Follow up to my usage of the Ursack
Over the years I've spoken highly of the Ursack (I use the Allwhite), which I consider a good compromise between weight (less than a canister), ease of use (MUCH quicker than hanging), and protection FOR THE BEAR. Remember, the purpose of the Ursack isn't just to ensure you still have food after a bear wanders into an area with people; its purpose is also to get the bear from being "taught" that
People = Easy Meal
and instead having it taught that
People = Nothing to Eat Despite Over an Hour of Effort
If a bear is taught the first lesson, it's going to get killed. If it learns the second, it may well decide that wandering towards people just isn't worth it.
ANYWAY, two nights ago, I got a demonstration (VERY undesired!!) of the Ursack's ability to resist attacks from raccoons*. As these photos indicate
https://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=63152
https://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=63153
the attackers were not able to actually penetrate the Ursack despite innumerable bites and scratches. However, they were able to tear open all of the food containers, causing the food to drop down to the bottom of the bag. Although most of the food was not eaten by the attackers, enough of it had liquid added to it (saliva, perhaps?) to give them a taste of my breakfast, as well as to stain my Ursack. I may decide to buy a new one.
I may well have been able to avoid this problem *IF* I had placed my food and trash in the odor-proof plastic container. Lesson learned!
The makers of the Ursack, as well as users, are clear that bears and raccoons would be able to smash the food inside these bags, even if these creatures would be unable to open up hole in them.
https://www.ursack.com/faq/ (FAQ #3)
For the animal, there is a difference between destroying the food inside, and getting to eat it (the bear will be taught the second lesson); for the user, the food is lost in either case. Just add me to the list of those who have learned this first hand.
I still recommend the Ursack, mainly because it worked exactly as it said it would. Plain and simple, I couldn't do a hang if my life depended on it, and I don't carry enough food to justify a container.
* I didn't see which animals attacked the Ursack, but the park rangers agree that bears are extremely rare in Wharton State Forest
https://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksand...s/wharton.html
and we both note that the size of the bite and scratch marks indicates raccoons.