Rocky Mountain National Park Mandates Bear-proof Backcountry Food Containers

With only about 20 to 25 bears left in Rocky Mountain National Park — considered one of the lowest densities of black bears in the country — the Park is taking steps to save them by changing human behavior. 

Starting May 1, overnight campers will be required to store food in bear-resistant food canisters, or bear vaults, when exploring the backcountry.

Bear canisters, cylindrical containers that weigh less than 3 pounds made out of high impact plastic, aluminum or carbon fiber, are designed to fit inside or on the outside of backpacks. Most are about 12 inches high by 9 inches in diameter. 

Such containers have no rough edges where a bear could pry to get inside, and the diameter is too large for a bear to get its jaws around, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society. One canister can hold about five to six days of food for one person or up to three-days worth of food for two people.