Home / Environment / Bear Canister Rule Starts May 1 in Pemigewasset Wilderness
Bear Canister Rule Starts May 1 in Pemigewasset Wilderness
10 Apr
Summary
- Overnight visitors must use hard-sided bear canisters from May 1.
- New rule aims to reduce human-bear interactions due to rising incidents.
- Bear activity increased as the area's popularity grew among visitors.
Effective May 1, the Pemigewasset Wilderness will enforce a new regulation requiring overnight visitors to store food, trash, and scented items in specific cylindrical, hard-sided canisters. This mandate, issued by the U.S. Forest Service, replaces less effective food storage methods. Bear-resistant food boxes remain available at Thirteen Falls Tent Site. A free canister loan program is also offered at several New Hampshire locations to aid visitors.
The U.S. Forest Service implemented this stricter policy due to a sharp rise in bear incidents in recent years, largely attributed to improperly stored food. Increased visitation has led to bears associating humans with food sources, resulting in more frequent and potentially dangerous encounters. Officials previously warned of increased bear activity, with food-conditioned bears approaching campers.
In 2025, a significant portion of reported bear incidents occurred within the Pemigewasset Ranger District, with many inside the Pemi Wilderness. This prompted temporary closures, such as at Franconia Brook Tentsite, due to the escalating behavior of a food-habituated black bear.
