Exploring bear country means sharing space with some of North America's most powerful wildlife. Proper food storage isn't just a personal safety measure—it's part of protecting bears and preserving wild spaces for everyone.

Rules for bear-resistant containers continue to expand alongside conservation efforts. But figuring out where they're required can be tricky, often involving piecing together information from multiple park and trail websites.

This page pulls together three easy tools to help you quickly find the correct information:

1. Interactive Map: Zoom, scroll, and explore to see bear habitat overlaid with park and trail requirements.

2. Park Requirements List: Use the drop-down menu to check rules for your specific destination.

3. Trail Requirements List: Look up your route to see if you'll need a canister along the way.

| Note: This guide is extensive but not exhaustive. If you don't see your destination listed, always check directly with your park or land manager's website for the most up-to-date regulations.

Interactive Map of Black & Grizzly Bear Range

Saber dónde se requieren contenedores para osos comienza por saber dónde viven . Este mapa interactivo muestra una amplia visión general de la zona de osos en Norteamérica, con regiones sombreadas para el hábitat general de los osos (diferentes colores para las poblaciones de osos negros y grizzlys). Las superposiciones rojas marcan las áreas donde se requieren contenedores para osos, y las líneas rojas trazan los senderos de larga distancia.

Use the map to:

  • Zoom in and out to explore specific regions in the U.S. and Canada
  • See the approximate extent of bear range and bear country you might pass through
  • Get a visual sense of where bear storage rules might apply