Wild Animals

[TDHanger]

Has anyone had any issues with bears when sleeping in a hammock? Or any other kind human eating animals? I'm just concerned about it because my daughter wants to go with me but she asked about bears.

[GSM]

I'm interested in what people say about this as well. Got a cub scout son who wants to know too.

[angrysparrow]

Bears aren't more interested in you because you're in a hammock. Proper precautions for wildlife are the same as for any other type of camping.

They follow food smells. If you're in a bear-habitat area, take proper precautions like hanging all items that smell (including food, toothpaste, soap, etc) or use a bear cannister. Don't cook in camp, etc.

[creativeKayt]

Never. Although, I did scare a raccoon posse once. Heh heh.

If she's really worried, you could set up a perimeter with those bear bell doohickeys. Add some twilight camp lights for a bit of fun and she'll be all set.

[TDHanger]

Thanks for the advice she has been tent camping with me but said a bear cant put his head in tent but can come under a tarp. I Just didn't know how to reply to her to make her feel safe.

[Rolloff]

About the only difference I see, is because we can set up in so many other places ground dwellers cannot, we hike longer. The real ground burners or trail runners will sometimes go until they can't go any further for one reason or another. Only needing two trees and minimal amount of clearing, it is very easy to set up across the trail or over animal trails, without realizing it in the dark. This still doesn't make the hammock anymore or less attractive to wildlife, dangerous or not, just available.

I think Fronkey may have done that in one of his SHT videos, and I'm sure others have as well.

[creativeKayt]

(tongue in cheek) The nice thing about a hammock is that she can hop out and run away quickly if a bear pays her a visit. If she's in a tent and a bear comes knockin', she'll be stuck fumbling with a zipper or two, depending on the tent. Plus, the hammock gives her added visibility to see a bear coming.

In all seriousness, as angrysparrow said, take the proper precautions. Don't hang across a wildlife path. Hang or store food in a bear-proof container away from camp. You'll be golden.

Have FUN!!

[TDHanger]

Thanks guys i just didn't want her to not come along.

[Whiskeyjack]

Bringing along a four legged friend also does wonders for detracting bears. Bears and dogs just don't like each other, and they're smart enough to equate dogs to hunters. There were a few very long threads this past winter on wildlife encounters. Most involved people getting startled by animal sounds when they couldn't see the animal. Some very common and harmless critters make very eery/scary sounds.

[jacob8806]

This has been one of my mental barriers to pass in the transition to hammock camping. Hike far enough and you won't be as inclined to worry about such issues.