Don’t Let a Bear Turn Your Camp Into a Crime Scene
Bears do not care that the cooler cost $400, the trash bag is “mostly empty,” or the dog food is sealed. If it smells interesting, it belongs in your attractant plan.
Archival Glacier National Park campground incident photo, courtesy of a park visitor / National Park Service.
Anything With a Smell Goes on the Suspect Board
A clean-looking camp can still smell like a buffet. Secure the obvious items and the weird little things people forget.
Meals, snacks, canned goods, cooking oil, spices, drink mixes and leftovers.
A normal cooler is not automatically legal bear storage—even when it is latched.
Wrappers, cans, paper towels, food packaging, coffee grounds and burned scraps.
Dog food, treats, bowls, chews, supplements and food-scented packs.
Toothpaste, lip balm, soap, deodorant, sunscreen, wipes, lotion and bug spray.
Dirty grates, grease cups, foil, bacon drippings and anything cooked over the fire.
Pots, pans, cutting boards, camp sinks, wash water and food-stained utensils.
Soda, juice, canned drinks, coffee supplies and empty containers that still smell.
The Storage Hierarchy
The order controlling your campsite wins. These are common approved methods—not a substitute for reading the local order.
Closed Hard-Sided Vehicle or Trailer
Food and attractants are secured inside a solid, non-pliable vehicle, camper or enclosed trailer with doors and windows fully closed.
IGBC-Certified Container
Use a currently certified canister, pannier, box or cooler exactly as tested—including padlocks, bolts or fasteners when required.
Provided Bear Box
Developed campgrounds may supply steel lockers. Put every attractant inside, close the latch completely and do not treat the picnic table as temporary storage.
Properly Suspended Storage
Some Forest Service orders allow attractants suspended at least 10 feet above the ground and 4 feet away from nearby trees, poles or supports.
Same State. Different Forest. Different Order.
Never assume last weekend’s rules apply to this weekend’s campsite.
Five West-Side Ranger Districts
For 2026, Custer Gallatin reinstated its food-and-attractant storage order from March 1 through December 1 on the Bozeman, Hebgen Lake, Gardiner, Yellowstone and Beartooth ranger districts.
The order allows approved methods including closed hard-sided vehicles or trailers, certified bear-resistant products and a compliant 10-foot-high / 4-foot-out suspension.
Idaho Panhandle Has Its Own Map and Dates
Parts of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests have mandatory seasonal requirements, with covered districts, front-country rules and backcountry rules defined by the local order.
Other Idaho forests, parks and recreation sites can use different boundaries, dates and approved methods. Read the order—not just a social post about it.
Do Not Stack the Kitchen on the Bedroom
Where terrain, campsite rules and your vehicle setup allow, separate where you sleep, cook and store attractants.
Run the Camp Audit Before Bed or Before You Drive Away
Tap each item as you secure it. The goal is not “probably fine.” The goal is zero unsecured attractants.
Crime-Scene Prevention Checklist
Click each line after it is physically stored, closed, cleaned or packed out.
Do Not Become Part of the Evidence
This is not a complete bear-encounter course. Use current agency guidance and learn how to deploy bear spray before the trip.
Stay calm, maintain distance and move toward safety without turning the situation into a chase.
Your cooler is replaceable. Trying to reclaim it can place you directly between a bear and a food reward.
Carry it where you can reach it immediately and follow current wildlife-agency instructions for use.
Contact the managing ranger district, park or wildlife agency when a bear enters camp, obtains food or behaves aggressively.
Open the Actual Rules
Save these pages before leaving service. Then check the specific forest, district, park or BLM field office for your destination.