Submitted
GAINESVILLE, GA — The USDA Forest Service has a food storage policy for all hikers within 1,000 feet of the Appalachian Trail (AT) — a distance equivalent to three football fields. A.T. visitors must store all food and other scented items in bear-proof containers.
“We want everyone to stay safe and be bear aware in the great outdoors,” said Judy Toppins, Forest supervisor. “Black bears have an exceptionally keen sense of smell. That’s why hikers should pack all food and personal items that smell, like toothpaste and soap, in a bear-proof container so bears and other animals can’t detect the scents.”
Overnight visitors on the AT also are encouraged to use any permanent food storage methods available at campsites and shelters, such as cable systems, metal poles with arms, and bear-proof metal boxes. A personal food storage container will prepare AT visitors if these more permanent systems are unavailable, occupied, or damaged.
Black bears are usually shy and keep their distance. However, hikers can avoid bear encounters by making noise, whistling, or talking. These noises alert nearby bears, allowing them to move away and not feel threatened by humans who traverse their habitat. While hiking, the best way to avoid a bear encounter is to be bear-aware. Don’t hang out near a bear’s favorite food sources: berry patches, decaying logs swarming with insects, and streams and rivers teeming with fish. Also, stay alert. Don’t wear headphones, and approach blind corners on the trail with caution.
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, the Cherokee National Forest, the National Forests in North Carolina, and the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests worked in coordination to develop the new policy.