Isle Royale question

“Greetings TTers. I leave for my trip to Isle Royale soon. My Isle Royale National Park Leave No Trace handbook tells me several times that I must "store my food securely" to avoid critters getting in it. There are no bears, so what do I need to do? They don't give any instructions beyond that. I know how to hang a bear bag, but is that necessary? I have never had critters try to get my food while camping, so I'm not sure to what extent I need to go. Suggestions?”

“I don't personally know the critter sitch there, but I have watched mice climb down and across ropes and gnaw into hung food.

A bear can is the real only surefire way to get piece of mind.

Again, I'm unfamiliar with Isle Royale. I just like the ease of tossing food into the bear can and kicking it into the woods.”

“Foxes were the problem on my last trip. They love to scavenge the sites.”

“Ok, so what do I do to keep mice and foxes out of my food? Ursack? 12 gauge?”

“I use an OR bag and hang it at night, I do this anywhere I go”

“ursack is bear resistant, not fox, coon, mice resistant, etc. the teeth on a bear are blunt while those on other smaller animals can be very sharp. i have seen ursacks with mouse holes in them. don't take my word for it, visit their FAQ on their web site. i agree with spalpeen. hang your food. it's not THAT big of a deal and if done properly works well.”

“Lucy Jones, just hang your food bag at night. I have been to IR 5 times and the worst I have encountered was a pisser of a mallard at Daisy farm, a campfox at chipewa harbor a red squirrel at daisy farm again and a chipmunk at moskey basin. No need for an ursack or bear canister or anything special. Enjoy its a magical place.”

“always hang your bloody food”

“and watch out for tapeworms”

“well... ya don't want the food to be bloody, that would be a real draw.

:-)”

“Ok, I'll hang my food, bloody or not and I'll shoot any tapeworm that comes near me! Yeah, ok, my Katadyn will take care of the worms...I hope!!!!”

“IR is a great place! I had trouble with the chipmunks, of all creatures. One literally took food off of a log I was sitting on - no more than 8 inches from me. I still harbor ill feelings about that rice crispie treat.....

Pack some bug spray too. :)”