Hiking disappointment.

[Thewaz]

Have been hiking for years in some amazing places and always thought of fellow hikers as respectful to the environment and other hikes, but this weekend I was shocked.
On an amazing 3 day hike around Wilsons Prom we had de packed to make the short walk up Mt Kersop only to return to our packs open and our stuff all over the ground. Nothing was taken as we suspect they were interrupted but a real disappointment. I guess there will always be people like this.

[highercountry]

You sure it wasn't Currawongs or some other wildlife?
They are very adept at opening packs. Even zippers.
I had a bag of cashews stolen from my bike panniers by a wallaby at Cape Conran a couple of weeks ago, in broad daylight.
I've also had a small mobile phone in a plastic zip-seal bag stolen by a crow/raven.

[fairman]

The prom is also renowned for it's very confident wombats.

Sad to hear of this experience, though!

[highercountry]

The prom is also renowned for it's very confident wombats.

A friend of mine had a (amourous?) wombat in his tent at Tidal River a few years ago.

[peregrinator]

Highercountry has got it right. I approached the Mt Kersop junction last year and saw ravens taking flight. Stuff from several packs strewn on the ground. The ravens have been well-trained by humans in how to find a treat.

Last edited by peregrinator on Mon 11 Apr, 2016 4:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Thewaz]

Never thought a bird could undo 2 packs and riffle through them would be possible but did have a large Raven attack my rice at Roaring Meg so maybe a possibility. Was busy with walkers at the time. Hope it was wildlife.

[highercountry]

I think you'll find the guilty culprits are a gang of big black birds. Raven or Currawong.
I've been the victim of many more thefts and attempted thefts in the bush and on the coast than at any time I've ever lived in a city or large town.
I've never been robbed by humans but have been by birds, possums, goannas, pademelons, wallaby, ants, rats and dingo/dog.
I think it's happened to anybody who's been camping more than a few times.
Good topic for discussion.
I never seem to learn. There are eyes, ears and noses watching, listening and sniffing us and our food wherever we go.

Does this look familiar? Currawongs on the OLT.

[scoha]

Yep pretty definitely currawongs or ravens - have seen them attempt same on my pack in exactly same spot last year. The are incredibly resourceful and have strong beaks.

[LandSailor]

Crows/ravens are alot smarter than you think.




My personal favourite is "crowboarding"

[north-north-west]

Love that second one with the roof-surfing crow.

[Thewaz]

Wow, does make me feel better, smart little buggers. Have been on many hikes and camping trips and this deff a first.
Appreciate the response, thanks, and the videos are great.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

The Crows at the Prom could pick a bank safe lock blind folded. Your pack full of food is not a challenge for them at all. The hikers are not to blame.

[Camminata]

Lucky we dont have the Kea, they would if could throw your pack on thier back and fly off!!

[earthairfire]

Amazing thread; I had no idea!

Do you think they could open a bag with roll-top and plastic clip closure? Am interested to know how paranoid I should be in future when leaving my pack unattended!

[north-north-west]

Do you think they could open a bag with roll-top and plastic clip closure? Am interested to know how paranoid I should be in future when leaving my pack unattended!

I've never had trouble with it. Clips are harder than zips and would probably require co-operation between birds - not that I'd put it past them. One thing is to make sure that all food is somewhere unreachable and undetectable (for the critters). Place your pack with the harness facing up and preferably with a raincover and it's unlikely they'll even try to get at anything in there.
Of course, you could always be the unlucky person who gets targeted by birds or beasts so determined that they'll go right through the fabric . . .

[Eremophila]

A light misting of Bushman repellent over the pack may add further deterrent, or a citronella-based repellent if you don't want to go down the DEET path.

[GPSGuided]

A light misting of Bushman repellent over the pack may add further deterrent, or a citronella-based repellent if you don't want to go down the DEET path.

Some of them chew and degrade synthetic material, so use with care on modern day gears.

[Snowzone]

A light misting of Bushman repellent over the pack may add further deterrent, or a citronella-based repellent if you don't want to go down the DEET path.

Some of them chew and degrade synthetic material, so use with care on modern day gears.

I wouldn't put anything with deet or other chemicals near my pack as I've seen it eat other materials away.
Thewaz, I think the Ravens or Currawongs are the cause. Its a known spot where people drop their packs to do Kersops Peak and its easy picking for the birds when packs are left unattended.

[DanShell]

Ah yeh Currawongs are very clever. These ladies were lucky they had some food left

[bernieq]

A decade ago, I stood back and watched a raven pull open two zips on my pack (Mt Difficult, Nth Grampians) - just amazing, did it more easily than I could!

I've also watched two Kea sliding down the wet roof of a hut in NZ - slide down, cackle, fly around and back to the roof ridge and slide down again - repeated it many times - clearly having serious fun. Our boots were put inside for the night !

[Zingiberaceae]

Yeah turns out that birds have more densely packed neurons than mammals so they end up being super smart but still able to fly. http://gizmodo.com/we-finally-know-why- ... 1781889157
They're certainly better at getting into packs than mammals: faster and more efficient at zips than I've ever seen possums manage, though with mammals there's the other issue of them chewing through packs instead.