New FAQs released May 20, 2024 Q. Why $5000 and/or 6 months in prison because I decided that a blue barrel is safer than hanging when hanging has proved to be unreliable at best? A. The fine for violation of this order is $50. This is not a precedent-setting example given that all Class B misdemeanors have a ceiling set by Congress. Many BWCAW regulations carry the same potential for up to a $5,000 fine or jail time. The Forest Service intends to educate the public rather than issue citations during this transition. In addition, food storage orders to prevent black bear/human interactions are not unique to the Superior National Forest and BWCAW. There are multiple National Forests in the eastern half of the United States that currently have or have had similar food storage orders that are aimed at preventing the habituation of black bears.
Q. Isn’t stashing or storing blue barrels on the ground effective in deterring bears?
A. The Forest Service has promoted hanging blue barrels and food packs for decades. There have been multiple examples in the BWCAW to demonstrate the ineffectiveness of stashing or storing unsecured blue barrels. While blue barrels may appear “airtight”, bears can detect food within these containers. Properly hanging or using IGBC-approved containers is the best practice to prevent future bear/human encounters while traveling in the BWCAW.
Q. There are BWCAW campsites that do not have a tree that would be physically capable of meeting the criteria. Are you saying it is illegal for someone without a bear-resistant container to stay at those sites?
A. Stashing or storing blue barrels on the ground is not effective in deterring bears. The Forest Service has promoted hanging blue barrels and food packs for decades. There have been multiple examples in the BWCAW to demonstrate the ineffectiveness of stashing or storing unsecured blue barrels. While blue barrels may appear “airtight”, bears can detect food within these containers. Properly hanging or using IGBC-approved containers is the best practice to prevent future black bear/human encounters while traveling in the BWCAW.
Q. What is the purpose or goal of Forest Order 09-09-24-02?
A. Educating the public on proper food storage will be the primary tool used for implementing this new regulation. The fine for non-compliance of the food storage order is $50. The objective for instituting the food storage order is to protect black bears, preserve wilderness character, and enhance safety for BWCAW visitors. While there has been some resistance to this new regulation, support for this change has been widespread as well. In the meantime, we will continue to work with our visitors to better understand why the food storage order was enacted and how they can work towards compliance – for the safety of our visitors and the safety of the bears.
Q. Can you use your Blue Barrel and put an IGBC-approved container inside the barrel?
A. Yes you can.
Q. With large groups (9+) and a lot of food it is a real issue with hanging – especially with camps, youth groups, and scouts. What is the recommendation for these groups?
A. By reducing heavier menu items, increasing the number of containers, and/or segmenting the group's food storage will allow food containers to be used and stored properly.
Q. What happens if someone gets hurt from a heavy cooler or a barrel falling on them?
A. Smart and safe wilderness travel should be a priority for each visitor. Ensuring your food storage container is hung safely and using multiple containers to ensure you can hang it relies on good judgment. Camping in the BWCAW offers solitude, freedom, primitive recreation, challenge, risk, and personal connection with nature. Reducing your risk can be overcome with proper planning. See BWCAW Trip Planning Guide.
Q. How did this get decided? Folks have been going for years, hanging their packs, following LNT, and doing just fine.
A. We want visitors to be diligent about properly storing food at all times and throughout the BWCAW. Putting orders in place and taking them off for short durations of time or site-specific areas can be confusing and may suggest that there’s no need to be careful with food storage in other parts of the wilderness or when there is no food storage order in place.
Wilderness-wide food storage orders have been implemented in the past. However, this is the first time we have committed to having a wilderness-wide order in place for this length of time (up to two years with the potential to extend) as a preventative measure. The primary goal of the food storage order is to prevent bears and other wildlife from becoming habituated. Properly storing food will help prevent bears from associating with humans and campsites as a source of food.
Q. How do we know how to hang the food storage containers exactly how it’s required? Can you offer any hanging techniques? Is there a video that can help?
A. See Forest Order 09-09-24-02, Exhibit A, A2 that shows how to properly hang your food.
Q. The cost of the new approved equipment may be a challenge for some and the changeover from the blue barrels – how is the Forest Service addressing the burden of cost to visitors?
A. The Forest Service recognizes that some visitors may need to rent or purchase new equipment (pulleys, rope, IGBC containers, etc.) to comply with the Food Storage Forest Order. The implementation of the forest order allows for a transition and education period.
The Forest Service intends to educate the public rather than issue citations during this transition. In addition, food storage orders to prevent black bear/human interactions are not unique to the Superior National Forest and BWCAW. There are multiple National Forests in the eastern half of the United States that currently have or have had similar food storage orders that are aimed at preventing the habituation of black bears. Q. If I’m unable to hang my food due to the lack of trees on my campsite, will I get a ticket?
A. The goal of this forest order is to educate the public on the risk of bear/human conflict due to food, and proper food storage to reduce wildlife from becoming habituated.
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