Food Storage (Blackrock, Jackson, Pinedale, Greys River, & Big Piney Ranger Districts)

Associated Documents

Forest Order

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
U.S. FOREST SERVICE
BRIDGER-TETON NATIONAL FOREST

Occupancy and Use Prohibitions

PROHIBITIONS

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a), the following acts are prohibited annually from March 1 to December 1 ("Described Area A") and annually from March 1 to January 15 ("Described Area B") on the National Forest System (NFS) lands within the Bridger-Teton National Forest, described further below and shown on the attached maps incorporated into this Order as Exhibits A and B.

1. 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:

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

      

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

      

   • 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

      

   • Stored in a closed vehicle, trailer, building, or facility constructed of solid, non-pliable 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.SS(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:

   • Being field dressed, transported, or prepared for eating;

      

   • Stored in accordance with Forest Service-approved storage methods and at least 100 yards from any known occupied camping area; or

      

   • Possessed more than ¼ mile (straight-line distance) from any known occupied camping area and more than 200 yards from any NFS Trail or Road. 36 C.F.R. §261.SS(s).
3. Camping within:

   • 100 yards of any known bird, fish, or other animal carcass or parts thereof (including livestock carcasses) stored in accordance with Forest Service-approved storage methods; or

      

   • ¼ mile of any known bird, fish, or other animal carcass or parts thereof (including livestock carcasses) not stored in accordance with Forest Service-approved storage methods. 36 C.F.R. §261.SS(e).

EXEMPTIONS

Pursuant to 36 C.F .R. § 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. Persons in possession of a state-issued black bear hunting license in the act of lawfully placing or using black bear baits in a manner that complies with state law and regulation.

    

3. Any Federal, State, or Tribal employee placing baits for research or management purposes as part of their official duties.

DESCRIBED AREAS

1. Described Area A:
   • Described Area A encompasses the entirety of the Bridger-Teton National Forest except the area south of the Snake River and Hoback River Canyons. The boundary runs along the Forest boundary from Alpine to Teton Village, Jackson to Yellowstone National Park, and from Yellowstone back south along the Wind River Range. Described Area A follows the Forest perimeter with the only exception being the southern boundary, which begins at the south side of the confluence of the Snake and Greys Rivers, then runs easterly along the Snake River and Hoback River corridors, including½ mile south and east of the river itself. Where the Hoback River leaves HWY 189/191, Described Area A includes all areas north of the HWY 189/191 corridor, including up to½ mile south of the highway, and east to the Forest boundary. Described Area A follows the remainder of the Forest boundary around the Pinedale Ranger District and back up to Yellowstone.
2. Described Area B:
   • Described Area B boundary follows the Bridger-Teton National Forest boundary from the town of Jackson north to HWY 26/287. From there it follows the HWY east to Forest Service Road (FSRD) 30160, where it continues south along 30160 (Hatchet Road) to FSRD 30250. It follows FSRD 30250 (Leidy Creek) to the Jackson/Blackrock Ranger District boundary. It follows the district boundary west for approx. 4 miles before heading directly south then southwest, excluding Lower Slide Lake, and passing through the Gros Ventre Slide Overlook. Described Area B boundary heads southeast along the divide between Flat Creek and Crystal Creek, before curving southwest to Cache Peak, where it then follows the Cache Creek drainage to Jackson.

PURPOSE

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

IMPLEMENTATION

1. This Order will be effective on June 14, 2023 at 1200 and shall remain in effect until January 15, 2029 at 1200, unless rescinded.

    

2. Maps identifying the Described Areas are attached and made part of this Order as Exhibits A and B. For a digital version of the Order and Exhibits A and B, go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/r4/alert-notices.

    

3. Unless otherwise defined in this Order, the terms in this Order are defined in accordance with 36 C.F.R. § 261.2. If there are terms in this Order that are not defined in the Order or in Forest Service regulations, their meaning is determined by their plain language definition.

    

4. A violation of the above prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559(a)(7), 3571(b)(6), (c)(6), and 3581(b)(7).

    

5. Further information regarding this Order may be obtained at the Bridger-Teton Forest Supervisor's Office in Jackson, WY, (307) 739-5500.

    

6. This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in/on the
   same Described Areas.

Done at Jackson, this 14th day of June.

CHAD HUDSON
Forest Supervisor
Bridger-Teton National Forest

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