I have been staying at a lovely state park on the weekends since I came to Montana. I wanted to share a fun story that proves that I am still bear-proof (even though I’d really like to see one.)
The ranger stopped by my campsite when I arrived back in the evening last weekend. He wanted to tell me that a couple of juvenile black bears had visited the campground. I figured they had wandered through the far end from where I was parked, but no, they had walked right past my car the night before, and I didn’t know it.
But that wasn’t the end of the story. The campsite across from mine has a tipi that can be rented. A mom and her two teenage boys were staying in the tipi, and around 4 a.m., the young bears stuck their heads in the opening and chewed on the canvas. The family in the tipi got out and hid in their car until a ranger showed up. The bears wandered off and used the camp hosts’ septic hose as a rope for tug-a-war. It was thoroughly destroyed.
I did wake up when the family from the tipi illuminated my car with their headlights. I sleep in my car and wondered what was happening.
I have stayed at this campground several times and have never seen a bear. Once again, I am bear-proof. The family in the tipi didn’t stay another night. If the bears had visited me, I never would have wanted to leave.