Lights Can Deter Bears

With bear attacks in the media, we thought it would be appropriate to acknowledge several preventive measures to keep you and your family safe while enjoying a camping experience.

Experts agree that keeping cooking to a minimum is a must--like most animals, including humans, bears respond to odors--if they're hungry or curious and they smell food, they are going to investigate. Keep your food in a bag or sling and hang it over a tree branch, away from your campsite. Additionally, bears are curious about smells issued from cosmetics, toothpaste, candles.

Make sure you have pepper spray to use in an emergency. Though that would mean an attack is in progress, it is better to have a can at the ready--even if it only buys you a few minutes; those few minutes can mean the difference between making it to a safe location and, well, not.

Bring light. Plug a couple of Mr Beams battery operated Spotlights into the ground near (but away) from your campsite. The LED lights activate using a motion detection technology. If a bear wanders onto your turf and the light is activated by its motion, there is a good probability that the action of the light will effectively startle the bear away.

Finally, use your head and do your homework. Does your destination have a history of bear attacks? What is the bear population in the area? What is the season? It's madness to expose your family to any prospective dangers, let alone one that exposes them to a situation where there are no physical barriers to protect them.

Bottom line--enjoy the great outdoors responsibly. Minimize exposing food on your site. Leave theYankee Candles at home. Have pepper spray on hand. And for heaven's sake, preempt any "bear temptations" by installing some Spotlights on your site. Have fun!

More on Mr Beams lighting options and ideas at the Idea Center on www.mrbeams.com.