Canyon Country Animals
Mammals: Bear
This page contains some basic information on storing food while camping and backpacking and visiting bear country.
The Best Way to Avoid Conflict with Bears is to Prevent It
Storing Food Properly in Bear Country
Visitors to several of our national parks are urged to store their food properly, making certain that it can't become available to bears. Bears are attracted by the odors of food people bring with them. In trying to obtain that food, bears cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage to vehicles, foodstuffs, and camping equipment each year. While searching for food, bears will:
- Break into cars in parking lots and campgrounds.
- Enter campsites when people are present.
- Rip apart tents and backpacks in wilderness areas for food.
Consider "food" to be anything with a scent, including nonfood items such as canned goods, bottles, or drinks; toiletries like soap, cosmetics, and perfume; garbage or recycling; ice chests (even when empty), grocery bags, stuff sacks; and items used to cook or store food.
Human-supplied food sets up a fatal link between human and bear populations. It creates a situation in which bears lose their fear of humans, resulting in potentially dangerous incidents. Bears haven't the inclination nor the ability to remove the packaging which encloses much of our food. These wrappings accumulate in the bear's body, and can result in death. Some common sense will ensure your safety and the health of the black bears.
- Don't try to retrieve food taken by a bear.
- Failure to store your food properly can result in a citation and fine.
- Additional information on bears and precautions that you should take will be given to you at the entrance station or campground registration station.
- See Encountering Wild Animals.
- See Trash and Human Waste.
- See Bears.
In General
- Store all food and related supplies in metal storage boxes where provided. Bears recognize ice chests and cans, so store them the same as food. Also store grocery bags, garbage, and scented articles such as soap, sunscreen, hair spray, and toothpaste. Seal foods in containers to minimize smells. Don't forget to clear vehicles of food wrappers, crumbs in baby seats, and baby wipes.
- When storage boxes are not available, put all food and related supplies, including ice chests, in vehicle trunk with food sealed in airtight containers.
- In vehicles without trunks, all food and related supplies, including ice chests, must be stored out of sight. Cover them completely to hide them from view. Close windows tightly.
In Picnic Areas
- Store all food and related supplies properly, including ice chests.
- Don't store food inside of your tent.
- Never leave food unattended.
- Dispose of all garbage properly.
In Campgrounds
- Store all food and related supplies properly, including ice chests.
- Never leave camp unattended if food is not stored.
- Store food day and night. Bears may enter campsites during the day, even if people are there.
- Keep a clean camp. Put trash in bear-proof cans and dumpsters regularly.
- Don't become bear bait yourself. Prepare meals away from sleeping areas, and don't sleep in the clothes you cook or clean fish in.
When Day-Hiking
- Store all food and related supplies left at trailhead properly, including ice chests.
- Don't leave your backpack and walk of to take a photograph. Bears know packs are a source of food.
In Commercial Lodging
- In hard-sided cabins and rooms, store all food and related supplies indoors.
- In canvas tent-cabins, all food-related and scented items must be stored in lockers where available or properly stored in vehicles.
- Put all garbage in bear-proof cans and dumpsters.
In the Backcountry
- Plan ahead to store food in one of these three ways, listed in order of effectiveness:
- Rent or buy National Park Service-tested bear-resistant portable food canisters (available at park concession retail outlets);
- when available, use installed devices, such as metal storage boxes, poles, or cables (check locations before departure); or,
- carefully hang food by the counterbalance method. Only use this option if the others are not available and practice it before your trip.
- Store all food and related supplies left at trailheads properly, including ice chests. If metal storage boxes are available, you must use them. Even if not boxes are available, it is strongly recommended that no food be left in vehicles.
