Bears Bring New Rules to the Bitterroot

With the growing number of grizzlies crisscrossing the Bitterroot, Forest Service managers have decided now is finally the time to impose food storage restrictions to keep people safe, and from creating "problem bears."

The new rules follow repeated bear sightings in recent years, not just in the backcountry but even in the Bitterroot Valley.

The new regulations mirror those already in place elsewhere in Montana.

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New food storage rules on the Bitterroot National Forest

The order went into effect on March 1st and will apply to all of the Bitterroot National Forest lands in Montana. That includes the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness Area, which is on the Darby-Sula Ranger District.

The rules don't apply to the Idaho portion of the Frank Church and Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.

What are the rules?

All "unattended food", and other attractants like trash, must be controlled by one of three methods.

· In hard-sided vehicles or enclosed trailers

· In bear-resistant containers or other approved products. A list of approved bear-resistant storage products can be found at www.igbc.org

· Suspended at least 10 feet above the ground, and 4 feet away from adjacent trees/poles, out of reach of wildlife.

The IGBC website is the best place to make sure your coolers and other devices are actually approved as "bear resistant", since it's based on actual testing.

The requirements apply to both campgrounds and dispersed camping, including backcountry campsites.

Keeping bears and people separated

“Our primary goal is to protect humans and bears from adverse interactions,” -Matt Anderson, Forest Supervisor.

Biologists have said not only will the rules lessen the chances of encounters between black and grizzly bears and campers, but also keep from creating "problem bears", that become dependent on food and trash, causing further problems in more populated areas.

The BNF has had food storage requirements in the Anaconda-Pintler since 2014.