Hunting camp: Will a porta potty attract bears to our site?

Question

We're setting up a base camp for a two-week elk hunt in the Montana backcountry. There will be six of us, no alcohol, but we'll be cooking meals. The ground is uneven forest floor, and a service truck can reach within 30 feet. I'm considering renting a standard portable toilet for the duration, but I'm worried the odor might attract bears or other wildlife to our camp. Has anyone used a portable toilet in bear country? Do bears investigate them, or is the deodorizer enough to mask the scent? Should I look at a different type of unit, like a deluxe with a sealed flushing system, or is that not going to make a difference?

Ray M. · Answer

A standard portable toilet will not attract bears more than your camp's food and cooking odors already do. The deodorizer in a portable toilet is designed to mask human waste odors with a strong chemical fragrance, and bears are primarily attracted to food smells, not human waste. In bear country, your cooking area and food storage are the main concerns, not the toilet.

A deluxe flushing unit or a sealed system does not change the risk. All portable toilets have a vented holding tank that releases some odor, but the deodorizer dominates the scent. The key is to follow standard bear safety: store all food, trash and scented items (including soaps) in bear-proof containers or away from camp, and keep the toilet at least 100 yards from cooking and sleeping areas, just like you would with any odor source.

For six people over two weeks, one standard unit on weekly service is sufficient. Since you have truck access, the rental company will deliver, place it on level ground, and service it once during your stay. Tell them it's for bear country; they may use a stronger deodorizer, but the standard one is already effective. Focus on securing your food, not worrying about the toilet.

Hunting camp: Will a porta potty attract bears to our site?

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