Bears and Such

[Byron Kinnaman]

Backpacker Magazine has a column called "Medicine Man", which is a question and answer type of column. Here's a quote from the latest magazine.
Q: Are bears attracted to bug sprays containing sweet-smelling citronella or lemon eucalyptus? (RBS in NJ)
A: Not when they're masked by your three-days-in-the-woods body odor, Mr Pungent. Bears tend to investigate aromas that could lead to something edible. Citronella has a distinctly sweet smell, as do some deet products and sunscreens -- which means it's smart to hang or canister those bottles with your food when camping in bear country. That said, I haven't seen any studies that indicate that bears find these substances attractive, and bruins have a well-documented aversion to the, um, rich fragrance of unshowered backpackers.

[Gina D.]

I will close up my bathroom at this very moment.

[Donna D.]

Thanks for the validation Byron of why I gave up backpacking and purchased a trailer with a shower and toilet!

[Pete Dumbleton]

I will close up my bathroom at this very moment.

Umm, I'm confused, as usual -- Does this mean you are going to lock up the sweet-smelling stuf? Or does it mean you are going to stop taking showers?

BTW, bears no doubt consider monkeys good chow...