New York Bears Prove Smarter than Average, Learn to Open High-Tech Pic-A-Nic Baskets

The bears of California are never going to hear the end of this one. The New York Times is reporting that a group of bears in the Adirondack Mountains has figured out how to open the BearVault 500, a high-tech, supposedly bear-proof container that campers use to safeguard their food in the wilderness. The double-tabbed lid of the BearVault functions like a child-proof top to a medicine bottle, requiring a certain amount of dexterity and intelligence to figure out. It's the latest thinking in bear country food protection, as the old "hang your food high in a tree using a rope" trick is no match for a crafty bear. But New York bears, being mentally superior to other bears, have cracked the BearVault code, which has stymied bears elsewhere in the country.

It all started in the High Peaks region of the northeastern Adirondacks with a small (125-pound), middle-aged bear named Yellow-Yellow. Whenever campers noticed that their BearVaults had been compromised, this shy creature with yellow radio tags in each ear was never far away. Further investigation revealed that Yellow-Yellow had used a process of trial and error until he figured out the unlocking process and began helping himself to the movable feasts. Manufacturers then added an additional step to the process, but the brainy ursus figured that one out as well. And now there's evidence that Yellow-Yellow has taught some other bears the secret, as more and more campers are reporting missing sausages, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and apples.

The makers of the BearVault are hard at work creating an even better product for the genius bears of New York, and it will be field tested in Yellow-Yellow's territory. If this one doesn't work, I suggest we all welcome our new bear overlords.

[Photo: firstshowing.net]

Related Stories:
· Bear-Proof Can is Pop-Top Picnic for Crafty Thief [The New York Times]
· BearVault Bear Resistant Food Containers [Official Site]
· Bears [Jaunted]

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