Bear damaged my Maverick

[nhbiker1961]

I made the mistake of leaving garbage in the back of the truck last night. No paint damage but dents on the hood and rear quarter. Also teeth marks in the plastic trim. I made a claim to insurance company. The dealership is giving me a loaner while it is fixed.

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[710-oil-614]

It is honestly one of my biggest fears when I go to my property down in the mountains of Western, NC.

Trash usually goes in the bed of the truck - although we do our very best to keep food scraps or other smelly items to a minimum.

 

[ScubaSteveCanada]

One solution is to put garbage in a bear proof container. The other solution is long term; people should stop feeding bears and they won't associate humans with food. They always want the easiest access to food. I am not accusing you of feeding any bears. ;-)

I kept a BBQ in a storage area under my travel trailer bed. I was awoken by a bear trying to get at it (4:30 am - thanks Mr. bear). I just banged on the side wall and it ran away. I look at the side in the morning and see the claw imprints in the aluminum trailer skin.

Why store it inside the travel trailer? There was no way it was going inside my SUV and no where else to store it. It was too large for a bear proof container in those days.

 

[Clarkdonbran]

Why, Yogi, why?!

 

[Scott Asheville]

Our garbage here in WNC bear country always stays inside the garage until dump day. I once made the mistake of just leaving a small pail with water behind the house. Next morning I came around the corner of the garage to confront a 300 pound bear (or at least it looked that big) drinking this convenient hilltop water. Happily I yelled and he took off.

Here in the mountains, we don't grow fruit trees, raspberries, whatever. Because they'll be destroyed. We don't leave water out. No bird feeders. We don't leave anything out. Cause they're big and they're hungry. We also clean our grill every use, because nothing screams "dinner" to a bear like burger drippings on the back porch grill.

Heck, I'm waiting for them to crash through the garage windows. Bears commonly invade houses out here if they smell something good.

 

[Randorita]

Us city folk don't think of things like this. We are semi-city and our "bears" are raccoons! They eat the catfood and if I don't empty the small trash after grilling/griddling they will get in it and make a mess. I would probably wet my pants if I came face to face with a bear!

 

[Scott Asheville]

The crazy things is that bears love cities. In Asheville, bears going through the garbage bins is a regular thing. And coyotes. And deer. Like one mile from city center, still in city limits. It's bonkers.

 

[AzureBlueBill]

Our garbage here in WNC bear country always stays inside the garage until dump day. I once made the mistake of just leaving a small pail with water behind the house. Next morning I came around the corner of the garage to confront a 300 pound bear (or at least it looked that big) drinking this convenient hilltop water. Happily I yelled and he took off.

Here in the mountains, we don't grow fruit trees, raspberries, whatever. Because they'll be destroyed. We don't leave water out. No bird feeders. We don't leave anything out. Cause they're big and they're hungry. We also clean our grill every use, because nothing screams "dinner" to a bear like burger drippings on the back porch grill.

Heck, I'm waiting for them to crash through the garage windows. Bears commonly invade houses out here if they smell something good.

Same thing here is northwest Connecticut. They are hungry!

 

[commadorebob]

You've no idea how much this post made me chuckle. Whenever we are camping, I'll walk up to my scouts tents in the morning and start shaking them while stating, in the most monotone way possible, "rarr, I'm a bear."

Hope your truck gets fixed pretty quickly.

 

[SafetyGuy]

It made me chuckle as well, dang bears.

My bear proofing story (no actual bears were seen or harmed). When my wife and I used to canoe in and tent camp in remote areas of Nopiming Provincial Park, we would have a net, put all food, waste what ever might smell good and we couldn't burn, in it.

We would then hoist it 30 feet in the air, suspending it over the highest branch I could get a weighted rope-end thrown over (you can take an eye out, if you aren't careful). Worked for us, many times.

We also made sure it was well away from the camp site, for obvious reasons (look everyone, see my cooler!)

We never had any bear problems, and never had to break out the bear spray.

Only some Northern Pike had to give their all that we may live...and have a couple of cold wobbly-pops around the campfire. Yum.

Andy

 

[dhaskit]

Bear Damage. Dang it.

Just for fun, I would ask the Ford dealership to submit it as a Warranty Claim.
Haha.

Nah. Not really. Don’t do that. I’m just being a smartalex.
Sorry your truck got picked on, my friend.

 

[710-oil-614]

It made me chuckle as well, dang bears.

My bear proofing story (no actual bears were seen or harmed). When my wife and I used to canoe in and tent camp in remote areas of Nopiming Provincial Park, we would have a net, put all food, waste what ever might smell good and we couldn't burn, in it.

We would then hoist it 30 feet in the air, suspending it over the highest branch I could get a weighted rope-end thrown over (you can take an eye out, if you aren't careful). Worked for us, many times.

We also made sure it was well away from the camp site, for obvious reasons (look everyone, see my cooler!)

We never had any bear problems, and never had to break out the bear spray.

Only some Northern Pike had to give their all that we may live...and have a couple of cold wobbly-pops around the campfire. Yum.

Andy

I never have had to use bear spray on my property but trail cams have picked them up numerous times.

I have had to use spray and a mini air horn while hiking up grandfather mountain for an overnighter.

Even though the bear “went away” we knew it never really did. Decided not to cook dinner that night and as we always do - hoisted our mess kits and food up in a tree far from the tent and that bear was back shortly after we turned in trying get what it could.

 

[HenryFord]

Why, Yogi, why?!

Man, the picnic basket...

 

[710-oil-614]

The crazy things is that bears love cities. In Asheville, bears going through the garbage bins is a regular thing. And coyotes. And deer. Like one mile from city center, still in city limits. It's bonkers.

Yes but our cities are located in and surrounded by mountains and natural bear habitats so when we develop and continue to develop their habitat they adjust and find the easiest path to a tasty meal.

 

[HenryFord]

Yes but our cities are located in and surrounded by mountains and natural bear habitats so when we develop and continue to develop their habitat they adjust and find the easiest path to a tasty meal.

Humans do the same thing... Isn't that the definition of "fast food"? LOL

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