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Forest lean-to camp with proper food storage setup

Safety · printable

Bear Country Food Storage Checklist

The full pre-trip, in-camp, and break-camp checklist for keeping food and smellables out of bear reach — with the 100-yard triangle, canister rules, and grizzly-specific additions.

The core rule: a bear that gets human food once associates people with calories and often has to be killed by rangers. Perfect food storage is not about your convenience — it's about the bears that come after you.
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Before the trip

Smellables (all of these go with the food)

Anything with an odor — not just food.

Storage method (pick ONE, primary)

Camp layout (the triangle)

Sleep, cook, and food storage form a triangle at least 100 yards / 90 m apart.

Cooking discipline

Encounter kit (in reach, not in the food)

Grizzly-specific additions

Break camp

FAQ

Is hanging food good enough in grizzly country?
No. In most grizzly-active jurisdictions (Yellowstone, Grand Teton, most of BC and AK, the Sierra where black bears have defeated hangs), an IGBC-certified canister or a rated Ursack + OPSAK is required. Check regulations before every trip.
Does bear spray replace food storage?
No. Bear spray is a last-resort tool if a bear closes distance on you. Food storage is what keeps the bear from coming to camp in the first place. You need both, and the spray goes on your hip belt — not in the pack.
What about mountain lions?
Food storage doesn't attract mountain lions the same way — they hunt live prey. But keep pets close, don't hike alone at dawn/dusk in known lion country, and if approached: look big, don't run, fight back if attacked.
Can I embed this checklist?
Yes — link to wild10.com/tools/bear-country-food-storage. We update the certified-canister list and regulation notes seasonally.
Citing this page: Link to wild10.com/tools/bear-country-food-storage. Regulations vary — always confirm with the land manager for your specific unit before your trip.