We've been enjoying the BWCA with our golden retrievers every year for almost two decades. Every year we try to find an improvement. One small convenience might be to consider leaving about eight cups of dog food behind at the car for the week of camping so we aren't carrying the last few meals in and back out again (multiple dogs and an overnight stop on the way home).

Are we just asking for trouble by leaving it in an airtight container in the car, like a metal thermos, or double bagged in ziplocs, or something else? Or would canned dog food be safer? We're thinking of all kinds of critters who might try to get at it over the week while we're gone, and we don't generally leave a messy car.

Roll the windows up.

I have left small amounts of food in my car at entry points and never had an issue with animals breaking in. But for peace of mind, you could keep the dog food in "smell proof" bags, and even double bag it. (I use the Smelly Proof brand of ziplock bags for the dog food I bring into the BWCA to help reduce the scent radius.) Then, of course, keep your car closed up tight and locked.

BEARnMOOSE: "Roll the windows up."

Hopefully this is a joke. If not, it's bad advice. Bears can easily smell foods left in unsealed containers inside a closed vehicle. When I came out of the woods on my last trip there was a sheriff's deputy checking over the vehicle parked next to mine, which had a side window smashed. He said it was almost certainly a bear looking for unsecured food, because there was valuable fishing and camping gear in plain sight that would've been gone if it was a thief. He also said he sees multiple vehicles broken into by bears every year because of people leaving food or food wrappers/containers in them.

If I was going to leave food in my vehicle, I would definitely double bag it in ziploc or smelly proof bags. Another good option is vacuum sealing it, if you have the ability to do that.

No vacuum sealer, but we COULD try smell-proof bags. I think, though, we'll more likely to continue to pack in even the food we know is for later, despite the extra weight. Guidelines for Yosemite indicate that not even canned food is safe. I assume that is true for our bears, too? I should think that would be sufficient to disinterest rodents (any more than usual).

It is not just bears you need to worry about, don't forget mice. I would keep your dog food in something that cannot be gotten into by those critters. I had mice get into some dog food I had in the car. They took up residence in my vehicle for a few months and got to see the country. I finally poisoned them, but one died in my blower/heater fan, I had to have a mechanic remove it.

That was my thinking around something like a metal thermos or the (unopened, obviously) cans of wet dog food, but if Yosemite FS prohibits even canned foods because of bears, then I begin to doubt even that approach, due to my concern that even THOSE carry enough smell to "invite" ANY of the critters!

I would do smellyproof or opsack bags inside one of these or something similar (see below). I don't think you would have any problems. Maybe cover it with a blanket or something too (or put it in a trunk) just in case there are any visually stimulated bears

Vittles Vault

Yosemite bears are much more acclimated to looking for food in cars than MN bears. However, I would still put it in smelly proof bags and make sure it is not visible. I wouldn't hesitate to leave it in the car, I would just take the precautions.

I’ve had mice in my car. Not only did they eat some granola bars I left behind, but they also chewed up a wool vest I left behind.

I'd say don't. I worry more about mice than anything else. Either leave an unopened can of dog food if your dog is uncustomed to eating that or carry the extra on your trip. If it is a common food, you may be able to find it in Ely.
I do not believe in "odor proof" bags. Thus far, both in camps and in my vehicles, I've had more damage done by mice than bears.

Thanks, all!

We go out through the end of the Gunflint Trail, and will be staying there a night before the drive home, so re-supplying after taking out won't work for us. We'll pack in all the food and pack it out again, maybe considering canned food tucked under the seats next time!

It's our 15-year-old (?) with the pickiness to require the heavy kibble every meal - (the younger dogs like the much lighter dehydrated stuff just fine), and I guess we'll do whatever we must to make him happy - he likes this place as much as we do!

NEIowapaddler: "

BEARnMOOSE: "Roll the windows up."

Hopefully this is a joke. If not, it's bad advice. Bears can easily smell foods left in unsealed containers inside a closed vehicle. When I came out of the woods on my last trip there was a sheriff's deputy checking over the vehicle parked next to mine, which had a side window smashed. He said it was almost certainly a bear looking for unsecured food, because there was valuable fishing and camping gear in plain sight that would've been gone if it was a thief. He also said he sees multiple vehicles broken into by bears every year because of people leaving food or food wrappers/containers in them.


If I was going to leave food in my vehicle, I would definitely double bag it in ziploc or smelly proof bags. Another good option is vacuum sealing it, if you have the ability to do that. "

It was a joke. Seemd like the OP was pretty familiar with how to handle smelly items around a campsite. So a similar approach for in a car would apply. Leaving rolling the windows up as the only thing up. Ha ha?

If you’re staying with an outfitter, you could ask if they could hold onto the food for you.

I’ve been leaving food in my car at entry points for over 25 years and have never had a problem with bears. I’d be more worried about mice.