Proper food storage reduces conflicts between campers and bears
PRESS RELEASE
RBC | With summer camping season beginning this month on the 2.3-million-acre White River National Forest, officials are reminding campers about the long-standing food storage rules on the Forest as well as other tips for an enjoyable trip.
The White River National Forest recently renewed its long-standing food storage order to help minimize problems with black bears, which are found throughout the Forest.
“Every year campers and backpackers have conflicts with bears because they did not store their food, garbage and other attractants properly as the rules require,” said Developed Recreation Program Manager Paula Peterson. “Storing these items in a way that prevents black bears from accessing them is important for the safety of you and your family, the campers who are in the area after you, and the bears themselves.”
The White River National Forest’s food storage order covers all its developed campgrounds and many dispersed camping areas to help prevent black bears and other wildlife from obtaining food from humans and becoming a nuisance or dangerous. Black bears will become conditioned to human food very easily, which often results in the bear being euthanized for human safety.
“The basic rules of the food storage order are to keep your food, garbage, coolers, pet food, canned or bottled beverages, and other bear attractants in a hard-sided vehicle, the bear-resistant food lockers provided at many developed sites, or an approved bear-resistant food container, unless you are actively preparing food or within 100 feet of it during daytime hours,” Peterson said.
Backpackers in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness are required to use approved bear-resistant food containers for food, garbage, and other attractants, but they are a good idea for backpacking trips anywhere on the White River National Forest because they are the most effective way to prevent black bears from getting into these items in the backcountry. Approved bear-resistant food containers are available at most outdoor stores, online, and in some cases are available for rent. A list of approved bear-resistant food containers is available on the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee website, www.igbconline.org.
Forest orders, including the food storage order, information about fire danger and fire restrictions, and other updates are available at www.fs.usda.gov/whiteriver.
Advanced reservations for many developed campgrounds on the White River National Forest are available at www.recreation.gov. Anticipated later this summer, campers who have downloaded the recreation.gov mobile app will be able to pay for first-come, first-served campsites as well as day-use sites on location using a QR code and their mobile device. This feature also applies to unreserved campsites in areas that offer reservations.
