Camps

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BEARS AND CAMPERS
New York State harbors the
second largest black bear population
in the Eastern United States in three
ranges. By far the largest is the
Adirondack bear range (9300 square
miles) inhabited by approximately
3,600 bears. Basically an opportunist,
the black bear takes advantage of
almost any food source that is readily
available. While the black bear has
an innate aversion to humans, the
attraction of man’s food and garbage has overridden the human avoidance tendency in
certain individual bears. This has resulted is situations of bear-human conflict. Although
some people have experienced property damage and physical injury in comparatively rare
instances, the bear has been the real loser. Many bears have been killed in retribution;
regardless if they were the foraging offenders or not, while others have been physically
abused. Black bears no longer fearful of people are a product of man’s carelessness and
indifferent attitude.
Camping in bear range is an example of a potential bear-human conflict. People
who camp in bear range bring food and generate garbage. Camper’s food and garbage
attract black bears. By eliminating food and garbage, bears will not forage for food and
scraps within the campsite.
The following recommendations for camp management and camper conduct will
reduce potential bear problems:
1) Remove the garbage from patrol area to garbage collection points immediately
following every meal and by 7:00 PM after the supper meal.
2) Use plastic bags, which are provided for temporary garbage storage.
3) Strictly forbid storage of any food, e.g., candy bars, fruit, etc., in the camper’s tents.
Strictly forbid overnight storage of any food in patrol boxes.
4) Strictly forbid burning of any food scraps, garbage or cooking grease.
5) Strictly forbid burying of food scraps and/or garbage, including pouring cooking
grease on the ground.
6) Strictly forbid feeding, baiting, approaching or harassment of bears by campers or
adults.
7) Return all leftover food, e.g., peanut butter, jams, etc., in bear buckets to food
pickup points before 7:00 PM. Store foods between breakfast and lunch, and lunch
to dinner, in bear buckets.
Also, at Sabattis thoroughly wash all tables and patrol boxes at least once daily
following each meal. Use sanitized rinse water if possible.