If you’re camping in a tent and bear wanders into your campsite, that’s scary! But having a bear wander into your campsite in an RV? That’s fun and exciting and the fodder of campfire stories for years to come.
Our course, no matter how you are camping, when it comes time to take Fido or Fifi for their nighttime walk and you know there’s a bear hanging around, then things could be a bit unnerving.
Have you ever had a bear wander into your campsite? If so, has it happened more than once? If not at your campsite, has one wandered into the campground or RV park where you were staying? What was your reaction? We’re you frightened or just entertained by the animal’s visit?
Oh! If the bear visited your campsite it was surely better than it breaking in your kitchen at home! Read this story to see what we’re talking about.
Please leave a comment and tell us your bear experiences.
If you enjoyed this RVtravel.com reader poll, keep in mind that we have polled our readers at least 2,000 times through the years. It’s fascinating to see how they have responded, sometimes very surprisingly. You’ll find an archive of the polls here. So what are you waiting for? Check ’em out.
Back in 75 at Yellowstone, we found bear tracks in the snow less than 3′ from our tent. Yesterday we heard the ranger say there was a black bear in the Platte River Campground. Didn’t see it or the tracks. Not interested in seeing bears anymore at my age.
Once when I was a kid. My Dad threw a log at it and it went away.
Probably not the best idea, but ideas were different back in the 1960’s.
Back in the sixties, camped at Cosby State Park in the Smokey Mountains. My uncle was preparing breakfast outside at the picnic table. French toast and bacon. We ended up eating cereal that morning after a bear decided he also liked French toast and bacon.
My daughter and I were coming back from a hike. We saw what at first appeared to be four human legs on the other side of the rv. As we got closer we saw 4 furry legs of a bear and waited until the bear wandered off. 😳
In Yellowstone country, I made the mistake of leaving my grill outside over night and a hungry Grizzly found it. My grill survived, but the stand didn’t. He gave my wife and I a pretty good scare with all the ruckus outside our bedroom window when he was tossing the grill, looking for food. That was a lesson learned the hard way.
Just once in Tuolumne Meadows Campground in Yosemite NP. We were in a tent and the bear tried to break into the food locker provided by the campground.
A group of us were motorcycle camping on Skyline drive. We woke up one morning to two small black bears wandering through the campsite. We never left the tents until they were well out of the way, not knowing if Mommy was nearby.
When I was younger my family always camped in the UP of Michigan. My dad liked the state forest campgrounds that only had outhouses and a pump for water. It was not uncommon for wildlife to wander through camp, especially at night. One day when my parents were out fishing I heard a noise and when I checked it out I found a cub up a tree next to the neighbors tent. Everyone was standing out there watching him. All I could think of is “where is his mother “?
Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Minnesota in the late 80’s. Never heard it or saw it. Just large black bear tracks a couple feet from the tent and around the campsite in the morning.
Boundry Waters, mid 90’s. No bears, but a herd(?) of moose right through the middle of our camp site. Noisy and smelly animals..😵💫
Think I would be Saying “Holy —-” The 4 Famous words in the English Language!!
As a child, my family & I tent camped on Lake Superior. During the night we heard rustling outside our tent and, thanks to a street light in the distance, we saw the shadow of (what looked like) a very large bear walking around our tent. It may have been a small bear, but THE SHADOW WAS HUGE!!! My dad had hung our coolers in midair, so no damage, no missing food. Most importantly…we never met the bear face to face!
I said NO to camping, but on one occasion I had mama bear and cubs and another time papa bear visit the front porch of my brick and mortar home. I just watched from inside and enjoyed watching the cubs clumsy exit up the stairs. Papa bear tried to carry the trash can away but gave up.
Although they don’t stay long, we have bears come through on a regular basis at the fam camp on Elmendorf AFB. You just know to look around the campsite before you enter or leave.
Bears and campgrounds go together like peanut butter and jelly. We had a sow with two cubs frequented the dumpster at our seasonal campground a couple of years ago. Motion lights were installed, which were effective in discouraging their visits.
The type of camping I’ve done over the years (backpacking, canoe trips, boondocking), I’ve no doubt had a few wander through. Loud snoring, and body odor from a couple of days in the bush, have been effective bear repellents so far.
Tip: Hanging worn clothing around the perimeter of your campsite will repel wild animals. With one exception; ovulating females.
Socks and underwear are the most effective (especially in repelling the neighbors).
We were camped at Skilak Lake in Kenai NWR near Soldotna, AK. When we arrived, a ranger stopped at our campsite and told us that a young male grizzly had just raided the site behind ours. Apparently the occupants of that site had left a 6-pack of pop on the picnic table that was covered by a screen tent. The bear had destroyed the tent to get to the pop cans. Later that evening, the grizzly followed a couple, who had caught several salmon, from the lake to their campsite. So, we decided NOT to take our normal after-dinner walk around the campground!
Just once in Jasper National Park at the neighbors site. They had gone sightseeing for the day and had left a bottle of something on their table. The ranger was furious and said they will be evicted as soon as they return as it was well posted to leave NOTHING (foodwise) outside while away from your site.
Not camping, but they used to come through our yard in New Jersey!
No bears, but have had skunks, raccoons, and a copperhead visit.
Colter Bay Campground in Grand Teton Park during the spring season. It was after dark, I felt the RV rock a little bit, then heard a screech like fingernails on a chalk board. Didn’t go outside to check anything but in the morning when I opened the curtains I saw a bear paw print on the dirty window with claw marks on the window. The print was large so I think it may have been a grizzly bear.
Thank you, RV Travel! 🙂 No, no bears. Did stay at Congdon Park’s campground in Kluane National Park and Reserve on the Haines Junction (Yukon, CA) a few years ago. They had a tenting section surrounded by electric fencing. I guess they got bears often enough to warrant the extra precautions for those without a hard-sided RV. We saw none but only overnighted. Thanks again and safe travels! 🙂
Yes, a NFS campground in Montana. I was headed to the bathrooms and the Bear was headed to the dumpster.Knowing how fast they are, I beat feet, he beat paws in the other direction.
My son and his family were at Yellowstone one year, when in the middle of the night the canned ham rv began to rock.the next morning he went outside to discover a smaller bear had clawed the side of the trailer next to the glass door.
Today on the Seattle TV stations they showed a clip of a bear enjoying the homeowners hammock..
I’ve never mastered one as well as Mr.=Mrs= Ms. Bear.
We have never had a bear, just a buffalo at Caprock canyon state park in Quitaque Texas.
Yes. Twice. Recently we had a big momma black bear walk by our MH while my wife and I were having our morning coffee. We were outside relaxing in our chairs when our dog started to go nuts and was really barking. We looked to see what set him off when Momma came around the front of the MH leading her two cubs on a leisurely stroll. We slowly got up to get our dog and get back into our RV. The bears looked at us but just kept on walking. Thank goodness. This was at a state park in Colorado and bears were just starting to become active.
No, but they wander through my yard often. The bears and cougars and whatever else use my trails. I do not leave garbage cans outside. Just give them their space. If I camp outside, I probably wouldn’t know they passed by unless dog notices, but he is used to smelling them.