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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Winter Camping and Activities :: Do I need bear canister in winter?
 
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jwartman59
12/07/2013 08:28PM
 
bears are hibernating in minnesota. they aren't an issue. the biggest pests are canadian jays.
 
SevenofNine
12/07/2013 09:10PM
 
quote jwartman59: "bears are hibernating in minnesota. they aren't an issue. the biggest pests are canadian jays."


I tend to agree, Canadian Jays will take anything small that appears to be food. I had one take a hotel size bar of soap. Hope he enjoyed his lunch.
 
Captn Tony
12/08/2013 06:47PM
 
In Minnesota you might need it if crawl into their din and wake them up! When you wake up a hibernating bear they're really grumpy.
 
OBX2Kayak
12/06/2013 05:33PM
 
I remember a thread on this topic a while back. Here's Backpacker Magazine's response to the question: Bear canister in winter?
 
PortageKeeper
12/06/2013 06:04PM
 
It might depend on where you go, but I have never used one. As a matter of fact, once we just left our food sprawled out on the snow, including two polish in a fry pan. Wolves were around but no takers. This was in February.
 
Canoearoo
12/10/2013 09:29PM
 
Bears don't hibernate they torpor- which means on a warm day in Feb they could wake up.


But I never bring a canister when camping mid winter. But you do need a way to keep mice out of your food. I was on a trip with teens who didn't think it was important to keep their gorp off the ground. Needless to day a mouse got into their bag and hate half of it
 
Turnpike
12/13/2013 09:16AM
 
Gray Jays (Canada Jay or Whiskey Jack) are the issue. They are fearless.
 
Captn Tony
12/14/2013 06:11AM
 
Sorry!
When you wake a topornating they are grumpy and hungry!!