[at-l] Re: Ursack

[jmayer@rochester.rr.com (Jim Mayer)]

I bought one for the same reason as Cosmo.  I'd add that the ursack is a
LOT more convenient than bear bagging, and I'm pretty sure is also a lot
more effective.

-- Jim


On Fri, 2002-03-22 at 16:14, cosmo catalano, jr. wrote:
> I have the smaller Ursak.  We don't have much of a bear problem in 
> Mass--though there have been some sightings--I got mine because the 
> #$%^&! mice and squirrels  have gnawed through two other bags, even 
> those hung in an appropriate manner.  The Ursack does seem resistant 
> to their depredations, though I did discover a flying squirrel on it 
> last summer at Tom Leonard Shelter.  It was tearing pretty 
> diligently at the seam and making lots of noise doing it.  I chased 
> it away with a stick and found no damage in the AM.  It was the first 
> (and only) time I've ever seen a flying squirrel in the wild.
> 
> The thing w/ bear bagging is, if it's not done right it's pretty 
> useless.  Got to be high enough and on a strong enough branch or line 
> spanning two trees.  It's pretty hard to find suitable trees at most 
> campsites I've been to.  The one's w/ persistent bear problems have 
> cables rigged to hang your food bag.
> 
> You got to be able to answer the following scenario, though:  Your in 
> a shelter and a bear comes looking for the food hung there.  Will you 
> defend it successfully?  Or will the bear learn that shelters are an 
> easy way to get food?
> 
> Bear's have excellent memories, if the get a food jackpot at a 
> location, they will be back to check it out again.  At October Mtn 
> Shelter we had a bear paying frequent visits one season.  Late that 
> fall--during bear season--a couple of hunters camped there and the 
> problem hasn't repeated itself, yet.
> 
> Cosmo