Be Bear Aware!

In Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, as with other parks in the area, the black bear has become of intense interest to both the Park Managers as well as visitors.

Bears are intelligent and adaptable, and will readily accept human foods when they are available. Bears that are exposed to human food often change their behavior and begin seeking it in campgrounds, parking lots, and from backpackers. This results in property damage and dangerous confrontations between humans and bears. The ecological role of such bears is also changed their use of natural foods diminishes, they become more nocturnal, and the elevation range of habitat use changes. When a bear's search for human food makes them aggressive toward humans, it poses an unacceptably high threat, and in many cases they must be killed. As a result, black bears have been the subject of intense management efforts for many years, to protect both people and the bears.

 Food Storage Regulations

Proper food storage is not only essential to successful human-bear management, it is required legally. Food includes food, trash, recyclables, toiletries, first aid kits, pet food, window cleaner, baby wipes, scented tissue, air freshener, soda cans, bottled beverages, canned food, coolers (full and empty), mosquito repellant, lipstick, tobacco products, and ANY RELATED ITEMS WITH A SCENT. When camping, baby seats should be taken out of the car and put outside.

Frontcountry

• In developed frontcountry campgrounds and other developed areas where food-storage lockers are provided, all food must be stored in the bear-resistant food-storage lockers located in each site or in the overflow lockers nearby.
• In front country areas where bear-resistant food storage lockers are not provided:

In residences and lodging: all food items must be stored inside the building so that food is not visible from the exterior of the building.

In all other areas: all food items must be stored inside a vehicle trunk or, if the vehicle has no trunk, must be placed as low in the vehicle as possible, and covered from sight with the vehicle doors and windows closed.

• Persons with hard-topped vehicles that contain built-in refrigerators may store food inside those vehicles, provided it is covered from sight, with the vehicle doors and windows closed. Shades must be drawn when the vehicle is not occupied.

Backcountry

While backpacking in the wilderness, bear resistant food containers (bear canisters) are required for overnight hikers and are strongly recommended. Hanging food is only a delay tactic for bears as black bears can easily climb trees. In the Sierras bear canisters are the only effective and proven method of preventing bears from getting human food.

Bear canisters can be obtained through the Ranger station or wilderness offices.