Archived Outdoors

New bear regulations in place for Pisgah National Forest

Backpackers in several popular areas of Pisgah National Forest are now required to use bear canisters when staying overnight, following a recent policy change by the U.S. Forest Service. 

Reports of bears accessing food from improperly stored gear and, most notably, an instance of a bear entering a tent at Graveyard Fields in March, resulted in a new requirement for canister use in Shining Rock Wilderness as well as the Black Balsam, Sams Knob and Flat Laurel Creek areas of the forest. Meanwhile, Graveyard Fields is under a camping ban until further notice. 

“Visitor safety is of the utmost importance, and canisters are the most effective way to safely store food and reduce bear-human conflicts,” said Pisgah District Ranger Derek Ibarguen.

Bear canisters must be commercially made of solid, non-pliable material manufactured to resist entry by bears. Other practices to prevent bear encounters include cleaning up food and garbage from the campsite and never leaving food unattended. 

More safety tips are online at www.fs.usda.gov/main/r8/recreation/safety-ethics.

Pisgah Ranger District, 828.877.3265.

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.