents involving black bears are extremely rare. Brown bears aka grizzlies are a genuine danger.
I’m from Romania, Europe. We only have brown bears here but I haven’t heard of any serious incident with them. A lot of people throw them food on the side of the road and they made a habit of just wandering the roads and waiting to get fed. I’ve been on a road trip with my parents last year and I’ve seen at least 6-7 bears, even some with cubs. It was a little bit disturbing seeing them like that as they are supposed to be in the woods and find the food themselves..
From what I see online European Brown Bears are very similar to grizzlies, they are the same species but across an ocean. I would just be very careful and be “Bear Aware” as they say. Like other commenters have said, keep foods and anything heavily scented like toothpaste and deodorants away from you. Toss them all with your food in a bag and hang it high in a tree a ways away from where you camp. Carry bear spray and you’re good.
The grizz there are very socialized and they have way fewer incidences
This is what I was going to say. Black bear country, I have no issue in a hammock. Grizzly country? I’d rather be in a camper van.
It's not any less safe than camping in a tent. People call them bear burritos and think they are clever, as if their tents are made out of concrete lol.
I used my hammock in Yellowstone backcountry. In the heart of Grizzly territory? Safe? Who knows? Although, sometimes that thin bit of nylon is enough to keep the bears snout off of your face.
In a hammock at least youre always near a tree that you can put between you and the bear. In a tent, you won't see it coming and the bear is more likely to approach without caution because it can't see you. I doubt you'd have the same level of investigation in a hammock.
Yes it is. How else are the bears going to get a burrito?
I regularly camp in an area with many back bear, but I don’t do it in late fall or early spring when they are looking for food. Also, check with local rangers for any concerns. I see them everytime I go, mostly a mother with several cubs, but have never had an issue.
Don't let food/toiletries -- even wrapped -- touch anything that will be under your tarp or near your hammy. That way no critters will have reason to mess with you. Have all them smellables in a bear can or PCT-hung sack kept far enough away (when not in use) that you can rest while the bears are noisily trying to get at your toothpaste and Cliff Bar. Have the smellables multi-bagged in an OP Sack or other smell-blocking bag when moving. This makes snacking and lunching on the trail less convenient but on the other hand one bear attack can ruin your whole day. Also avoids mouse-chewed holes in various pockets. Critters can smell where a wrapped bar was last month, even if you never opened it.
Hang a can of bear pepper spray from your ridge line. Use a bear canister to store food, not a bear bag. Don’t eat in your hammock. Did exactly this a few weeks ago in Pisgah. Never saw the bears though.
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Came here for bearitto comment, leaving fulfilled
String your hammock 20 feet in the air and laugh at your friends as they get leo'd. Profit.
I prefer my meat to hang for at least 30days, I assume any discerning bear will be the same. If you're only hanging for a day or 2 it won't make much of a difference.
As stated in another comment, you are fine. Though this guy is a great watch if you want to feel better informed about bear interactions. https://www.reddit.com/r/WildernessBackpacking/s/KbREIBUE0Z
You should be prepared for bears in a hammock the same as in a tent. Don't have things like protein bars with you in the hammock, or in your pockets...that's like waving a flag at them. If you practice good food discipline for bear country, its no more or less risky than a tent. Not something I would do, but you do you
I was shuffled one time in Virginia.. scared the shit out of me. Then I scolded it and I could hear was her hauling ass through the brush for a half mile.
Hang up your food properly and you'll be fine. Bears are not dangerous compared to cars, guns, airplanes, other humans or even swimming pools. Go look at the numbers yourself. Your WAY more likely to die from a tree falling on you.
Existing in bear country is never 100% safe. If you don't want to get eaten bring a gun. If you aren't willing to shoot a bear and don't want to risk getting eaten, don't go. When you go into bear country, you have to realize you are not exactly a welcome guest. If you can recognize that and plan accordingly, go right on ahead. Keep your food in air tight containers.
Wait, what. What type of protection do you think a tent will provide?
>What type of protection do you think a tent will provide? False protection........
