Wildlife is wonderful to watch and observe while camping.  Bears are some of the most beautiful creatures God has created.  Their power and strength is awe inspiring while their faces and playful nature are adorable.  But unless your name is Christopher Robin and you live in the 100 Acre Woods, chances are an up-close and personal encounter with a bear while camping is not what you want to have happen.  Bears are, in my opinion, wonderful animals, but no matter how cute and wonderful they may be bears can be very dangerous.  Here are some tips and facts about bears that should be kept in mind during your next camping excursion:

Never, ever, never, ever, NEVER feed a bear!!  If you feed a bear, the bear will become comfortable with obtaining food from humans.  The more comfortable a bear becomes with being fed, the more aggressive the bear will become in the future in obtaining food from humans.  This is not only a danger to you and other campers, it is a danger to the bear.  When a bear becomes aggressive and dangerous to humans, it is usually killed by authorities.

DO NOT throw unused food onto a fire or into a fire pit!  Bears have a keen sense of smell and the smell of food attracts them.  Never throw uneaten or unused food into a campfire and/or fire pit.  You may think that the fire will burn up any remnants of food but the scent of the food will still attract bears.  Always keep food in your vehicle with the vehicle doors closed and windows up.  Throw any uneaten or unused food in a bear-proof trash receptacle.  Most campgrounds have these bear-proof trash bins.  Be sure to replace any pins or latches on the trash bin after you have thrown anything away.

Never leave pets outside unattended!  This is true in all camping situations, but especially with camping in bear country (which includes almost all of North America).  Always have your pet on a leash and keep them in your view.  Never leave pet food outside as the scent will attract bears.

DO NOT use bear spray!  Many studies have shown that bear spray actually attracts bears instead of deterring them.

If you see bear tracks, bear scat or garbage strewn about, tell your campground host immediately!  Tomorrow, we will talk about what to do if you encounter a bear while camping.  Here’s hoping your next camping trip is completely “un-bear-able”!