rroland wrote:
> Hey Gary,
>
> I picked up some of the Repel product you mentioned today, but
> a thought occured to me, would the lemon scent draw bears? I
> was thinking about using DEET based repellent on my self except
> my face, and I was gonna use the Repel product on my face/head,
> but.....
Oh yeah, well, the bears, but you can just yell at them...8^)
Lacking any scientific tests, all I can go by is past experience, and it hasn't been an issue. We used it last week at Upper Pines in the evening, as well as in past years and up in the high country, and haven't had an inquisitive bear (at least not that was interested in us or the spray...spilled milk on the bear box is a different story).
I put the spray bottle in the bear box, but I do that with the DEET stuff too. I'd keep either one in a bear canister at night if you're backpacking. As far as it being an issue if the scent remains on us, that doesn't seem to be a problem; things like soaps and shampoos leave a scent also, but I've never heard of that being a problem attracting bears. It seems to be when you and the scented stuff are not together that problems happen.
My son once slept in the tent with jerky in his pocket (accidentally) and nothing happened. Leaving just the jerky, without a person attached, would very likely be a problem though. Not that I'm recommending sleeping with your food.
However, if you do as planned and notice a bear interested in your head and face, but not the rest of you, let us know....
8^)
Post Edited (05-26-08 21:22)
Gary
Yosemite Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/roberthouse/yo
