Do bear-safe rules still apply in the winter?

Question

I understand, and practice, bear-safe rules like hanging (or canister-ing) during summer months, but what about in the winter when bears are (theoretically) hibernating, and the shorter / colder days make every extra task 10 times more difficult?

Is there some room for leeway?

Answer 1

Bears don’t really hibernate, although they lower their activity during winter. Here’s one sample study of Black Bear winter behaviour in Sierra Nevada, California:

Thirty-nine (62 %) bears were winter-dormant for at least 2 weeks; the remaining 24 (38 %) remained active all winter.

Here in Czech Republic we don’t have many bears, most of them cross from Slovakia, but around the state border it’s quite common to find bear footprints in snow during the winter. Draw your own conclusions.

Answer 2

Bear canister rules are often relaxed in the winter. However, this will depend on where you are camping. On the east coast, in the Adirondacks, the rule is:

NYSDEC Regulation Requires The Use of Bear Resistant Canisters by Overnight Users in The Eastern High Peaks Wilderness Between April 1 And November 30. NYSDEC encourages campers to use bear resistant canisters throughout the Adirondack and Catskill backcountry.

On the other hand, out west bear cans are often required year round.

Obviously, you'll want to check the rules for the specific park you are going to be in, but as a more general guideline, if the temperature is generally staying below freezing there shouldn't be much bear activity. Combined with the general bear population this will determine if bears are likely to be a problem.

Another thing to consider though, is that hanging your food protects it from more than just bears (eg mice). While the bears might not be a problem, mice don't hibernate.

Answer 3

Hanging a bear bag isn't just for bears. It's also to protect your food from other wildlife. Shorter and colder days are all the more reason to plan accordingly to protect your food from hungry animals that are just looking for an easy meal.

From Princeton's Outdoor Action Site:

“Bear bagging” is something of a general term used for hanging your food. There are lots of other animals (raccoons, opossums, coyotes, chipmunks, skunks, etc.) that will go after human food. In some cases you may be camped in locations where there are no bears, but still need to hang your food at night. The best thing to do is talk with local rangers about what the “critter” population is and what precautions you will need to take. In areas with significant bear problems, there may be permanent food hanging stands or containers provided by the park.

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There may be some leeway in the winter according to regulations and park rules, but it's not worth the risk, especially if you are out for an extended stay and holding on to your food supply is critical.

This varies by region, but with changing weather conditions, there is no guarantee that the bears in the area where you just happen to be are in fact hibernating. Here in the Southeast black bears usually don't hibernate at all, considering the generally mild winters. They can be less active, but don't count on it. Other regions may be similar.

If the area you're visiting requires canisters, then maintain usage of the canister. If not, then still hang a bear-bag.

So as far as I'm concerned, yes, bear-safe rules still apply in winter.

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Personal anecdote: I was backpacking on the Appalachian Trail in Grayson Highlands State Park near Mount Rogers in the winter several years ago. There was probably two feet of snow or more everywhere. We didn't hang bear bags. What got into our food? Wild ponies. Yep. Wild ponies. Who knew.

Caveat: All that said, there are always exceptions. Varying situations can often dictate what we do when actually out in the wilderness, especially in freezing temperatures. For example, if I'm trying to make camp as fast as possible because it came a blizzard and I don't want anyone to get frostbite or hypothermic, then a bear bag is not top priority. (I'm going to assume bears are also seeking shelter in a blizzard.) If me or someone in the group is taking care of a mildly hypothermic person, and they need to have food available to metabolize, then they can keep some food, while we hang the rest. Patient treatment takes priority. Sometimes you just have to weigh risks in less than ideal circumstances.

Answer 4

I would suggest following the bear rules year round. In the Canadian Rockies, we still have areas closed due to bear activity in the middle of January. Plus ravens will make short work of anything left accessible, not to mention worrying about attracting cougars and wolves.

Here's a couple links outlining safety for camping in the backcountry, and in case you do see a bear.

Be Bear Smart
Backcountry Camping