LOCALadk Magazine

Summer 2019 LOCALadk Magazine 5 LOCALadk How to Avoid Negative Conflicts with Bears A message from the Department of Environmental Conservation The sun is shining. You feel a warm glow on your face through the thin layer of your tent walls. You sit up, stretch, and with a smile on your face, unzip your tent door, ready for breakfast, coffee, and a full day of exploring. You crawl out of your tent only to realize that you had an unwanted visitor last night. You see shredded wrappers thrown about your campsite. As you take in the sight of your food, trash, gear, and toiletries scattered on the forest floor, you sigh in disbe- lief. Your bear hang failed. As you slowly start to pick up, you realize your trip just came to an end: you're out of food, your gear is a mess, and you fear the bear's return. The following tips, recommendations, and regulations will help you to avoid negative bear conflicts, like the one above, on your next hiking or camping trip in the Adirondacks. First, always check the area where you are planning to take your trip. Find out if bears have been sighted or reported in the area. Check the regulations. Are bear canisters required? If so, what kind will work best? Are there any wildlife adviso- ries for the area you are visiting? When recreating in the Adirondacks, you should always be prepared for the slight chance you may encounter a bear. When day hiking, keep your food in the center of your pack. If you encounter a bear, back away slowly while making a lot of noise. Do not take your pack off and do not give the bear food. Avoid leaving your pack unattended while you are resting, taking photos, or digging a cathole to use as a toilet. Bears have been known to steal unattended packs on trails. Always carr y out what you carr y in, including all food scraps, like banana peels or apple cores. Anything left behind may attract bears to popular trails. If you plan to camp in the backcountr y, be sure to do your research ahead of time as mentioned before. The High Peaks Wilderness requires the use of bear canisters for any over- night camping, and canisters are recommended ever ywhere else in the Adirondack Park. Bear canisters are used for stor- ing and locking away anything that has a scent. This includes all food, toiletries like toothpaste and toothbrushes, food waste, and trash. At night, store your bear canister at least 100 feet from any campsite. It is best to store the canister upside down to hide the lid. Place it close to a tree or rock to help disguise it. You can learn more about which bear can- isters work best in the High Peaks Wilderness on the DEC's website: http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7225.html. Be sure to keep a clean campsite, and never throw trash, food scraps, grease, or cooking water into your campfire. This leaves a scent that may attract bears. Cook earlier in the evening while it is still daylight and clean up immediately af- ter. It is also recommended that you cook your meals at least 100 feet from any campsite to keep the scent away from where you are sleeping. Never leave your food unattended. Knowing these tips, recommendations, and regulations will help you avoid negative bear encounters, keeping you and the bears safe. Learn more about bears in the Adiron- dacks on the DEC's website: http://www.dec.ny.gov/ani- mals/6960.html. Photo by Joel Keen, taken in Thendera Photo provided by NYS DEC

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