BOUNDARY WATERS — There was a dramatic decline in bear and human interactions in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in 2024.
According to a Superior National Forest news release, less than 10 encounters were reported in the wilderness, compared to an average of 40 to 50 reports during the previous four years. This is despite the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reporting record high bear encounters elsewhere in the state.
One notable change last year was the implementation of new food storage requirements in the BWCAW. Visitors are required to hang items in a tree or using approved bear-resistant containers or face possible penalties.
Forest staff reported issuing no violation notices last year and instead focusing on education, with wilderness rangers reporting very good compliance.
But several factors can influence the number of bear and human encounters and forest staff say it is too soon to say how much the food storage order played a part in the decline.
Superior National Forest reported it will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the food storage order and any unintended consequences.
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