Yellowstone and food storage with a hybrid

megs1082

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Hello!

We have a trip to Yellowstone coming up the in the beginning of August. We made last-minute plans so we have less than ideal reservations and had to split between multiple campgrounds: 1 night at Fishing Bridge (turtling), 2 at Grant, 2 at Headwaters (Grand Teton).

Regarding food storage, does anyone have recent experience in the park and know if it's ill-advised to store food in the refrigerator and cabinets of a hybrid? Would we have to keep all food in a bear box or in our vehicle? I saw some info online that the rangers said fridge and cabinets are fine, but the posts were from about 10 yrs ago, so I wasn't sure if things may have changed.
 
Hello!

We have a trip to Yellowstone coming up the in the beginning of August. We made last-minute plans so we have less than ideal reservations and had to split between multiple campgrounds: 1 night at Fishing Bridge (turtling), 2 at Grant, 2 at Headwaters (Grand Teton).

Regarding food storage, does anyone have recent experience in the park and know if it's ill-advised to store food in the refrigerator and cabinets of a hybrid? Would we have to keep all food in a bear box or in our vehicle? I saw some info online that the rangers said fridge and cabinets are fine, but the posts were from about 10 yrs ago, so I wasn't sure if things may have changed.

We camped at Madison and Grant Village, in our Roo 23SS hybrid.
Fridge food stayed in the fridge, all other food went in the bear box.
 
I'm assuming you're keeping the hybrid portion closed at Fishing Bridge since they only allow hard sided campers there (due to bears and the availability of water for them).

That said, we camped at the old Fishing Bridge and never saw a bear in the four nights we were there.

Food in the fridge is fine.. as is food in cabinets. We tend to be on the cautious side and took air tight containers for our food in cabinets.
Be careful, bears are also attracted to the fragrances in soaps and other personal care products. Those also should be put in containers.

Putting items in cars/trucks makes them a target for critters because since most of us snack in the vehicles, bears are experts in getting into vehicles.

Check the Yellowstone website for current visitor information. https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/index.htm

Welcome to the forum!
 
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I would keep everything in a bear box or locked in a vehicle and out of sight.
Yellowstone is a kind of a special case. The refir in your hybrid is probably okay, but what if it isn't? Consider using a cooler when camping in the Park and putting it in a bear box.

Bears have noses that can detect anything practically. If one gets a whiff of your refrigerator, there is not much stopping them from coming in. Cooking in a hybrid allows the canvas to absorb a lot of smells. I sleep better at night knowing that there is no food in there with us.
 
Thank you all for the information! It looks like there are a wide range of thoughts.

Yes, when we are at Fishing Bridge we won't open the tent ends (turtling). Good idea about anything in cabinets being in airtight containers. If there is no official word like "we were there this summer and the rangers said cabinets and fridge were fine", it sounds like we will have to use our own judgement and probably err on the side of caution.


Thanks again!
 
We camped in popups for many years. While there are no Grizzleys in Colorado, black bears can be just as curious and sometimes dangerous.

We used our fridge for things like milk and so on. Maybe some butter and cheese. But when boondocking, ALL the food went into coolers and was stored in our locked truck cab overnight.

If the bear boxes hold your coolers, great. If not, put coolers in the tow vehicle and other food in the bear box...assuming that's more convenient.

I assure you this is a PITA...which is one of many reasons we moved to a "hard-side" camper. But compared to my hard-side, your A-frame is fragile and little protection from a determined bear. It's definitely better than a tent against a black bear, but not from a grizzley. Better safe than sorry.

Enjoy your trip.
 
I have seen vehicles that have been ravaged by black bears when they get the smell of the kid's left over fries that have fallen on the floor, or a bag of candy. I've seen windows and windshields shattered and ripped out by them in order to gain access. Don't leave any of that stuff in a vehicle.
 
Reminds of a trip years ago where I warned the newbie in the tent next to me to put the food in the car overnight because of the raccoon family we saw the night before. He listened to me but in his inebriated state by the end of the evening he left the windows open. Got up the next morning to find the interior of the car shredded, full of coon poop, and every scrap of food gone.
 
About a month and half ago I was camping in Custer Gallatin National Forest just outside of Red Lodge mt.
At that time there was a grizzly roaming around M-K Campgrounds and though out that valley.
It came through my site and others sniffing around including the fire pit.
Fortunately the ranger warned me and others not to leave food outside.

Dont leave any food outside or put garbage in the fire pit.
 
... it sounds like we will have to use our own judgement and probably err on the side of caution.
It never hurts to err on the side of caution.

At most campsites in Yellowstone, they have 'foodlockers' to keep food and other scented items that might attract bears.

Fishing Bridge does not have 'foodlockers'. I think the fact that hard sided camping only and the fact that campsites are fairly close together is enough to deter bears and other critters.

Your most vulnerable part of the rig will be the canvas hybrid feature. However, bears have been known to rip through the metal siding.
It will be at its most vulnerable when you're not at the campsite.

You might want to pick up some bear spray and learn how to use it. Your chance of encountering a bear are very low, but it never hurts to be prepared.

Once you've done everything you can to eliminate the 'smells' that attract bears, relax and have a great time.
 
I don't know how to attach a link, but search for "bear tears apart camper". It was a standard TT and he didn't get in but he sure made a mess.
 

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Bears can shred cars. They can easily zip a hole in your canvas. Glad other people see it the same way.
 
When we camped at Yellowstone (and every other park with bears) we carried bear spray, an airhorn, a shotgun and a pistol. We did not put the beds down. We slept on the dining table and the sofa.
 
Last year same time I just showed up and fishing bridge had vacancies for last minute. When you get to fishing village see if they can extend you. Nice people there.
As to food storage I never saw a bear but for safety use the bear boxes. Fridge is fine.
 

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