Food Storage Requirements on the Kootenai National Forest
A food storage order signed in 2022 requires food storage practice across the Forest to reduce the potential for human-wildlife encounters.
Food, carcasses, and attractants must be stored in a bear-resistant container or stored in a bear-resistant manner if they are unattended. Please see the 2022 Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem food storage order and map [PDF, 1.6MB].
You may also use the Food Storage Regulation Interactive Map from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) website.
Approved Storage:
A bear resistant container that has been approved by and listed by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee. Most bear-resistant containers sold in local outdoor retail stores meet these requirements.
Stored in a bear resistant manner means hung 10 feet off the ground and four feet horizontally from a tree or other structure; stored in a hard-sided camper; vehicle trunk, or cab or trailer cab: in a hard-sided building, or stored using an electric fence.
Wildlife Carcasses:
Carcasses that are within a half-mile of any camp or sleeping area must be stored in an approved bear-proof manner during nighttime hours. If a carcass is within an attended camp during daylight hours it may be on the ground.
Burning Attractants:
Attractants are things like leftover food, bacon grease, etc. They cannot be buried, burned in an open campfire, or left behind in camp. All attractants must be stored in a sealed container and packed out with garbage – or placed in a container and burned so that the contents do not leach into the ground.
Store your food and attractants, livestock food and garbage in a bear-resistant manner or use a bear-resistant container
Attractants such as leftover food, bacon grease, etc.
Any harvested animal carcasses, including fish, birds, or other animal parts that are within a half-mile of any camping or sleeping area must be stored. If an animal carcass is within an attended camp during daylight hours it may be on the ground.
Additional resources on bear-resistant containers:
- Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, Bear-Resistant Equipment
- Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Be Bear Aware Tools