Potential yurt owners tend to be concerned about safety from animals, especially bears. However, we can assure you that yurts can be very safe. As long as you take the necessary measures and precautions, you will be just fine in your yurt.
This guide will tell you the steps to follow to ensure your yurt is as secure as possible from bears. Bears are curious animals and tend to get into homes for food.
It is important that you not only take preventive measures but also learn a few things about them.
Keep on reading to learn more about yurt safety measures and bears.
Basic Yurt Construction
If you buy a fully built yurt, you should make sure that it is well built and extremely sturdy. Look into construction plans and ask questions. It would be best if you looked for a concrete foundation/deck, waterproof yurt roofing, solid beams, and supports, as well as strong walls.
If you decide to build your yurt, there are many tutorials and guides out there to help you build one. However, whether bear issues are a common problem in the area you build on, look for a suitable construction plan. For example, as mentioned earlier, a concrete foundation, sturdy support, and strong walls will go a long way.
Whoever you hire, or if you built it yourself, please make sure that the builder is experienced enough to build a reliable, secure yurt.
Finally, look at some of the best yurt builders and their materials to construct each part of their yurts. Ask for help from experts if possible.
Don’t Keep Open Food In Your Yurt
One of the only reasons a bear would come near your yurt home is if they smell food. Bears are big animals and will most probably be hungry enough to eat at any given time.
You must avoid leaving open food or any food unattended inside or anywhere near your yurt. Bears have very strong noses and will find their way to your food from afar. They will eat almost anything, but they will be easily drawn by aromatic meat, poultry, or seafood.
You can use a bear bag or place a food-safe far away from your yurt or under the platform. Once bears get their share, they will leave on their own.
You can also wrap some electric fence strands around your yurt’s platform with the food a good distance away to deter them from the yurt.
Bear Spray Can Protect You
One of the most effective and non-lethal deterrents you can use is bear spray. It is designed to stop aggressive behavior in bears. Getting yourself some bear spray can help reduce your chances of bear inflicted injuries if you ever encounter one up close.
We suggest you keep more than one in and around your yurt so you can easily access it. If a bear ever comes close to your yurt or even manages to break inside, you will be able to get your hands on some bear spray without having to reach too far and risk yourself.
Bear spray will not only reduce the risk of you getting injured by a bear, but it also reduces bear deaths by people in self-defense.
Other Effective Bear Repellents And Deterrents
Noisemakers
A noisemaker is a compact device that produces a loud noise when triggered. If you encounter a bear and it is not too close to you, you can use a noisemaker to deter it from afar. It is safe because it does not make you get close to a bear to use it.
Ammonia-Filled Balloons Covered With Food
If your yurt home area has a serious bear problem and they often get too close, you can use this deterrent. You would have to fill a balloon with ammonia or bleach and cover the outside with honey or peanut butter. Then, you would have to place it away from your yurt and closer to places that the bear would want to run to – like the woods, rivers or streams.
The issue with this method is it can be potentially harmful to bears. Ammonia can get in their eyes and cause injuries or blindness. You can replace ammonia with vinegar for a safer alternative to the bears.
Scarecrow
Many people do not realize this, but bears might be just as intimidated by you as you are by them. Placing a good scarecrow near your yurt can work as a good deterrent against bears.
Some More Deterrents You Can Look Into
- Super soakers
- Laster-sighted slingshot
- Wildlife deterrent horns
- Critter gritter
- Electric fencing
Check With Local Groups About Bear Populations
Before you buy or build a yurt anywhere, it should be a given that you ask locals about bear populations. Sometimes, bears may be a rare issue, or there might be no bears around at all.
Make sure you thoroughly research and ask yurt sellers/local groups regarding any bear or wildlife populations you might be concerned about.
Educate Yourself On Bears
The best way to know how to deter and avoid confrontations with bears is to learn about them. We know that they are huge and scary, but they can be harmless. As long as you do not disturb, scare or entice them, they’ll pretend you don’t even exist.
For example, if you see a lone bear, the best thing to do is to stay calm and make no sudden movements as you get away from them. If they see you, stay still until they look away.
Another example is if you see a bear cub, never go near it. The mother will usually be close by, and if she feels threatened by you or thinks you will hurt her cub, she will do anything to stop you. It is only a natural reaction!
You might be surprised when you learn what bears are like and how much less worse they are than people make them seem.
We hope that this guide helps, and as long as you follow these steps, you should enjoy your yurt bear-stress-free.
