Bear Safety

A picnic table and bear box in site 5 at Lunksoos campground.

NPS/Grace Kirk

 

General Bear Safety

Black bears can be found at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Some trail conditions make it hard for bears to hear, see, or smell approaching hikers. Be particularly careful near streams, when it's windy, in dense vegetation, or in any circumstance that limits line of sight (e.g. a blind corner or rise in the trail).

• Never intentionally get close to a bear. Individual bears have their own personal space requirements that vary depending on their mood. Each bear will react differently and a bear's behavior cannot be predicted. All bears are wild and dangerous and should be respected equally.
• Keep children close by. Hike in groups and avoid hiking early in the morning, late in the day, or after dark. The use of personal audio devices is strongly discouraged.
• Keep your pack with you at all times. It's ok to bring food while day hiking, but make sure to keep it with you at all times. Never allow a bear to get human food. If approached by a bear while eating, put food away and retreat to a safe distance. Never throw your pack or food at a bear in an attempt to distract it, or abandon food because of an approaching bear. Always take the food with you. Bears that receive human foods often become aggressive and must be killed. Keep yourself and the wildlife safe.

 

Bear box at Sand Bank Stream camping area.

NPS/Gin Majka

Camping and Food Storage

• All food, garbage, toiletries and any odorous item that may attract a bear must be stored in a bear-resistant canisters or inside an NPS metal bear food storage box at the site.
• Store your bear-resistent food container away from camp. Bear-resistant containers only work if they are closed and locked. Be sure to keep the container closed and locked even while you're around your campsite.
• Keep anything ordorous in the food container: do not store anything containing an odor in your tent.
• All of these items must be stored properly: canned goods, bottles, drinks, soaps, cosmetics, toiletries, trash, ice chests, sunscreen, bug repellant, fuel, items used for preparing or eating meals, etc.
• Do NOT dispose of food waste in the wilderness. Pack out all uneaten food and food particles. Treat food wrappers and other garbage the same as food.
• Leave No Trace

 

Bear canister in the wilderness.

NPS

Why is Human Food Bad for Bears?

By eating human food, bears can lose their preference for natural food sources and their fear of humans. Over time, these bears may begin approaching people in search of food. They can become aggressive, unpredictable, and dangerous. Bears looking for human food and garbage can damage property and injure people. These bears pose a risk to public safety and are often euthanized as a result. Studies have also shown that bears that lose their fear of people have a shorter life expectancy than bears that feed on natural foods and are afraid of people. As bears become comfortable around humans, they are more likely to be in areas where humans are. These bears are at risk of being euthanized to protect people, getting hit by a car, and becoming an easy target for poachers.