Bear Resistant Food Containers

Since most of the park's backcountry lies above treeline, do NOT plan on hanging your food in trees. Use BRFC's instead!

Proper food storage is REQUIRED within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve. Using a bear resistant food container (BRFC) is an easy way to comply. You can borrow BRFCs at any park visitor center for backcountry use. BRFCs are not available at the McCarthy Road Information Station. We have a limited supply for public use. A refundable deposit is required.

Each container will fit in a standard backpacking pack and holds enough food for one person for about 5 days (more if you pack in tightly). All items with an odor must be stored in the BRFC at all times.

• NEVER place a cookstove on the BRFC
• ALWAYS keep the BRFC away from your tent and campsite
• ALWAYS seal food in plastic bag within the BRFC
• ALWAYS keep latched and secured
• BRFC's are NOT watertight- in the case of rain, turn them upside-down in order to keep water out.

 

Where Can I Obtain My Own BRFC?
To assist you in locating Bear (Animal) Resistant Food/Garbage Containers, here is a list of known sources who carry them. We also recommend checking with your outfitter, air taxi or guide service for additional supplies.

The following list is provided as a public service; however, inclusion in this list should in no way be viewed as an endorsement by Wrangell-St. Elias, the National Park Service, or the Department of Interior.

VENDOR	ADDRESS	TELEPHONE	WEBSITE
BIG RAY’S (Sales / Rental)	507 Second Ave. Fairbanks, AK 99701	[phone]
BEAVER SPORTS (Sales)	3480 College Road Fairbanks, AK 99709	[phone]	www.beaversports.com
BEARIKADE by WILD IDEAS, LLC (Manufacturer / Sales / Rental)	P. O. Box 60813 Santa Barbara, CA 93160	[phone]	www.wild-ideas.net
CAMPMOR (Sales)	Box 700-U Saddle River, NJ 07458-0700	[phone] or [phone]	www.campmor.com
GARCIA MACHINE (Manufacturer / Sales)	14097 Avenue 272 Visalia, CA 93292	[phone]
PHILLIPS ENVIRONMENTAL, INC. (Manufacturer of steel drums)	1813 East I Street Anchorage, AK 99501	[phone]
R.E.I. (Mail Order Sales)	Sumner, WA 98352	[phone]	www.rei.com
R.E.I. (Retail Store Sales)	1200 W. Northern Lights Blvd. Anchorage, AK 99503	[phone]
UNITECH OF ALASKA (Manufacturer of steel and poly-drums)	2401 Cinnabar Loop Anchorage, AK 99507	[phone]