[Philmont]: Duct Tape as a Smellable

According to the Ranger Staff in 2002, duct tape went from being a
smellable to "not a *rewardable* smellable". That is, the animals all
quickly learned that it's not food, and so are no longer attracted to it.

The problem with genralizations like this, of course, is that there's
probably half a dozen different types of duct tape (at least), and most
probably have somewhat different adhesives (=different smells). And
there's always another generation of animals that haven't learned such
trivia yet. Bottom line, however, is that I don't think there's ever
been a recorded bear incident where the underlying cause was established
or even suspected of being duct tape. I don't think I'd sweat it too hard.

Michael_J_Conkey@nbc.gov wrote:>
>
>
> We instruct each kid to wrap 3 or 4 wraps of duct tape around the bottom of
> one of their Nalgenes. That way, it has ready access for those hot spots
> since they are getting their water bottle out at EACH stop anyway.
> Anything to help remind them "oh yea, I have that hot spot on my left heel
> so I should stick some of this duct tape on it". Our Philmont ranger in
> 2002 was unsure if this made the Nalgene a smellable, but after a couple of
> questions of various staff at advisor's coffee, we were told several times
> that they was no evidence duct tape attracted the bears. If it was, then
> we would have probably had to put some feet up in the bear bag each night
> <g>! YIS. Mike.
>

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Received on Mon Jun 28 17:04:33 2004