BTNF extends food storage order requirement until Jan. 6th
Hunters urged to use approved food storage methods to reduce bear attractants
by Bridger-Teton National Forest
November 18, 2012
Forest Supervisor Jacque Buchanan of the Bridger-Teton National Forest has signed a temporary order that will go into effect December 2, 2012 to protect humans and bears.
The temporary order extends the dates of the food storage order to include the bison hunting season. Under this temporary order, food storage requirements are in effect until January 6, 2013. The permanent food storage order had the enforcement date for those requirements in place until December 1.
This food storage order helps keep forest visitors safe by avoiding encounters with bears and preventing bears from being attracted to campgrounds, trailheads, picnic sites and other areas frequented by people.
All food and other items that might attract bears must be stored where bears can’t access them at night and during the daytime when they are unattended. Attended attractants means that a person is physically present within 100-feet and in direct sight of the food or carcass.
Human food, (including canned food, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages), harvested game animals and parts, pet food, processed livestock feed and grains and personal hygiene items such as soap, toothpaste and deodorants must be stored in a manner unavailable to bears. This also includes garbage and empty food and beverage containers. Proper storage methods include placing food and other items in bear resistant containers or hard-sided vehicles or suspending them at least 10 feet above the ground and 4 feet from any vertical support.
"This is a human health and safety issue," said Bridger-Teton National Forest Public Affairs Officer Mary Cernicek. "We don’t want people getting hurt out there because bears are attracted to human foods or the carcasses from their hunts."
"Both humans and bears are increasingly at risk in areas where they coexist and where food is available or improperly stored," said Cernicek. "It often takes only one occurrence of a bear obtaining an attractant from a camp to become conditioned. Conditioned bears are very dangerous and continue to seek food from people," she said.
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