Our first trip to BWCA with our young boys. Set up our camp and hung our food in a tree. Second day came back from exploring in our canoes and found the bear up the tree trying to get to the bag. Bear was persistant. Stayed in the tree for awhile and wasn’t phased by yelling and loud noises. We paddled off to get assistance. Two hours later It was at camp. A well placed rock finally made him leave. It got our trash bag, but it was mostly empty. Our bear bag was battered but food safe. Took a video, but can’t post on forum. Adding a pic.

Wow. That must have been a crazy experience! Great photo! How did the boys react to it all? Do they ever want go back or was it exciting? Lots of Bear activity in that area. Thanks for sharing!

The oldest was annoyed it was trying to get our food. The middle boy was crying because he was the first one on land before we noticed it and the youngest was excited because he always wanted to see a black bear.

They enjoyed all the other critters we saw and they caught fish. I'm an avid birdwatcher and loved all the birds I saw and heard. I think they would visit again but maybe in a cabin instead of a tent. Ha ha.

An outfitter told us not too long ago some forest service group this spring lost their food to a bear. They also said the park doesn't relocate bears like they used to. I have little experience with the BWCA but would putting up bear poles at some campsites make sense? The tree we used wasn't ideal but it was the only one on the site that would work.

Video:

I'm curious where one would go for assistance.

jhb8426: "I'm curious where one would go for assistance."

We paddled till we found some people in a boat that helped us get my husband to an outfitter while the kids and I waited at another campsite. The outfitter assisted us with getting our stuff off the campsite for a reasonable fee. Which was kind of them and saved us hours of paddling with the kids against the wind.

Where is Three Mile Island?

treehorn: "Where is Three Mile Island?"

Looks like an island on Seagull Lake.

On Seagull Lake.

Is there usually this much bear activities? Seems like I have seen several posts lately.

OMGitsKa: "Is there usually this much bear activities? Seems like I have seen several posts lately. "

Hard to say. I've been encouraging everyone I talk to to avoid giving into the temptation to attribute undeserved meaning to anecdotal evidence. It is tempting to speculate that bears are worse this year, but very few people really have all the information necessary to even begin to qualify them to make such a determination. I'm satisfied just feeling like more people are communicating more with each other and with the appropriate authorities about bear encounters and that that is a good thing. No need to try to read into it any more than that.

OMGitsKa: "Is there usually this much bear activities? Seems like I have seen several posts lately. "

It seems like there is more. Maybe the postponed use of the recreational area last Spring has something to do with it.
There is an interview with a USFS Ranger about the recent incidents on WTIP’s website that can be listened too. Just search for Bear.

MN has no shortage bears.

In the last 10 years they have reduced the number of BWCA hunting permits adopted stricter regulations on how you can hunt them in the BWCA.

It is always interesting to see a bear in the wild. Not always with the best results.

Bears that have become accustom to raiding camps should be swiftly dealt with so that they do not cause further problems.

The MNR and forest service could even have a program for dealing with nonsense
bears.

Selling special permits thus making money to help the area and by not spending dollars taking care it the problem themselves.

The bears would be dealt with swiftly some one would get some fine bear meat and a trophy to talk about. All the while taking care of a problem.

Possibly the same bear that was getting into mischief over on Alpine? Just a short walk and swim away?

acanoer: "MN has no shortage bears.


In the last 10 years they have reduced the number of BWCA hunting permits adopted stricter regulations on how you can hunt them in the BWCA.


It is always interesting to see a bear in the wild. Not always with the best results.


Bears that have become accustom to raiding camps should be swiftly dealt with so that they do not cause further problems.


The MNR and forest service could even have a program for dealing with nonsense
bears.


Selling special permits thus making money to help the area and by not spending dollars taking care it the problem themselves.


The bears would be dealt with swiftly some one would get some fine bear meat and a trophy to talk about. All the while taking care of a problem. "

riverrunner, if you forgot your password, email Adam.

Yes a very short distance for a bear to travel.

Jaywalker: "Possibly the same bear that was getting into mischief over on Alpine? Just a short walk and swim away?"

agree , following the campers food , and getting closer to more people . hopefully the bear decides to retreat to the interior soon , for it's own good.

I've only got one good bear story. The northern entrance to red Rock Bay on Saganagaw is flanked by two really steep 60° hills. I'm fishing, anchored out in the middle and here a disturbance from one of the cliffs which shortly resolved itself into a bear hauling ass down the hill hitting the water at warp seed and racing up to the top of the other side. After a couple minutes what appeared to be the same Bay bear and came racing back down the side he had just climbed hit the water and raced straight up the hill that he had come from originally. Closely pursued by a slightly a larger bear. I figured it was either an alpha male discussion or a mother with Cubs rebuffing his advances.