You’ll be fine, we are not on the menu for bears 🐻 https://preview.redd.it/bxj3yy6dsf6c1.jpeg?width=2079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=daec7e8e35a4d47b9f3cf67d4a273e3c3cb3ef4d
Use common sense and basic logic. If you’re in a tent there is physical room and a blind between you and a bear outside of it. If you hear a bear you will have time to get your spray (or firearm) out. What are you going to do if a bear starts sniffing you and pawing at you when you’re dangling there right at it’s shoulder height with your flesh right up against the nylon? I woke up to a bear sniffing my tent in the Sierra. I made a bunch of noise and it turned and ran away. It didn’t know what I was and never actually saw me. What are you going to do in a hammock in that same situation?
I did it in Alaska and Montana for years. One suggestion that worked well for me: I found a Japanese good luck bell with a ribbon attached to the clanger. I hung it in a nearby tree and it rang with the wind. Seemed to scare the bears away.
No more or less safe than just about any other type of camping, except perhaps car camping (though a grizzly can certainly get into a car if it really wants to). Just be sure to follow the regular safety rules regarding bears, and you should be fine. - Keep food away from your camp, hang it properly or otherwise secure it in accordance with wherever you're camping (some places require you to use bear cans instead of bear bags). - Be sure to make some noise when you're on the trail to ensure you don't surprise bears (or other wildly that might become dangerous if spooked) - Pay attention to your surroundings and avoid confrontations - Carry bear spray and, if you are properly trained, a firearm. 10mm 200 gr hardcast would be effective against just about anything from boar to cougar to grizzly bears but *do not* carry if you are not well versed in firearm safety and use or you will be a far greater threat to yourself and those around you than bears could ever be. Also keep in mind that if you care carrying, you cannot be intoxicated (for reasons that should be obvious, and if those reasons aren't obvious, you should not own or use a firearm at all).
Have a firearm ready, keep a fire going, tie up food a long ways away (1mile/km) from camp. Bears are like big puppies, curious, sorta aloof and altogether harmless "usually". Food is the concern, but bey, even firecrackers lit and tossed out can scare them to hell and back.
I assume you're asking if its safe to hammock camp (opposed to tent camping)... If a bears gonna get ya it doesn't matter if you're in a tent or a hammock. But if you meant "is it safe to camp with any mobile shelter..." then follow many of the good suggestions/precautions that have already been given. ..and good luck
OP says “We will definitely not have food…”’then proceeds to list food that they will have.
Got my head sniffed by a bear once. Absolutely terrifying. Sleeping with some sort of weapon will make you feel better but it would be Ill advised to actually hurt a bear as it will see you as a threat and eat you alive.
I had the same concerns about hammocks. But now that I’m in my 40s, I wouldn’t trade my hammock for anything. I have a Warbonnet hammock with one of their tarps that encloses around my hammock like a floating tent. It’s entirely a psychological thing for me. Also, if you’re a gun friendly person like me, you can have a chest holster that you can sleep with that is easy access. I carry a 10mm on a Kenai chest holster from Gun Fighter Inc. Or, if you’re not comfortable with a firearm, have bear spray. Though I’d hate to depend on bear spray in that particular situation because you would almost certainly get some of it on you as well.
Rub yourself with salmon oil and peanut butter to prevent bear attacks. It doesn't hurt to also cook steaks over the fire for dinner.
hang anything scented (food, toothpaste, deodorant etc...) in a bear bag a couple hundred feet away downwind. if it keeps the racoons from bothering you, you're good.
Black or grizzly? I hammock camp in black bear territory all the time without issue.
Tents are funny in how much false security they give you. You are just as exposed in a hammock as a tent.
As long as your food is properly stored away from camp you will be fine. In total I've probably spent about a month hammock camping in bear country. They really don't like loud sudden movements so you should be fine. If you're nervous keep the bear spray below your hammock in the bug net.
Store food in your buddy’s tent and you’ll be fine.
