When leaving a cabin, how do you keep bears out? (Hope: campsites, fence)

[tigerfan3]

When leaving a cabin for 3-5 days, what are the best ways to keep a bear out? I am very careful with odors, but I still worry that a bear will try to get in. My brother said to build beds of nails and leave them around all points of entry.

[AKStafford]

I remember when I was on Afognak the state had some public use cabins. They would leave a 4x8 sheet of plywood with hundreds of nails in it on the porch. It looked pretty effective to me.

[MaryleeII]

How to keep out the bears? Don't give them a key, of course

[Dakster]

I can hardly bear this thread...

[Marty Van Diest]

Originally Posted by AKStafford

I remember when I was on Afognak the state had some public use cabins. They would leave a 4x8 sheet of plywood with hundreds of nails in it on the porch. It looked pretty effective to me.

This is the preferred method. Most people make pieces that fit all their doors and windows and screw them up when they leave.

But if a bear wants in he will still figure out a way.

Here is what not to do. Do not put a big trap on the porch attached to a support post. I have seen the result of that...a completely wrecked cabin.

[Sabinerose]

The cabin we have in MT has heavy wooden shutters on the windows that lock shut. We make sure they are closed and secured before leaving. I have never had to put anything on the porch (the door is heavy, solid wood), but I'll bet the bed-of-nails idea is effective.

I will agree with the poster who said that if a bear wants in, there's no stopping it.

We do not to leave anything tasty smelling inside to entice them.

I have seen prints all around when we go up to camp after being away for awhile. I'm not sure a 3 day leave would be enough time for the bears to try and break in. Your scent would still be pretty strong around everything. If your local bears are used to foraging at cabins and campsites...nothing you do will make a huge difference (unfortunately).

[usafracer]

Hang a sign that clearly states no bears allowed.


Hey it works for gun control why wouldn't it work for bears.

[Metlakatla]

I wish it would work for trolls.

[tigerfan3]

I've just purchased motion detection lights with an alarm that are charged by solar power. Hopefully, the alarm will help deter these critters. But the darn thing only works at night--not very helpful May-August. I've found some cheap solar powered electrical fences that might work. I'm making my bear "bed of nails" this weekend.

[True Hivernant]

Put up an electric wire type fence around the cabin (same type use to contain horses) with a battery powered electric fence charger. Works GREAT!