Photo: Pete Nuij on Unsplash.com

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - January 16, 2026

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) announced on January 15, 2026, that it is extending mandatory bear food storage requirements within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) for an additional five years. This updated order is scheduled to remain in effect from February 1, 2026, through February 1, 2031. According to the USFS, the extension is intended to continue reducing human-bear interactions while protecting both public safety and the local bear population.

Under Forest Order Number 09-09-26-02, all visitors to the BWCAW must secure "attractants," which the agency defines as food, food containers, scented items such as soap or lip balm, and trash. The USFS states that these items must be stored using one of two approved methods: suspended at least 12 feet above the ground and 6 feet horizontally from a tree trunk, or stored in containers certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC). The USFS added that "blue plastic food barrels," while commonly used, are not IGBC-certified and do not fulfill the legal requirement. The food storage requirement is active annually from April 1 through November 30, now beginning one month later than the March 1 start date established in the original 2024 order, based on the "black bear denning season" and "seasonal weather transitions."

The USFS reported that the BWCAW has faced a decade of increasing conflicts resulting from a healthy bear population, high visitor volume, and inconsistent storage habits. The organization estimates Minnesota’s black bear population at 13,000 to 18,000 animals, and while natural bear-friendly food sources fluctuate annually, bears are often driven to seek high-calorie human food during periods when natural forage is scarce.

A primary concern and proposed need for the initial Forest Order in 2024, cited by wildlife managers, is "behavioral conditioning," a process where bears lose their natural fear of humans and begin to associate campsites with food rewards. This behavior leads to increased boldness, property damage, and potentially dangerous encounters. The USFS points out that once a bear becomes a threat to public safety, it is often euthanized. The mandatory order is designed to break this cycle by preventing bears from being "rewarded" with human food, with the goal of supporting the "long-term health and wildness of the species."

In a document shared with Boreal Community Media, the decision to extend the mandate follows a "dramatic reduction" in human-bear conflicts during the initial implementation phase, as the USFS described. Prior to the 2024 mandate, the BWCAW averaged approximately 58 reported bear encounters annually between 2021 and 2023. According to the USFS, reported incidents dropped to fewer than 10 in 2024, marking a significant decrease from the preceding annual average. However, the organization also noted that the availability of natural bear food sources was particularly high during that same year.

The USFS reports that visitor compliance has been "very good," largely due to an emphasis on education over enforcement for minor offenses during the initial season. However, the legal maximum penalties for violations remain up to $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or potential imprisonment for up to six months.

Related: Superior National Forest provides tips for recreating in Bear Country

Despite the initial success of the order, the USFS acknowledges ongoing challenges, including the need for consistent education for new visitors. Some user groups have expressed concerns regarding the severity of potential penalties, which the agency plans to address by clearly communicating its focus on prevention over punishment. The USFS intends to continue monitoring bear behavior and compliance rates to ensure the order remains effective, adding that a mandatory, wilderness-wide approach is necessary to avoid the confusion caused by the temporary or site-specific restrictions used in the past.