Protect Backpacking Food From Animals

It wasn’t that long ago when our only option was to hang our food in a sack from a tree. There are new and maybe not so new, and maybe better ways these days for keeping critters away from our camp. Let’s look at what those are and let’s also look at where we eat and how much care should go into not attracting animals with our food while we’re out in the wild.

Be familiar with animals in your hiking area

A little intel goes a long way. Research the wildlife in your chosen backpacking area. Each location has an organization or agency that will help you with this. Here are a few:

• Parks and Wildlife
• The National Forest Service
• Conservation Societies
• The Game and Fish Department
• Fish and Wildlife
• The Department of Natural Resources
• Maybe the Game Commission

Contact whatever agency governs the area in which you are planning to backpack or hike. 

Social media, local news papers, trail organizations are other resources are also worth looking into. Understanding the type and activity of local food thieves will help you choose the most effective strategy for protecting your food and consequently protecting the animals. 

Food Storage Options

There are several popular options for storing your food while you’re backpacking. Let’s start with options that are NOT certified bear proof.

The hanging option

You might consider hanging a food sack. If you do, choose something reasonably durable. Some are made from Dyneema material and others are made from recycled plastic. They are made from various materials and different sizes. They weight around a few ounces and cost between $30-50. 

To hang your food, find a tall tree with a sturdy tree branch. You’ll want your bag do be at least 10 feet off the ground, 10 feet from the trunk of the tree, and a good distance from any animal trails. So, the branch will need to be at least 15 feet above you to allow a little space between the branch and the bottom of the bag. 

Sounds simple, right? Not always. The art of a good food hang takes practice, and there may not be compatible trees where you are hiking. For instance, in the western U.S. where we have mostly pine trees, it’s hard to find branches that provide a good hang. Pine branches are short (not usually sturdy at a distance of more than 10 feet from the trunk of the tree. And pine branches are typically crowded, making it difficult to toss your rope through them. 

I’ve hung my food in a tree maybe a few times over the years, I use other methods that I’ll get into in a bit. But I can attest to the same experience I’ve heard from others, get to camp early if you want a good food hang. It’s not uncommon to take a half-hour or more to find the right tree and to get your food hung properly. 

Some established camp sites will have a metal pole for handing your food. If you’re lucky enough to have one of these available to you, it’s very convenient. 

If you do find a suitable tree, there are several methods for hanging your food. I won’t go into those here, but please review these sites for detailed instructions. (Backpacker, Bearwise, and Mom Goes Camping) Practice and be familiar with at least two of them.    

Bear Canisters

Especially in bear country, the surest method of protecting your food is to invest in a bear canister. 

Check to see if it is certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC). These canisters are very durable and are tested on actual grizzly and other bears, proven to withstand a determined animal. These canisters offer peace of mind, allowing you to relax knowing your food stash is safe from hungry bears and other critters. 

They are a great choice if you are in an area with limited trees, above treeline, or where they are required by local governing authorities.

The down side is that bear canisters are bulky. They don’t fit nicely into most backpacks. They are difficult to pack, leaving either space around them or empty space inside them as you start emptying the canister. Although, you could stuff things inside the container after eating some of it’s contents. And they will add a couple pounds to your carry – my BV500, which holds about 3 days of food, weighs 2 lbs. There are different ways to overcome these negatives, but these containers are not convenient. However, they are the best way of giving you peace of mind about your food and restful, safe sleep. It’s also the best way to help train bears to stay away from backpackers – they won’t be able to get an easy meal from you – so, they’ll move on to find other easier opportunities. 

Ursack 

Ursacks offer an interesting middle ground. These puncture-resistant sacks are designed for and tested to deter bears and other critters. The URSack Major is certified by the IGBC. It’s made out of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWP) fabric. Other sacks from the same company are not certified – so be sure to select the Major, MajorXL, or Major2XL if you need a certified food container. 

The Major comes in several sizes – ranging in capacity from 5-14 days of food - so select the one that is best for your needs. These sacks do not require hanging; simply tie them above a branch around the heart of the tree, 5 or so feet high using knots recommended by the manufacturer. Tieing them to the base of the tree is not recommended.

They are lighter than bear canisters. This Major URsack is 9 oz, compared to my BV500 at 2lbs. And they are more pack-friendly than canisters – they are easy to pack around and they don’t produce any wasted space inside your pack. 

They are a deterrent for a bear, designed to frustrate them. If a bear should try to get at your food inside a URsack, your food will likely be crushed inside the sack and may not be completely recoverable. Your sack will have a bunch of bear slobber on it, but the bear doesn’t get a meal and walks away hungry.

Adotec Ultralight Food Locker

Another company has stepped out recently with a grizzly bear resistant certified bag. Adotec has several bear bags, but only one is certified by the IGBC. It’s tied to a tree like the URsack, except it’s made out of different, lighter Dyneema fabric material. It has a 14 liter capacity, which is about 6-7 days of food and comes in at around 6 oz. And it is more expensive. Compared to the similar-capacity URsack Major XL at $125, the Adotec model is $155.

Odor Resistant Bags

Critters have noses that can smell your food up to miles away. You can minimize temptation by using airtight containers for food and toiletries. A little scent control can go a long way in deterring unwanted visitors. These odor resistant bags may still let some odors out, but far less than without them. Put your food in them and store them inside your food sack.

Additional steps to consider

Leaving food scraps around your campsite is an open invitation for a wildlife buffet. Always practice Leave No Trace principles. Clean up crumbs thoroughly and dispose of food waste properly. No, burning your trash or food in your campfire is not an effective way of making a “clean” camp, nor will it completely remove food odors. Remember, a clean camp is a happy, critter-free camp! 

When I’m backpacking, I will often stop and cook my dinner a mile or two before I make camp. This will ensure I have far less food crumbs or smells around camp. This is not convenient because I have to unpack and repack at the dinner site – and then unpack again at my camp site. But, in places where there are reports of active wildlife, it may be worth the inconvenience. 

In closing

By understanding what wildlife may be in the area you are hiking, employing the right food storage strategies, and practicing good camp hygiene, you can best ensure your backpacking meals fuel your adventures, not the local wildlife. A little planning and awareness goes a long way. So, pack smart, keep a clean camp, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your food stash is safe.