The USFS announced it is maintaining current requirements for securely storing all food, food containers, and scented items to minimize bear-human interactions in the BWCAW. It updated Forest Order Number 09-09-26-02, which requires that attractants be suspended at least 12 feet above the surface of the ground and 6 feet horizontally from the trunk of a tree or stored in an Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee-certified bear-resistant container. This update extends the application of these rules for five additional years, and while these practices were formerly “recommendations,” this order (effective February 1, 2026, through February 1, 2031) makes them mandatory requirements, subject to a fine.
The order applies annually from April 1 to November 30, when bears are active. During this time, you must follow one of these three rules while in the wilderness area. The “Line of Sight” Rule states that you can have food on the ground only if you are actively cooking, eating, or sitting right next to it and watching it. If you aren’t watching it, you must hang your food bag so it is at least 12 feet off the ground and at least six feet away from the trunk of the tree. You may store food on the ground if it is inside a container certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) (e.g., a BearVault or Ursack). Standard blue plastic barrels are not IGBC-certified. If you use one, you are legally required to hang it according to the dimensions above.
Bears have an incredible sense of smell and are attracted to more than just your dinner. The updated order explicitly includes all food and beverages, as well as garbage and food scraps, which visitors must pack out. Scented items such as toothpaste, lip balm, soap, sunscreen, and even deodorant are also included.
The standard fine for a violation is $50, though the legal maximum for “Class B misdemeanors” can technically go higher for repeat or egregious offenses.
The Forest Service made these rules mandatory after seeing a significant drop in bear-human conflicts, from nearly 60 reports a year to under 10 during the 2024-2025 trial.
USFS uses the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) list of suitable storage containers as its gold standard. If it has the IGBC seal and a certification number, you can legally store it on the ground at your campsite. You can find the IGBC list of containers online at igbconline.org. Its list of Bear-Resistant Products includes nearly 500 products from more than 100 manufacturers.
