Geocaching provides the opportunity for children to enjoy the activity by finding larger size containers. These containers have items for trade that makes the activity a fun experience.
However, sometimes items that are considered 'smellable' make their way into a cache. These are items that animals can find with their sensitive sense of smell. If an animal can smell it, the animal will consider it food. Animals chewing containers are the most common type of damage that cachers will repair.
The Philmont Scout Ranch provides a list of smellable items that need bear proofing while camping. But they are a good rule of thumb to keep out of geocaches.
Geocachers should feel free to remove these items to preserve the integrity of the cache, and of course dispose of the smellable properly. Cachers may leave disposable cameras in the cache to have finders take pictures of themselves. Leave these cameras as it is part of the game.
Hiders of the cache should also perform maintenance on their caches from time to time to remove smellables.
Sometimes, cachers will repurpose food containers, water bottles, thermos' or film canisters as a cache. Even with thorough cleaning, odors can remain on the container, inviting critters to chew on the container in an effort to get to the 'food'. Working with new containers will avoid many problems with animal invaders.
Following these suggestions will keep your cache animal free for a long time.
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