car safety in bear country
i will be moving from UT > CA next week (travel work) and have booked a campsite for 2 nights on the western tahoe shore to break up the drive. i was camping in the tetons this week and the ranger made a joke that “the bears here won’t rip your car open, they’re not tahoe bears!”
after some brief research i realize that they can and will indeed tear cars open. if i remove all food/toiletries/scented items and store in the bear box will that be sufficient during my stay? i usually pack the remainder of my belongings (clothes/shoes/kitchen utensils, camping supplies/first aid) in plastic totes and i’m afraid the bears will think they’re coolers. if i cover these bins with a blanket in the trunk will that suffice?
trying to figure out if having anything in my car, albeit non-scented, is a hard stop and if i need to pivot/change plans. thanks in advance!