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Posted by Bill S on April 29, 2008 at 1:25:36 pm EDT
In reply to Bear Food Ediquette While Camping Question CO posted by skinny_duck on April 28, 2008 at 12:16:03 am EDT

speacock, you forgot about marmots. Second only to raccoons in finding and taking food, though not quite as smart, plus they hang out above timberline where you can't hang a bearbag. I watched a gang of them at Boulder Field (campsite on Longs Peak) - they would go after a pack, and while the hikers would move to protect that one, a couple of others would head for another temporarily unattended pack. They kept doing this until they would get into one of the packs and could make off with some of the food. I was passing through Boulder Field on my way down (day hike to the summit and back from the Longs Ranger Station), and of course, most of the hikers were on their way up, having left their packs unattended. I tried to help the half dozen folks still in camp, but humans are no good against a couple dozen marmots using diversionary tactics.

Take your bear canister with you when above timberline in the Rockies - for the marmots, not the bears.

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