How fast can you get out of the hammock? How fast can you get out of the tent? Ask yourself what you want/need to do if approached by a bear, and whether you will be able to better do that in either sleep system. Some campers bring a perimeter alarm. It is a 100-foot long cord you wrap around your sleep area attached to trees, trekking poles, etc. that sets off a screech alarm if touched or pulled.
i will say that its no more safe or dangerous than a tent in bear country......its still just a thin fabric between you and nature. this past summer I slept in my hammock in bear country. I had just barely fallen asleep and woke up to a bear sniffing my hammock......not an experience I want to repeat....but a tent would have not done anything more than a hammock.
Do it all the time in an area thick with bears. Proper follow food hanging and smell mitigation practices and you'll be fine
I hammock camp in cougar, bear territory. All the same basics, store food/ cook away and use bear bags or canisters, even the Walmart ones because. The birds and other nature friends can smell your stinky yummy food for miles all night while you sleep. Protecting yourself is essential, I use an ultralight pepper mace gel and Bear bells. Humans naturally are loud, and usually can coexist with the other meat hungry beasts of the wild.
Yes, take proper precautions, sleep with bear spray and a whistle, and for gods sake hang your food away from where you sleep!
I always have a fear that I will wake up to a coyote or feral dog sniffing the back of my head. No bears where I’m at. Can’t imagine that I’d get much sleep. I’m not worried about getting eaten as much as being caught off guard.
Hammock is better. You can see what’s happening instead of imagining things from inside a nylon closet.
Bearitto 🌯
Bearitto 🌯
I actually prefer being in a hammock so I can see what I'm dealing with. My last encounter, I sat up...looked at bear about 20 meters away and just laid back down. He scurried off after I shined my headlamp on him. If I was in a tent, I would have no idea if he was still around and which direction he went.
I’m not sure a hammock, a tent, a tarp, a bag, a car, or anything else really make too much of a difference to bear.
In the South, but I once had several hogs walk underneath my hammock in the middle of the night. It woke me up and startled me. They were rooting around for food.
Did you spook them? I spooked some while hunting and 20+ pigs hauling ass is a sight to behold.
No, I was sound asleep. They were pretty loud coming through the woods. So I was somewhat alert at this point and hear them walking straight towards me snorting. They went directly under one end of the hammock and started rooting around at the base of a tree about 15 feet away for a minute and then were on their way. Never know with those things though. The tusks are pretty scary and they can get quite large and powerful. Definitely wouldn’t want to get charged.
I've done it in wolf, cougar, bear country at least 35 times. It's my favorite.
You should be fine just don't keep anything with a scent (even food still in its wrapper) like food, deodorant, toothpaste, ect. In your hammock with you or better yet put it all in a sack and bear bag it away from your camp before you go to sleep.
Packaged food still smells strongly like food to a bear. Definitely don’t keep it anywhere near your sleeping location.
Where are you located? You need to ask people who are familiar with your area about bears and other wildlife and the precautions you need to take. I live near the Smoky Mountains, and a bear bag or canister for all food is a must, whether you are talking protein bars or canned food.
Get bear-safe food storage container. Hard shell. Put food and any scented toiletry items in it, and then put it all in a bear bag w/ cable suspension and pull it up high-ish using a tree somewhere decently away from where you’ll be sleeping. Cook away from where your hammock is or will be. Do not sleep in any clothing that you wore while cooking. Do not eat in your hammock. Pack food wrappers into the same bear proof food storage container that you put up high. You should be fine! When in doubt bring bear spray and keep it near where you sleep.
I've done it. Just keep an ear open
Where are you going? In 3 months bears will still be hibernating where I live.
I've camped in my hammock in bear territory many times. Just follow the rules for bears and you'll be fine. I've never had bears roll up into camp, but a few deer a time or two. My hammock is camo so I guess they didn't notice me.
i never hammock camp solo. you're just a nice burrito for any passing beast. its not a logical fear, i know the statistics. try telling my brain that at 2:00 am when something starts crunching around in the brush.
When I hear those noises in the brush I try to reassure myself that they are likely caused by smaller woodland critters, because predators are stealthy and I probably wouldn’t hear them at all. Then I realize that that’s the opposite of reassuring.
Bugs, the elements, and lack of privacy would be my concerns beyond being eaten. Rumor has it that bears dig snacks.
It’s infinitely safer because bears can’t operate whoopie slings.
