Environment DEC
From the June 2005 issue
DEC Regulation to Help Reduce Bear Encounters in High Peaks
Bear-resistant canisters will help prevent bears from obtaining campers' food, toiletries and garbage
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently announced a proposed regulation that will require overnight campers in the eastern zone of the High Peaks Wilderness Area to use bear-resistant canisters for the storage of food, toiletries, and garbage during the period of April 1 through November 30 of each year.
"Bear-Resistant" Defined
The proposed regulation defines bear-resistant canisters as a commercially made container constructed of solid, non-pliable material manufactured for the specific purpose of resisting entry by bears. Bear-resistant canisters are usually made of hard plastic, weigh three to five pounds, and can hold up to six days' worth of food for campers.
Bear-resistant canisters have proven to be an effective means for preventing bears from obtaining campers' food. Preliminary data collected by DEC during the summer of 2004 shows that, of the approximately 400 reported bear interactions with humans in the eastern High Peaks, half resulted in bears taking campers' food. More than 75 percent of the people who reported using tree hangs lost their food, and half of the people who used DEC bear cables lost food as well. Only one person who used a bear-resistant canister reported a loss of food, and that was due to failure to properly secure the canister lid.
One Step in Comprehensive Effort
Information is available from DEC for ways to avoid problems with black
Requiring bear resistant canisters is just one step in DEC's comprehensive effort to significantly reduce negative encounters with bears in the eastern High Peaks. In addition, DEC has undertaken the following:
- Implementing an extensive education and outreach effort to make campers in the High Peaks aware of bears, the problems they can cause and the means to avoid those problems
- Enacting a more systematic program for conditioning bears to avoid people
- Studying the bears and their interactions with humans to more precisely define the problem and the means to address it
See the web links below for more information about bear resistant canisters, the High Peaks Bear Study and ways to avoid problems with black bears in the back country.
The proposed regulations were published in the May 18 issue of the New York State Register. The public may provide comments on these changes during the formal 45-day comment period that began on May 18 and ends on July 5, 2005.
To send written comments about the proposal, please use the second link below, or mail comments to: Bear Resistant Canister Regulation, NYSDEC, Bureau of Wildlife, Route 86, P.O. Box 296, Ray Brook, NY 12977-0296.
