Bear Country Canister & Odor-Proof Storage

Store food, trash and scented items the way bear country requires, so you and the bears both stay safe.

Intermediate

5 min

BEAR COUNTRY CANISTER & ODOR-PROOF STORAGE
[ ] IGBC-Certified Canister
[ ] Scent-Proof Bags
[ ] 100yd Camp Triangle

IGBC-Certified Canister: look for the IGBC certification. Make sure it fits in your pack with your food.
Scent-Proof Bags: use them as one layer inside the canister, not in place of it.
100yd Camp Triangle: a handy rule of thumb for spacing your cook, store and sleep areas. Park rules about distances differ, so follow the park first.

Learn your park's food storage rule. Some parks require a canister in certain areas, others accept hanging or lockers. Check current local rules at nps.gov or the managing agency before you go. Why it matters: the required method is different from park to park.
Keep every scented item sealed and away from your tent. Food, trash and toiletries go in the canister. Close the lid fully every time.
If a bear approaches, do not run. Stay calm, back away slowly and make yourself look big. Never feed a bear or leave food behind to distract it. Report encounters to a ranger. See nps.gov for current bear safety guidance.

Gear types only.

Bear-resistant food canister
Odor-barrier bags
Compact cook kit
Bear spray holster, where bear spray is allowed
Headlamp with a red light mode
Insulated drinkware for hot drinks that you finish before bed

Zone precautions: what to ask before a Zion-style trip

Not every national park has the same wildlife. Some parks have bears, others have rodents, ravens or other animals that go after food. Before you go, ask the park: which animals are active, what storage method is required, and what to do with food and trash at trailheads and in the vehicle. Start with the Zion page on nps.gov (nps.gov/zion) for that park's current guidance.

Food storage, canister requirements, bear spray rules and camp layout distances vary by park and by area. Check current local rules with the managing agency at nps.gov, and see the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (igbconline.org) for tested products.

Respect for wildlife starts with how you store your food. Do it every night and you keep both of you safe. A Wild Dirt sticker on your canister helps you spot it at camp.

Containers

IGBC-Certified Canister, from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee's list of tested products
Scent-Proof Bags for food, trash and toiletries inside the canister
Extra bags for trash, so waste never sits loose
Check that the canister is on the approved list your park accepts

What goes in

All food, snacks and drink mixes
Trash, including wrappers and used food bags
Toothpaste, sunscreen, lip balm, soap and deodorant
Pet food, if you bring a pet and the park allows it

Camp layout

100yd Camp Triangle: cook, store food and sleep in separate spots, as far apart as your park's rules direct
Cooking spot downwind from where you sleep
Canister stored on level ground, away from cliffs and water, with the lid closed
Cooking and eating clothes kept out of the tent when you can

Before bed

Dishes cleaned and wastewater disposed of as the park directs
Crumbs and scraps picked up
Bear spray within reach, if the park permits it and you know how to use it

Containers

IGBC-Certified Canister, from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee's list of tested products
Scent-Proof Bags for food, trash and toiletries inside the canister
Extra bags for trash, so waste never sits loose
Check that the canister is on the approved list your park accepts

What goes in

All food, snacks and drink mixes
Trash, including wrappers and used food bags
Toothpaste, sunscreen, lip balm, soap and deodorant
Pet food, if you bring a pet and the park allows it

Camp layout

100yd Camp Triangle: cook, store food and sleep in separate spots, as far apart as your park's rules direct
Cooking spot downwind from where you sleep
Canister stored on level ground, away from cliffs and water, with the lid closed
Cooking and eating clothes kept out of the tent when you can

Before bed

Dishes cleaned and wastewater disposed of as the park directs
Crumbs and scraps picked up
Bear spray within reach, if the park permits it and you know how to use it