[pct-l] new cheap bear can

[warren@valcourplantation.com (Bruce Warren)]

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Richard,

As a fellow engineer, I think you are still being hasty in your analytical =
thinking. You say: "THE **point**  is that the bears in Yosemite have learn=
ed that cans contain food even if they cannot smell it." I agree. But so wh=
at? If they cannot see it AND cannot smell it, they would have to have ESP =
to find the food. My premise is that if you hermetically seal up the food, =
AND hide it, you got the problem licked. Or maybe it's like that 'backcount=
ry legend' I just read about where that Yosemite bear is so dang smart he r=
ips open the hikers stomach to get the steak he just ate?

I have a lot of respect for any animal that can learn to ride a bicycle... =
but bears possess no ESP. Sure a bag of groceries is a big flag to a condit=
ioned bear that food is inside.  But other treads I have read here relate i=
ncidences of bears now ignoring bear canisters, having learned it's futile.

A hidden can that leaks no odor molecules will not be found by a bear or an=
 ant, that was proven by my New Mexico experiments, even when the can was n=
ot washed. It is true that the can may have traces of food on it from handl=
ing. If that worries you, just wash it off after dinner each night. But thi=
s is not a valid concern, if it was, bears would be eating the faces and fi=
ngers and shirts right off many hikers every night.

My premise for the field testing that I am seeking, is that bears and other=
 animals are not irrational food seekers, going after the slightest hint of=
 food. Their highly refined sense of smell is quite capable of calculating =
how many calories will be available from the intensity of the odor. They ar=
e not going to waste energy seeking out a few milligrams of food. I want fi=
eld testing to prove that if your stealth can is under your tarp or in your=
 tent, no bear, or chipmunk, or marmot, or mouse, or ant will ever detect i=
ts presence.
It's totally proven in Texas, but we have no bears (thankfully).

As to the post about old paint cans drying out, I cannot argue that this do=
es not happen with old paint cans. But just the opposite caused me to try t=
his style of can for food. I had a 25 year old can of latex paint that had =
never been opened. Upon opening it, the paint was in perfect condition. I h=
ave stealth cans that have been used for 6 months by abusive boy scouts and=
 they still seal gas tight. I do modify the seal areas of the can and lid w=
ith a special epoxy compound to make it more durable. But I do advise that =
you blow or brush any big crud out of the seal area before pushing it toget=
her or you may have a non-hermetic seal. Just like you try to keep the crud=
 out of your telescoping hiking poles, or your Leatherman.

But, I want some more real-world testing to validate my design premises, so=
 why not try one (for free) rather than make hasty judgements?

Happy Hiking,

Bruce Warren, P.E.







Sorry..as an engineer I analyzed your design idea and commented becasue I
certainly >>>did not<<< miss the whole point. First, I did not
say the cans were laying on a picnic table, they were in a grocery
bag out of sight apparently due to the remnants of the bag laying around.

THE **point**  is that the bears in Yosemite have learned that cans contain
food even if they cannot smell it. They have learned to associate can
containers with food..for whatever reason, they now know, and have passed
that onto their cubs. It will take a generation to break the cycle; however=
,
that genration has not yet occured!