Guidelines for Storing Camping Cooking Equipment Overnight

At a campsite, food and camping cooking equipment are important draws for animals. Make sure the campsite is situated in the center of all activity, but that cooking, food storage, and cleaning of food are done in opposite directions of each other. When camp is established also establish the directions for which the food will be dealt with: 75 feet to East food is cooked; 75 to the West food is stored along with cooking equipment overnight; 75 feet to the North/South dishes and cookware are cleaned. If food is placed around the campsite, animals will not venture into the camp to find food.

Never Store Food or Equipment in the Car

Bears at Yosemite and Yellowstone have frequent access to campers and are smart enough that just the sight of a cooler is enough for them to break into the vehicle, even without smelling it. Peanut butter jars can now be opened by hungry bears through screwing open the top. Animals are brilliant and cars are valuable. Do not risk it.

Keep Zippers and Pockets in All Backpacks Undone

Wherever camping cooking equipment or food is stored, make sure all pockets, zippers, pouches and the like are undone allowing open access to mice or squirrels. If open access is not present and the animals happen to get to the backpack or pouches they will gnaw through the sacks and bags to gain access creating a much worse problem. They won't eat much if they do get in, but be sure to shake sacks and inspect cooking equipment before using the next day in case of a stow away.

Never Eat or Cook in the Tent, in Camp, or Around a Campfire

Animals can smell crumbs and food residue with ease. Make sure children do not sneak an extra candy bar into the tent or leave marshmallow sticks around the campfire. Some of the worst animal pests are the smallest, crumb loving critters. All equipment and dishes should not sit around camp overnight and need to be bundled with the food bags for storage. The smallest amount of waste can be a bit draw.

Make Sure All Cooking Utensils are Thoroughly Cleaned and Dried

All utensils are cleaned and dried without any food debris. A double rinse and a complete wipe out of the cooking equipment is always a good idea, and then leave the dishes to air dry. All equipment can then be hung over a large tree branch to counter balance the weight of the food bag. Make sure the bags are at least 10 feet off the ground and are completely unreachable. Do not tie the food and cooking equipment up in a tree with the rope tied to the ground. Bears in Alaska and many national campgrounds know exactly what this means and will have the bag down in no time. Food must be completely suspended in a tree using a hiking stick to hang it over. The same stick can be used to get the food and cooking bags down in the morning.