Bear Canister Questions

[Tomcat]

I'm new to the Daks and have read about Yellow Yellow and getting into bear canisters. I just have some questions on this. I read bits and pieces over time but wanted more on the story. Was Yellow Yellow the only bear to get into the canisters or were her offspring doing it as well? Was it other bears in the region as well? Did this happen many times or just a one time deal? I'm curious because Yellow Yellow was referenced on a different forum about bear canisters an I'd like to know the history with it.


Thanks for any details.

[Wldrns]

https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2...-obituary.html

https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/s...eek-bear-facts

http://www.adkforum.com/archive/index.php/t-17847.html

https://gizmodo.com/were-in-a-techno...ood-1682344883

https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/nyregion/25bear.html

https://rootsrated.com/stories/the-l...-infamous-bear

and of course:
https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7225.html

[Woodly]

And, what do they now consider the best bear proof canister?

[Wldrns]

If you read the NYSDEC web site, "they" don't recommend any one brand as the best, other than it has to be a hard side commercially made product designated for the purpose, so the ursack and other bag-like products do not qualify to satisfy the regulation.

[Woodly]

I knew the DEC doesn't and probably wouldn't recommend one but how about everyone else and other organizations?

[DSettahr]

Originally Posted by Woodly

I knew the DEC doesn't and probably wouldn't recommend one but how about everyone else and other organizations?

Avoid BearVault- their models of canister are the ones that the bears figured out how to open. According to BearVault, there was at least one other bear in addition to Yellow-Yellow that learned how to open the canisters. There was a warning with this information posted on their website for some time, but it appears to have disappeared with a recent site redesign.

The most common model you'll see in use in the High Peaks is the Garcia canister. As bear canisters sizes go, this one is about a medium-large. It's possible to fit food for 2 people for a weekend in one, but it does take some planning and careful packaging.

There's a bunch of other models available, though- there's a good overview of some of them here: https://www.greenbelly.co/pages/best-bear-canisters

[dundee]

Word has it that Yellow-Yellow taught her cubs to open the Bear Vaults, but I've never been witness. Bear Vaults are fine in other parts of the park that see fewer people than the High Peaks. A good hang in a tree will work just fine in these other areas, but some folks like to take a can along and the BV will be just fine.

[Woodly]

Originally Posted by DSettahr

Avoid BearVault- their models of canister are the ones that the bears figured out how to open. According to BearVault, there was at least one other bear in addition to Yellow-Yellow that learned how to open the canisters. There was a warning with this information posted on their website for some time, but it appears to have disappeared with a recent site redesign.

The most common model you'll see in use in the High Peaks is the Garcia canister. As bear canisters sizes go, this one is about a medium-large. It's possible to fit food for 2 people for a weekend in one, but it does take some planning and careful packaging.

There's a bunch of other models available, though- there's a good overview of some of them here: https://www.greenbelly.co/pages/best-bear-canisters

Good extra info people need to know. Thanks for posting that.

[tenderfoot]

I have seen clear canisters, like Bear Vault or maybe actual Bear Vaults on display at Adirondack Loj and one of the provincial parks. Yellow-yellow supposedly figured out how to open but the ones on display were chewed through. The Garcia or similar design has always worked best for me.

I'd like to put reflective tape on it to make it easier to find if one of the critters moves it but am hesitant to put anything on it that would provide a grip.

[Wldrns]

I saw a Garcia model (the heavy solid black one) at the Loj that had been chewed through along an edge by a red squirrel. The guy who rented it reported he observed the animal in action doing the damage over a period of time (couple of days?). IMO he should have been charged for the price of a new canister.

[DuctTape]

Originally Posted by dundee

Word has it that Yellow-Yellow taught her cubs to open the Bear Vaults, but I've never been witness. Bear Vaults are fine in other parts of the park that see fewer people than the High Peaks. A good hang in a tree will work just fine in these other areas, but some folks like to take a can along and the BV will be just fine.

When word of yellow-yellow's abilities were first reported, the statement from dec stated there was no evidence that she had taught her cubs. A few years later in articles the writers stated the opposite. As far as I know, no evidence she taught her cubs the trick was ever gathered.

[Grandpa Paddler]

Originally Posted by tenderfoot

I have seen clear canisters, like Bear Vault or maybe actual Bear Vaults on display at Adirondack Loj and one of the provincial parks. Yellow-yellow supposedly figured out how to open but the ones on display were chewed through. The Garcia or similar design has always worked best for me.

I'd like to put reflective tape on it to make it easier to find if one of the critters moves it but am hesitant to put anything on it that would provide a grip.

Blaze orange spray enamel?