Struggle to open your bear container? This little tool is the way to go.
Simple, lightweight, cheap and works.

Bear Can Key from CTUG

https://chickentrampergear.com/products/bear-can-key

I just use my pocket knife that is going to be with me anyway.

The CTUG key makes opening the bear vault so much easier!!!! Sooooo much easier! Stupidly simple but worth the $10 or so.

For our bear vaults, I just bring an old cc or driver's license type card. I had a heck of a time opening it with my arthritis, especially in cool temps. Then I watched a video of a 10 yo kid demonstrating this technique. I can't find the video I watched years ago, but will attach one that demonstrates the technique, albeit in more time than is necessary! How to Open Bear Vault

Just ordered two from Garage Grown Gear. Should have ordered three. Giving the extra to tripping buddy. Also, ordered Flextail Tiny Pump 2x at same time. Tired of blowing up mattress pad.

I just grab a small stick off the ground and push the wedges in. One more thing to lose.

Another way to open these.

Oh great, as soon as the bears get ahold of one of these, it’s all over.


Another interesting observation is that humans need a tool to open their bear-proof containers.

Tom

billconner: "



Another way to open these."

As I recall, this occurred in the Algonquin area, and the NY/New England trail groups now recommend Garcia bear vaults over these.

I just use my thumb.....free, not attached to the vault, hard to lose!

I too just use my thumb, my thumb nail actually. I just now, 30 seconds ago, tried it just to make sure I was remembering it correctly, and it works fine.

I struggled at first. I don't know if I've gotten better or if the plastic has gotten softer or worn with use but I really don't find it difficult at all anymore.

billconner: "



Another way to open these."

The rose lake bear has learned this trick...chuck em over a cliff and walk around for a snack

So those barrels were smashed open by hitting against rocks? I was wondering how the holes were made.

tumblehome: "Oh great, as soon as the bears get ahold of one of these, it’s all over.



Another interesting observation is that humans need a tool to open their bear-proof containers.


Tom"

I just can't bear it !!

Samsquatch: "So those barrels were smashed open by hitting against rocks? I was wondering how the holes were made. "

Curiously, is appears they all impacted in the exact same spot on each canister.

pd

Samsquatch: "So those barrels were smashed open by hitting against rocks? I was wondering how the holes were made. "

Hold on, does anyone know any facts about the four containers in this photo? Posting that the Rose Lake bear has learned to roll barrels next to this photo does not imply that the 4 barrels shown here were rolled off of cliffs. I know from studies in Yosemite that can happen, but I am wondering if anyone can say conclusively what happened here? Did they roll off a cliff, or did a bear just bite into them?? Or something else?

Also, did anyone stop to wonder about the similarity in the holes? What strikes me is they don’t seem likely big enough to pull a bag of Mountain House Anything out of, and they barely seem large enough for a bear to put its snoz in or its paw in.

I’m not doubting that this photo is legit, but I’m seriously wondering if anyone knows for certain what happened. Having worked as a professional researcher I know that context ALWAYS matters, but is often ignored out of convenience for speculation.

Jaywalker: "

Samsquatch: "So those barrels were smashed open by hitting against rocks? I was wondering how the holes were made. "

Hold on, does anyone know any facts about the four containers in this photo? Posting that the Rose Lake bear has learned to roll barrels next to this photo does not imply that the 4 barrels shown here were rolled off of cliffs. I know from studies in Yosemite that can happen, but I am wondering if anyone can say conclusively what happened here? Did they roll off a cliff, or did a bear just bite into them?? Or something else?


Also, did anyone stop to wonder about the similarity in the holes? What strikes me is they don’t seem likely big enough to pull a bag of Mountain House Anything out of, and they barely seem large enough for a bear to put its snoz in or its paw in.


I’m not doubting that this photo is legit, but I’m seriously wondering if anyone knows for certain what happened. Having worked as a professional researcher I know that context ALWAYS matters, but is often ignored out of convenience for speculation. "

Great point(s)! I saw this photo posted last year on a forum, New England & New York Back Country Hiking, but no context and no photo credits.

Homers, thanks for the tip on the CTUG key. Just got a couple of them and they really do work. My canister is new and this is the easiest way to open them that I have tried.

Jaywalker: "

Samsquatch: "So those barrels were smashed open by hitting against rocks? I was wondering how the holes were made. "

Hold on, does anyone know any facts about the four containers in this photo? Posting that the Rose Lake bear has learned to roll barrels next to this photo does not imply that the 4 barrels shown here were rolled off of cliffs. I know from studies in Yosemite that can happen, but I am wondering if anyone can say conclusively what happened here? Did they roll off a cliff, or did a bear just bite into them?? Or something else?


Also, did anyone stop to wonder about the similarity in the holes? What strikes me is they don’t seem likely big enough to pull a bag of Mountain House Anything out of, and they barely seem large enough for a bear to put its snoz in or its paw in.


I’m not doubting that this photo is legit, but I’m seriously wondering if anyone knows for certain what happened. Having worked as a professional researcher I know that context ALWAYS matters, but is often ignored out of convenience for speculation. "

Most likley those pics are from snow creek in Yosemite. I believe well over 30 bear canisters have been breached in that location. The bear rolls them off of cliffs, throws them into rocks or into snow creek and they crash into rocks and break open. Those definitely aren’t the BWCAW.

T

Adirondack high peaks I believe. These are not acceptable in high peaks area not because of them breaking but because at least one bear (named "yellow-yellow") became proficient at opening them.

Came across this piece of ranger wisdom:

When asked why bear-proof trash cans were so difficult to use, a ranger once said "there is considerable overlap between the smartest bear and the dumbest human."

Jaywalker: "

Samsquatch: "So those barrels were smashed open by hitting against rocks? I was wondering how the holes were made. "

Hold on, does anyone know any facts about the four containers in this photo? Posting that the Rose Lake bear has learned to roll barrels next to this photo does not imply that the 4 barrels shown here were rolled off of cliffs. I know from studies in Yosemite that can happen, but I am wondering if anyone can say conclusively what happened here? Did they roll off a cliff, or did a bear just bite into them?? Or something else?


Also, did anyone stop to wonder about the similarity in the holes? What strikes me is they don’t seem likely big enough to pull a bag of Mountain House Anything out of, and they barely seem large enough for a bear to put its snoz in or its paw in.


I’m not doubting that this photo is legit, but I’m seriously wondering if anyone knows for certain what happened. Having worked as a professional researcher I know that context ALWAYS matters, but is often ignored out of convenience for speculation. "

I was told this at the gunflint ranger station this spring. I would venture that the pounds pre square inch thing on that corner makes it the vulnerable point.

Ok, so just to level-set a bit here, I asked if anyone knew for sure anything about this photo, and I’ve heard (1) it was back east, (2) it was out west, and (3) it was right here in the middle.

It seems no one is really sure what happened, or where. Again, I don’t doubt bears got into these BVs, but it seems there is no actual information about the circumstances. So let’s not extend speculation about it with no facts.

I posted it originally. It came from an Adirondack bulletin board. Was part of a discussion about these not being acceptable in high peaks. They were simply a collection. I'll look for the original article but no promises.

Found this on Reddit using Google lens:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Adirondacks/comments/wkx0uc/i_went_treasure_hunting_for_failed_bear_canisters/

I know at least one - maybe more - of the posters.

A link in that thread goes here, with lots of failed bear bags as well as bear vaults: https://imgur.com/a/ursack-bear-canister-failures-ZSwyHg4

If you put the bear vault in a heavy duty dry sack it would probably reduce the impact. But it would also make it easy for a bear to carry.