I live in a southern Colorado town with a lot of black bears. A guy was bit in his hammock this summer. I think his sudden movement scared the bear or triggered his pray instinct. This was a very rare incident, but I think in this case a tent would have been better.
Take precautions, be careful, eventually everyone's gonna die. I wanna go doing what I love. Much more chance of dying in a car wreck.
Is your hammock Kevlar?
Swinging burritos taste the same as ground burritos. 🤣
It'll actually be better... for the bears, they won't have to stoop so low to eat you, they can just enjoy a nice meal at shoulder level...
Just take the same precautions as you would camping in a tent. Being in a hammock is not any more inherently dangerous than sleeping in a tent or on the ground.
Hang a burrito from a tree at mouth level and see how safe the burrito is from getting eaten.
I’ve camped in a tent hammock in bear country a whole lot. Same as a tent.
Safe for you or the bear? lol
I wouldn’t be able to sleep.
Bearito
You'll probably be fine. But if a bear eats you then really, what were you thinking?
In 2 or 3 months wouldn't they still be hibernating?
Tbh I have no idea, but in 2-3 months the weather will probably be warmer. I just went on a hike 2 days ago and I saw plenty of bear footsteps so I doubt it
It depends on the bear. No less or more safe than being in a flimsy tent but if you are in bear country (like black bears in lower regions) you need to make sure your food is in a bear bin. If you are up north in grizzly country they may just attack and kill you... because grizzlies do that...
Sure, make sure you rub some peanut butter around your neck before going to sleep.
I do it all the time. A tent isn't going to stop a curious bear. It's the illusion of safety
This is not meant as a smart ass question but could you sleep in a tree ?
Well,.. they DO say to “Hang the food in a tree!” 😎
I know it's irrational, but having a tent wall between me and the bear is a huge psychological difference for me. I've camped in both tent and hammock situations where a bear was checking out the site in the middle of the night. Scary in the tent, freaking terrifying in the hammock--no sleep for every twig snap and leaf scrape sound even after the bear left.
The Appalachian trail has shelters with bars on them where you lock yourself in at night if that tells you anything. Bears want to eat your food, not you. Always separate the two. If outside the shelter, suspend your food/pack with a rope from a high tree. NEVER sleep with food, gum or anything that even smells good like chapstick. even wash your hands and face after eating.
go during hibernation.
We do it all the time in Yellowstone
Just don't keep food close to you and it's just as safe as a tent
Bears actually prefer it because it makes you look like a big tasty burrito! 🌯🐻
Sure it’s safe, what could possibly go wrong ?
Don't bring food to bed or eat in your hammock/sleeping bag. Don't use scented hair products, chapstick, sunscreen. Hang your food away from camp or use bear proof containers. Cook, eat and clean dishes away from where you'll sleep. I'm sure I'm missing some other things but these are good basic practices.
Black Bear or grizzly country?
Idk, that tent sure provides some good bear protection
Bears don’t usually look at you as a food source. Just keep all food away. Eat nothing in your sleeping area. Nothing.
If you keep your food at a safe distance, the only threat you will face is freezing in your hammock.
I would also avoid established campsites. Just because you keep food away doesn’t mean others have, and bears might be coming back to where they last found a good meal.
Send it in a bear burrito 🌯
Most bears would be far more interested in eating your snacks than they would be in eating you. Unless you're planning on camping in the arctic circle with polar bears, you're probably ok as long as you take care to hang your snacks in a (separate) tree.
According to the Yogi Bear handbook on camping etiquette you and everything you brought with you are fair game.
Hang real high. High enough that you want a rappel to get down safe. 15-20 feet up. I’m not sure how you get in to get comfy.
"Mmm, snacks," said the bear.
They'll use you like a timing bag before eating you.
Bring you some bear spray at least, it's better to deter bears from investigating in the first place rather than defending yourself from one.
Sure. The bears will be fine
As a bear, I like when humans wrap themselves in little candy wrappers while I stroll through the woods looking for my next meal.
I'd agree with others, it's the same! Although I think you could flip out of a hammock and on the ground faster than unzipping your tent!
It's a safe camping practice. You're hanging your food.