The possibility of seeing wildlife in its natural habitat is one of the reasons people visit the wilderness. Seeing a black bear is a rare and exciting experience remembered for years to come. There is no guarantee that a bear will not visit your campsite, no matter how careful you are. Black Bears will rarely harm humans. The following tips may help you minimize the possibility of negative encounters with bears.
Bears have an excellent sense of smell and are attracted by food odors.
Outside of the wilderness, leave your food in your vehicle, preferably in the trunk when you are sleeping or away from your campsite. When possible, burn all food scraps, left-over grease and garbage. Nonburnable garbage should be hung up with the rest of your food and packed out when you leave. Don't dispose of food in the wilderness latrines. Bears will still find it and may destroy the latrine in the process.