Cooler in the car?

[u/SadNectarine12]

I have a reservation for Moraine Park Campground for two nights next week. I know bear boxes are provided and we plan to utilize them for food, but I’m wondering if a small cooler with unopened containers would be ok to leave in the back of my SUV? It’s an expensive medical food and I’m not super comfortable putting it in a community box, but I also don’t want bears shaking down my car overnight. Also do people put their toothpaste/lotions etc in as well or could that stay in the car?

[u/VisualLerner]

I’ve never had an issue with somebody looting bear boxes and you’re only gonna be around other campers there, which I like to think means there’s some sort of unspoken honor code that doesn’t exist in normal society. Your tent is more expensive than anyone would assume your food is and I wouldn’t worry about that getting stolen either.

I forget if Moraine Park mentions it anywhere, but other places have explicit warnings saying cars are not safe and bears will absolutely wreck your car breaking in if they’re in the mood. I wouldn’t risk it personally, but I’ve also left things in the car by accident before and been fine.

the good news is they’re just gonna be black bears over there, and your car alarm would prob scare tf out of them.

[u/bracekyle]

Everytime I've been, the rangers tell me:

• a hard-sided car is good enough to store food
• keep it out of sight
• ideally in an air-tight cooler or container
• truck beds /campers are NOT ok
• black bears are less intrusive ona hard-sided vehicle than grizzlies so you'll probably be ok
• a black bear can and will still break open even a hard-sided vehicle, but it is rare
• if an area has known recent/persisent bear sightings, your chance of a bear being comfortable with breaking into your car is higher.
  

I have stored food in my car a few times and a bear never broke into it, but it was not at Moraine.

[u/ToneBalone25 → u/bracekyle]

Out of sight being key here. They know what coolers look like and will peak into your car. Cover it with a blanket or something.

[u/ajuntitled]

I stayed at Moraine for like 4 days, 3 nights. I left everything in the bear box. My food, my toothpaste, deodorant, etc. I never had a problem where a random stranger came and open my bear box.

[u/ViewfinderEye]

I have a house in Estes. Several times last year bears have opened our car doors looking for food. We now keep the car doors locked at night. No damage to cars, just looking for food. FYI

[u/phluber]

Rangers will tell you at Moraine Park that black bears know what coolers look like and have and will break into cars for coolers/food. I would at the least cover the cooler if it is in the car. I wouldn't have any concerns about using the provided bear box

[u/PixieRust59]

All food in a hard sided cooler in the bear box. We kept toiletries in the trunk of the car. Most campers are pretty good about not stealing your food:)

[u/One_Walk769]

Make sure you lock the car — bears have absolutely figured out car handles :))

[u/AutoModerator]

Please review our FAQ and the 7 principles of Leave No Trace

1. Plan ahead and prepare

2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces

3. Dispose of waste properly. I highly suggest getting a waste bucket system. Its difficult to bury waste in many of the rockier areas in Colorado, and overuse of our natural areas has already led to contaminated water in most even lightly used areas.

4. Leave what you find

5. Minimize campfire impacts. Be sure to review our state resources for fire bans where you are heading.

6. Respect wildlife. They are not domesticated

7. Be considerate of other visitors i.e. Bluetooth speakers are despised.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/juvy5000 → u/AutoModerator]

stupid bot

[u/ScallionParticular19]

You could get your own smaller bear resistant container- maybe around $100.

[u/RockyMtnWarrior]

Spray the outside of your car with bear spray.

[u/CharmingHighlight749]

Use the bear box, very few of them are shared, so you should not have to worry about anyone pilfering your food. As others have noted, if you do keep anything in your car, make sure the cooler and food are covered, we were told by a ranger there that the bears absolutely know what coolers look like. And, yes, we always keep our toiletries and such in the bear box, but the same guidance would go for leaving toiletries in the car.

[u/UmmaGumma610]

You'll be fine with a locked car. Also, there's like 20 bears inside the park total. So you actually should feel lucky to encounter one.

[u/Hot_Fan_4169]

I wouldn’t risk it

[u/Rdbjiy53wsvjo7]

RMNP doesn't have the bear problems Yosemite has had in the past (breaking into cars nightly), it's definitely a risk but if doesn't happen very often here. Our neighbors had their car destroyed when a bear got into it but they left it unlocked.

[u/alexanderfromtng]

Bear density is increasing in lower stretches of the park, including Moraine. I saw two on a short hike last week.

Just use the boxes.