July 2004

New Food Storage Order Coming in 2006

Gallatin National Forest managers plan to implement a new food storage order (FSO) in January 2006. The new order is intended to reduce wildlife conflicts related to food, refuse, and other attractants, thereby promoting human safety and the protection of bears and other wildlife species.

Portions of the Gallatin National Forest, primarily the Hebgen Lake and Gardiner Ranger Districts on the southern end of the Forest, have been covered by a food storage order since 1985. The current order requires that unattended food, refuse, and attractants be stored in hard-sided vehicles or bear-resistant containers, or hung above the ground out of the reach of bears. Food, refuse, and attractants are defined as anything that has a scent; i.e., human food, deodorant, toothpaste, cosmetics, garbage, lotions, game carcasses, petflivestock food, etc.

The new food storage order will focus on reducing conflicts between humans and wildlife -- not just grizzly bears. The order is expected to be implemented in 2006 and will be in effect from March 1 through December 1 on an annual basis. The order will require that unattended food, refuse, and attractants be stored in hard-sided vehicles or bear-resistant containers (or hung above the ground out of the reach of wildlife) at all locations in the Gallatin National Forest. Gallatin NF managers are currently evaluating how to improve forest users' abilities to comply with the order. This process includes evaluating potential uses of electric fencing, a certification program for bear-resistant containers, options for "acceptably stored" animal carcasses, appropriate methods for burning garbage, and the use of hay pellets. Individuals who do not comply with the new food storage order can be fined.

The Gallatin National Forest is one of six National Forests in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) which has a food storage order in place. (Other GYA Forests include the Custer, Beaverhead- Deerlodge, Shoshone, Caribou-Targhee, and Bridger-Teton National Forests.) Gallatin NF managers are currently informing forest users of the new order and will be installing infrastructure (such as bear-resistant garbage dumpsters) at designated developed and dispersed sites.

For more information, contact: Ron Archuleta, 406-222- 1892, or Marion Cherry, 406-587-6739.