Food protection in the desert

[Mark D]

What do you folks do about protecting your food when backpacking in the desert? Or is it not a worry? I have a bear cannister, but it weighs 2 1/2 lbs, empty. I would rather carry 2 1/2 lbs of water.

[01ACRViper]

i just keep mine in the tent with me. the most likely forager of my food would be a rodent/javelina/something small that could be scared off easily before it got anywhere near inside my tent 

[Ay Chihuahua!]

i just keep mine in the tent with me. the most likely forager of my food would be a rodent/javelina/something small that could be scared off easily before it got anywhere near inside my tent 

You obviously have not had a javalina rip into your tent.  I have.  No bodily injury, but the tent didn't fare so well.

[RichardM]

i just keep mine in the tent with me. the most likely forager of my food would be a rodent/javelina/something small that could be scared off easily before it got anywhere near inside my tent 

Just watch out for Okiehiker's mouse!

[01ACRViper]

i just keep mine in the tent with me. the most likely forager of my food would be a rodent/javelina/something small that could be scared off easily before it got anywhere near inside my tent 

You obviously have not had a javalina rip into your tent.  I have.  No bodily injury, but the tent didn't fare so well.

i don't leave it unattended, and they're very easy to spook and scare off if you're in the tent

[jeffblaylock]

I keep it inside my backpack, within sealed plastic bags themselves inside a double plastic bag. I keep my backpack near the tent but not inside, as I'd far rather lose my food than my shelter (and my food).

[okiehiker]

Anywhere you backpack there is a real chance of some creature finding your food appealing.  If that were not the case you probably wouldn't want to eat it either. 

The bear cannisters are effective but a bit heavy and bulky.  If you are in a site with a bear box, USE IT.  If you are not you have little to worry about other than the various critters foraging around the desert.  Most of them, like the fly in your soup, don't eat enough while you are out of camp to cause a problem.  If you are not too disgusted by the thought of eating after the little buggers it should not be a problem.

BIBE's major exception is the javelina.  A pack of javelina's could ransack your food supply and eat ALL of it in no time at all.  I have spent roughly 500 nights zome camped in BIBE over the past 31 years and never had that happen.  I have had my site attacked in some of the car-camping areas and they are powerful, relentless animals.  Literally ANYTHING with the smell of food will attract them and suffer from their attention. 

If you are leaving a zone campsite for a dayhike I personally do not recommend leaving food in your tent as the rodents will shew through anything in the way to get to it.  Don't leave gorp in the pocket of your pack.  Food packed well in plastic bags will draw less attention.  But perhaps the most important consideration is to make sure you do not leave your food stash close to any ant dens.  They are really tough to sort out from the rice or whatever bag of stuff they find their way into. 

If you are at a site where you have access to your vehicle, just make sure that things are in a cooler, in your trunk or some other truly secure place.

[RichardM]

But perhaps the most important consideration is to make sure you do not leave your food stash close to any ant dens.  They are really tough to sort out from the rice or whatever bag of stuff they find their way into.

On the plus side, extra protein!!!

[Hayduke]

Animals are attracted to smells. Sealing the smells in (with, say, a good garbage bag) and placing the food in a relatively high place away from areas with smells (cooking area & sleeping area) has always worked for me. The high place can simply be in a yucca, just get it off the ground.

In bear country the very last place you want food is in your tent.

[Sanjuro82]

Lots of good suggestions so far.  And here's a little trick that I've found that works pretty well.  When I'm in javelina country I carry a 4 oz mixture of cinnamon and chili powder in a small shaker.  At night I sprinkle it lightly around my tent and backpack.  It keeps them away pretty good.  If they sniff it up, it causes them a little discomfort (nothing major) and then I can get up and shoo them away.  I've been using this method for years without any problems.

[westtex]

Lots of good suggestions so far.  And here's a little trick that I've found that works pretty well.  When I'm in javelina country I carry a 4 oz mixture of cinnamon and chili powder in a small shaker.  At night I sprinkle it lightly around my tent and backpack.  It keeps them away pretty good.  If they sniff it up, it causes them a little discomfort (nothing major) and then I can get up and shoo them away.  I've been using this method for years without any problems.

Did you learn that method from Cool Hand Luke?  It worked for him. 

Javelinas can be quiet fearless and aggressive if they pick up the scent of food.  On my last backpacking trip over thanksgiving the ranger told me that bear proof containers will eventually be made mandatory on the Dodson/ in the Sierra Quemada, which seems a bit excessive to me.  Oh, well I don't make the rules. 

[chisos_muse]

Lots of good suggestions so far.  And here's a little trick that I've found that works pretty well.  When I'm in javelina country I carry a 4 oz mixture of cinnamon and chili powder in a small shaker.  At night I sprinkle it lightly around my tent and backpack.  It keeps them away pretty good.  If they sniff it up, it causes them a little discomfort (nothing major) and then I can get up and shoo them away.  I've been using this method for years without any problems.

Sounds yummy! Where's the chocolate?

[Mark D]

On my last backpacking trip over thanksgiving the ranger told me that bear proof containers will eventually be made mandatory on the Dodson/ in the Sierra Quemada, which seems a bit excessive to me.

I read recently on another website that a black bear in the Adirondacks has learned to open the bear cannister I own, the Bear Vault 350.

[homerboy2u2]

On my last backpacking trip over thanksgiving the ranger told me that bear proof containers will eventually be made mandatory on the Dodson/ in the Sierra Quemada, which seems a bit excessive to me.

I read recently on another website that a black bear in the Adirondacks has learned to open the bear cannister I own, the Bear Vault 350.

 
   Well my fellow MarkD.....bring the bear over here, because i still have not figure out, how to open mine,lend him your laptop.

[trtlrock]

   Well my fellow MarkD.....bring the bear over here, because i still have not figure out, how to open mine,lend him your laptop.