Food and Refuse Storage Order

Associated Documents

Forest Order

GRAND MESA, UNCOMPAHGRE AND GUNNISON NATIONAL FORESTS 

Food and Refuse Storage Order 

Pursuant to 16 USC § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50(a), the following acts are prohibited annually from March 1 to November 30 on all National Forest System (NFS) lands within the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests. 

The purpose of this Order is to is to protect public safety and wildlife by minimizing human-wildlife interactions. 

PROHIBITIONS: 

1. In a developed campground or in a designated campsite marked with a post with the site number and universal camping symbol, possessing or storing any food for human or animal consumption, refuse, or items that may have remnants or smell like food or refuse (including personal hygiene products, beverages, unburned food or garbage residue from fire pits or stoves, or empty food or beverage containers but excluding water or water containers, hay, or hay cubes without additives), unless these items are: 

a. Attended by a person who is awake, alert, and within 100 feet and line-of-sight of the items;

b. Suspended at least 10 feet off the ground and at least four feet from any supporting tree or pole; 

c. Stored in a container or using a method listed in the most current Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee Certified Bear-Resistant Products list or that has been approved under the IGBC’s courtesy inspection program (non-commercial products made for personal use may be inspected and approved under that program). This includes electric fences that are installed properly and meet the design and minimum electrical output specifications on that list, and are tested for proper operation at least every 24 hours with a voltmeter; or 

d. Stored in a closed vehicle, trailer, building, or facility constructed of solid, nonpliable material that, when secured, has no openings, hinges, lids, or coverings that would allow a bear to gain entry by breaking, bending, tearing, biting, or pulling with its claws (any windows must be closed). Horse or livestock trailers may not have any openings greater than 10 inches in two dimensions and must have any food, refuse, or animal carcasses stored more than three feet from any opening.* 36 C.F.R. §261.58(cc). 

*This Order refers to these methods collectively as “Forest Service-approved storage methods.” 

2. Possessing or storing any bird, fish, or other animal carcass or parts thereof (including livestock carcasses) that have not been prepared for human or animal consumption, unless these items are: 

a. Being field dressed, transported, or prepared for eating; or Page 2 of 2 

b. Stored in accordance with Forest Service-approved storage methods and at least 100 yards from a developed campground or a designated campsite marked with a wooden post with the site number and universal camping symbol. 36 C.F.R. §261.58(s). 

EXEMPTIONS: 

Pursuant to 36 CFR § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order: 

1. Persons with a special use authorization or other Forest Service authorization specifically exempting them from the effect of this Order. 

2. Any Federal, State, or local office, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty. 

3. Any federal, state, or local officer placing baits to capture wildlife for research or management purposes in the performance of an official duty. 

This Order shall be in effect May 27, 2022, until rescinded or until December 31, 2027, whichever occurs first. 

Executed in Delta, Colorado this 27th day of May 2022. 

CHAD STEWART 

Forest Supervisor 

Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests 

A violation of these prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both. 16 USC § 551 and 18 USC §§ 3559, 3571, 3581.

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