WDFW installs bear-resistant food lockers in northeast Washington
Lockers can increase safety for both humans and bears
Northeast Washington is bear country. Particularly the Sherman Creek Wildlife Area in Ferry County and the LeClerc Wildlife Area in Pend Oreille County, both of which were developed to provide space and habitat for wildlife. Sherman Creek is made up of almost 12,000 acres of public land along the north shore of Lake Roosevelt, while LeClerc boasts 618 acres of non-contiguous land along the east side of the Pend Oreille River. Those rivers make the lands around them ideal wildlife corridors and habitat.
Bears are some of the wild animals that call Sherman Creek and LeClerc home. Most are black bears but there is also a small population of grizzly bears in northeast Washington, and the LeClerc Wildlife Area is sometimes used by the Selkirk Grizzly Bear population. While grizzlies and black bears have some distinct differences, the result can be the same when humans have negative interactions with them. To help prevent the overlap of bears and people, WDFW recently installed the first Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC)-certified bear-resistant food lockers on Department-managed lands. The lockers are square metal structures that humans can open using their opposable thumbs, but bears can’t. They were funded through a partnership with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and WDFW’s Diversity Division.
Both of the wildlife areas have camping spots that are popular with hunters, hikers, and other outdoor recreationists. Five of the lockers were installed this fall at these sites (three at Sherman Creek and two at LeClerc) and could save you a lot of inconvenience, while potentially saving the life of a bear. It’s not unusual unfortunately for WDFW staff to respond to bear complaints. Sometimes it is necessary to lethally remove these bears as they can become aggressive or a safety threat to humans due to being habituated to humans and our food. As the old saying goes, ‘A fed bear is a dead bear’. Many incidents involving bears could be avoided if people took a few precautions such as securing trash, putting pet food away, and storing food properly. In other words — store these items in a bear proof locker when available.
Here’s how the lockers work; as soon as you set up camp, just put all food (even sealed items), trash, toiletries, and scented items in the locker. Close the door and make sure it latches correctly. Be sure to keep it closed and latched at all times, even if you are in your campsite.
Bears have exceptional noses and can smell food from miles away. Even non-food items- such as deodorant and toothpaste, lotions, and citronella candles- can pique a bear’s interest. If it is unable to access the source of the smell and doesn’t get a food reward, it will generally wander off.
The best approach is always prevention, so some other ways to keep bears out of your camp include:
- Stash Your Trash
If a bear-resistant locker isn’t available or is full, double bag trash and lock it in the trunk of your vehicle. Never leave trash outside. Don’t bury or burn garbage; it doesn’t effectively get rid of the remains or scent. - Change your clothes
Don’t sleep in the clothes you cooked in or store them in your tent; put them with your food in a locker or vehicle. - Keep a Clean Tent
Don’t bring anything with an odor into your tent — that includes all foods, beverages, scented toiletries, gum, toothpaste, sunscreen, candles, and insect repellant.
While most people will never have a close encounter with a bear in the wild, it is always better to be safe than sorry, so we also recommend carrying bear spray (and knowing how to use it) in areas where bears or other potentially dangerous wildlife are present.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.
