I have doubts about the importance of visual recognition of food for most mammals. Birds have very acute color vision and might break into a transparent, odor-proof food bag if they can see colorful foods, but I don't think a mammal would.

Most rodents are dichromats (they see everything in gradients of blue and green), and a few are monochromats (they see only black and white). The visual acuity of an average rodent is equivalent to a colorblind human with 20/600 vision. Canids and mustelids (i.e., foxes and raccoons) are blue/green dichromats, and have very poor to nonexistent ability to distinguish colors. Black bears are also dichromats, but have demonstrated an ability to distinguish some colors. Humans and birds are trichromats.

I would wager that no wild mammal would break into a clear plastic bag containing odorless plastic models of food, unless it had a habit of indiscriminately breaking into containers of all kinds. I don't think there would be any difference between clear and opaque food bags.

Edited by ckrusor on 06/19/2012 19:01:40 MDT.

Colin, you're ignoring some important factors in vision though. Reflections. I know raccoons love ANYTHING that is shiny. An old 'coon hunting trap relied on the animals inability to let go of a shiny object once grabbed.

A lot of food wrappers use reflective mylar. Even the worst visioned animals would still notice flashing mirrored surfaces at close range. Especially if they have good night vision. For the more curious of creatures this would be enough to warrant a nibble or two and once the bag is pierced the smell/taste takes over.

If you really are worried. I'd just develop a taste for spicy food. Mammals can feel the burning sensation and for the most part humans are the only species that actually likes it. So keep plenty of chili powder around and even if an animal gets into your pack they aren't going to want to eat too much of your food! Maybe not the most practical solution but I have had a ringtail cat give up on my food bag after it got a taste of that night's thai food leftovers ;)

Here's my theory--if they actually worked, drug dealers would use them in the course of their work. Which makes me think they probably don't work that well.

Maybe they do.

Or at least some do.
the only action here is at 1:30 -


....and good luck trying to find Kovert, or buy a bag.

Edited by greg23 on 06/19/2012 20:37:48 MDT.