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 Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Trip Planning Forum Bears and islands, Boulder Lake Reply
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| Previous Messages: | |
| Author | Message Text |
| Michwall2 |
08/18/2024 10:36AM I wouldn't say this is always the case, but the further you are from an entry point the less likely you are to encounter a habituated bear. There are some exceptions for very busy routes (e.g. Knife Lake or SAK), but I worry less about encountering a habituated bear on Mesaba or Trail Lakes than on say Burnt or Alton Lakes. |
| Fate |
08/17/2024 07:58PM Caught some good walleye in Boulder my last trip through there. |
| Onthefly6 |
08/15/2024 12:18PM Did this ep in June. Island sites on Cummings are nice. Better fishing further along the loop. Feel free to message me for more info. |
| timatkn |
08/09/2024 11:15AM Agree generally I don't think Islands reduce risk, probably you are at the mercy of the groups before you and how they took care of things or if your island has some great Blueberries that attracts the bears, but as others said not a worry and way down the list of concerns. I still love Island camping, wouldn't stop me from picking a site and sounds liek you take good precautions so even less issues possible. T |
| Gadfly |
08/09/2024 08:39AM 30 people killed by black bear in North America in the last 25 years. Don't fear the bear, respect it. Also don't be ignorant |
| mancosotter |
08/09/2024 08:10AM I appreciate the info that islands do not reduce risk. I'm bear experienced, aware and will be prudent. Tom, I totally agree, let's move on. I'm looking for fishing/camping "best alternatives" in the area where there is only one camp per lake. I'm currently planning on Western, Lunetta, and Boulder. What is my best alternative if there is someone else enjoying those camps when I arrive and need to look around? -Steve PS: It's a small area and I can read a map and GPS, I'll find something with the info I have already. |
| tumblehome |
08/09/2024 07:40AM If you male a list of all the possible perils you could encounter such as: Flipping your canoe. Getting lost. Poison ivy. Severe injury. Car accident on your way there or returning home. Your negative bear encounter will be the last item on your list. The perceived bear problem has been embellished on these forums. I have been on a hundred trips, most of them solo. I have seen bears a few times, I have had all of the above issues I mentioned. I have yet to have a bear try to get my food. It mostly does not exist. Tom |
| mancosotter |
08/08/2024 10:16PM I can maybe help with that. Black bears are adapted for forest life. A black bear's best defense is to run away and climb a tree. Grizzly bears are adapted for the plains (they have been pushed off the plains into more forest habitats). A grizzly bear's best defense is to be the meanest bad-ass in just about any situation. Black bears have retractable claws, like a cat. A grizzly bear has non-retractable claws, like a dog. Anthropomorphizing, grizzly bears are always grumpy. -Steve |
| bobbernumber3 |
08/08/2024 09:08PMgravelroad: "... Remember, they learned to climb trees to get away from their bigger, grumpier cousins. " I'll need some help understanding this...? |
| gravelroad |
08/08/2024 06:22PMmancosotter: "Thank you! I'm all dehy-food and everything will be in smelly sacks plus bear "proof" containers. Maybe I worry too much about bears, comes with camping around grizzly bears. " Black bears in the BWCA are a nuisance for the unprepared, not a threat to life and limb. Remember, they learned to climb trees to get away from their bigger, grumpier cousins. The one exception is the predatory boars, which are capable of ruining a trip permanently, but such attacks are exceedingly rare in the Lower 48. |
| cowdoc |
08/08/2024 03:14PM Cummings has good fishing for smallies but if you get bored, or maybe on your travel day, on the west end, do the short portage to Otter and fish where the rapids dump in. We caught a lot of fish there. I regret not going into Boulder to check that island site. We were ok with the site on Phantom. Only caught tiny perch. Not sure how good the fishing would be on Boulder. Battle had a decent site and I was told the fishing is ok there. Not a super busy area so probably skipped over by bears too. |
| mancosotter |
08/08/2024 10:58AM Thank you! I'm all dehy-food and everything will be in smelly sacks plus bear "proof" containers. Maybe I worry too much about bears, comes with camping around grizzly bears. |
| boonie |
08/08/2024 10:45AM I'd reiterate what Jaywalker said. The only bears I've seen in the BW were either swimming or on an island. The more remote the less likely you are to see bears that are habituated to visiting campsites. Unless you attract them, I wouldn't worry much. The most likely in my opinion would be Cummings, maybe Crab, where fishermen would be most likely and there would fish remains and fish frying. I have camped on lakes - even campsites - with reported bear problems but we had none. We are not big bear attractants, eating only cereal, bars, nuts, and dehydrated meals. Storing low odor packaged foods in OPsacks and multiple layers of scent-reducing materials in bear canisters and Ursacks. If a site was really trashy and had signs of bear problems I'd move on if possible. |
| mancosotter |
08/08/2024 10:16AM Thank you! I appreciate any sage advice / experience I can get. Maybe things have changed in Yellowstone, or it gets less trafficed, or (certainly true) one-person's opinion/experience is not conclusive! |
| Jaywalker |
08/08/2024 09:31AM In my opinion, I would not count on an island providing any extra protection against bear visits. I have even wondered if islands may not increase the likelihood of a visit simply because of the number of times people have stayed there and been careless. I don’t have any supporting data, but I have seen quite a few posts where people either assumed the island would be safe or reported bear troubles and were surprised. I once talked to two guys camped just down the shore from me who had seen a bear that morning swim all the way across Knife from Canada and walk into their campsite, and that was right after ice out when the water was cold. On the other hand, I don’t recall hearing of any problem bears on the lakes you mentioned - maybe others have. It seems the most camper-bear interactions occur in more heavily traffic destination lakes; Agnes, Polly, Knife, Ensign, Alpine come to mind. Bears can be anywhere for sure, but I suspect people see somewhat less interaction with them in camp in more remote areas. I love Boulder and the lakes to get in and out of there. Good luck on your trip. Remember not to put anything like syrup or oil that can drip if crushed in an Ursack. |
| mancosotter |
08/08/2024 08:42AM Hi Everyone, This will be my third BWCA trip and checking-in with the seasoned folks on this board has always been helpful. My trip details: I'm fit and prefer remote and more challenging trips. This trip will be solo. Put-in 8/20, take-out 8/28. EP4. VERY tentative camping lakes: Cummings x2, Western, Lunetta, Boulder x2, Crab. Food will be in BearVault and Ursack (belts and suspenders). Question 1: I've been around bears and know they can swim and be anywhere. I've done multiple Yellowstone Lake backside extended trips and there, island camping reduces risk (IMHO). Same in BWCA??? Are there any lakes on this loop that are especially bear-prone? Question 2: Any alternative ideas for camping/fishing lakes. I'm asking because there is generally only one camp on some of these lakes and I want to have a best-alternative. Anyone have first-hand info on Boulder Lake, it seems like it could be a great choice for my second layover. Note: One of you guys chatted with my NPS Ranger wife in Mesa Verde NP; she says hello! Thank you!!! -Steve |
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