Yes, Our Canisters Are Really Tested on Bears
BearVault canisters are certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) and the Wildlife Management Institute's Black Bear-Resistant Product Testing (WMI), and every model has passed mandatory live bear testing
Every model must withstand over 60 minutes of active bear contact without access—ensuring you carry gear that’s not just “theoretically” bear-resistant, but proven under the toughest conditions.
These tests are required by many national parks for backcountry travel.
| Model | IGBC (Grizzly) & WMI (Black Bear) Certified | Certification Number |
|---|---|---|
| BV500 | ✅ | No. 5340 (IGBC) | No. BB0010 (WMI) |
| BV475 | ✅ | No. 5423 (IGBC) | No. BB0021 (WMI) |
| BV450 | ✅ | No. 5339 (IGBC) | No. BB0022 (WMI) |
| BV425 | ✅ | No. 5422 (IGBC) | No. BB0009 (WMI) |
| BV ONE | ✅ | No. 255500 (IGBC) | No.BB0018 (WMI) |
Why Bear Testing Matters
Built to Keep Bears Wild — and You Safe
Keeping wildlife wild means making sure they seek natural food sources and maintain distance from human activity. Bears and other wildlife typically venture closer to people in search of quick access to high-calorie foods. However, if they are rewarded by gaining access to food, they can quickly become “food-conditioned”.
Food conditioned bears can become bolder, more persistent, and even more aggressive in their search for food, increasing the risk of dangerous encounters. Unfortunately, most food-conditioned bears are relocated or euthanized to protect public safety.
By developing and thoroughly testing bear-resistant canisters, allowing people to protect their food from bears and to protect bears from human food, BearVault helps avoid these conflicts. Our gear supports conservation efforts by keeping both bears and people safe in the backcountry.
| “A fed bear is a dead bear.” - A common saying among wildlife biologists, NPS
Who Certifies Bear Resistant Gear?
Grizzly Bear Testing
Meet the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC)
Established in 1983, the IGBC is a coalition of multiple federal and state agencies dedicated to grizzly bear recovery and human-bear conflict reduction across the U.S. Northern Rockies and beyond.
Participating agencies include:
- National Park Service
- U.S Fish & Wildlife Service
- Bureau of Land Management
- State wildlife and land management departments
The IGBC oversees grizzly bear testing and certifies bear-resistant products, such as canisters, coolers, and dumpsters, that meet rigorous safety standards.
To be IGBC certified, a bear canister must pass live testing at an approved facility featuring captive grizzlies. These bears are pros at getting into even the toughest-looking containers.
What it Really Means to be IGBC Approved
IGBC certification is not a rubber stamp — it’s a strict pass/fail evaluation based on aggressive, real bear behavior in a controlled environment. In fact, over 95% of products tested by these professional bears don’t make the cut!
- The product undergoes a pre-test evaluation to ensure it will be safe for bears to test.
- The product undergoes a live grizzly bear test where the canister must accumulate a minimum of 60 minutes of aggressive bear contact (biting, clawing, or pumping) with the product. While the canister is expected to sustain some damage, only very small holes that do not allow access to food are tolerated.
- All tests are video-recorded, documented, & reviewed by a multi-agency panel of bear experts before official certification is issued.
Black Bear Testing
Meet the Wildlife Management Institute (WMI)
The Wildlife Management Institute is a nonprofit conservation organization that began its testing operations in 2023 and oversees live black bear testing for bear-resistant products through its Black Bear-Resistant Product Testing Program. The program evaluates commercially available products to verify they can withstand determined black bears under controlled testing conditions.
Black bears present different challenges than grizzlies, which is why the Wildlife Management Institute (WMI) developed a dedicated testing program for black bear-resistant products. The program evaluates commercially available bear-resistant products, including canisters, to verify they can withstand determined black bears under controlled testing conditions.
What It Really Means to Be WMI Certified:
Like IGBC certification, WMI approval follows a standard testing procedure. Products undergo live testing with captive black bears and must withstand at least 60 minutes of continuous bear contact. Including biting, clawing, rolling, and pouncing, without allowing access to the contents or losing their intended function.
Every current BearVault model: BV425, BV450, BV475, BV500, and BV ONE has successfully passed WMI testing.
Before The WMI
The Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group
Before IGBC certification became the widely recognized standard for bear-resistant products, the Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group (SIBBG) managed black bear-specific testing in California’s Sierra Nevada region.
This interagency group brought together wildlife and land management agencies to evaluate products designed to protect food from highly food-conditioned black bears. Their rigorous testing protocols included visual inspections, structural testing, captive bear testing, and field evaluations, helping advance the understanding of bear-resistant product performance.
The SIBBG program was discontinued in 2011, but its work helped inform the evolution of bear-resistant product testing standards. Before the program ended, BearVault’s BV500 and BV450 were proudly certified through SIBBG, preserving their place on the approved list for Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks.
Today, IGBC certification is the primary standard recognized across many public lands, and the introduction of WMI’s black bear testing program in 2023 represents an exciting new chapter in the continued evaluation of bear-resistant products.
How BearVaults Are Tested
BearVault doesn’t take shortcuts on bear safety. Since earning IGBC certification in 2004, every BearVault model and size variant—including updates to materials or lid design—undergoes rigorous grizzly and black bear testing atWMI and IGBC approved facilities.
These testing programs are the only bear-resistance certifications officially recognized by bear management experts in the U.S., designed to prevent ineffective products from going to market.
Visual and Mechanical Design Review
BearVault knows that both backpackers and bears are counting on a reliable bear canister. Our meticulous design process starts well before live testing begins to ensure the best possible product.
Our engineering team utilizes state-of-the-art materials, prototyping, and engineering tools to design a canister that is easy for users to open and carry, yet stands strong against bears of all shapes and sizes.
We conduct advanced computer simulations, mechanical testing, and we employ other proprietary test methods to create the best products possible.
Live Bear Testing
Live testing for the IGBC takes place at either the WSU Bear Center in Pullman, Washington or the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, Montana. Testing for the WMI takes place at the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, Florida.
Testing Protocol:
- The canister is filled with highly appealing substances, such as peanut butter, honey, fish, and dog kibble, to attract the bears' interest.
- Several bears of varying ages and strength interact with the container throughout the test.
- Bears bite, claw, chew, compress, scratch, and pound the canisters
The test ends when:
- The canister withstands 60 minutes of attempts to breach the canister without breach = Pass
- The canister is penetrated, bent, broken, or compromised, allowing access = Fail
All testing is monitored, recorded, and archived to guide future product development and maintain a clear record of what has passed.
This rigorous protocol ensures BearVault canisters aren’t just theoretically resistant — they’re proven in the paws of bear experts
Approved For The Backcountry
What This Means For You
IGBC and WMI certifications aren't just for show — they’re your ticket to legal and safe backcountry camping. Many national parks and wilderness areas now require bear canisters, and most rely on either the IGBC or WMI list of certified models.
With BearVault, you’re carrying a canister that’s:
- Trusted by park rangers
- Officially approved by the IGBC & WMI
- Tested by real grizzlies
