Bear-Resistant Products Testing Program

Bear-Resistant Products Testing Program

Testing of Bear-Resistant Products for Use on Private Lands

click here to see a product testing video clip!

Why Test Products Using Captive Bears

The past 5-10 years has seen a proliferation of new "bear-resistant" products being marketed and sold in North America. But not all of the products claiming to be "bear-proof" were actually effective at keeping bears out. The LWWF product testing program helps to screen out ineffective product designs before they are aggressively marketed by manufacturers. But most importantly, testing using captive bears helps prevent wild bears from becoming food conditioned by breaking into and getting food rewards from ineffective storage containers.

In addition to testing bear-resistant products, LWWF works with manufacturers and vendors of bear-resistant products to develop new and improved products and techniques for minimizing conflicts with bears and other predators.

Program History

In 1989 the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) endorsed a testing program which involves a visual inspection and an impact test of containers that were being labeled as "bear-proof" or "bear-resistant." The program focused on food storage containers and outfitter panniers that would be used on public lands in grizzly bear occupied areas in the Lower 48 States of America.

The original testing program didn't provide guidelines or standards for testing of products used primarily on private property. More specifically, the program did not test the effectiveness of bear-resistant garbage storage containers, dumpsters, or front-country feed storage containers for ranches and residences. So LWWF worked with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), the US Forest Service (USFS), and the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) to incorporate a formal protocol for testing products that fell into this category.

In December of 2003, LWWF officially launched the new phase of this program. The revised testing protocol utilizes captive grizzly bears at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center (GWDC) in West Yellowstone, Montana, and tests garbage containers, livestock and pet food storage containers, recycling containers and other products that could be used to secure potential bear attractants on private lands. Over 100 products have been tested through the LWWF Bear-Resistant Products Testing Program.

Program Revision

In 2008, the testing protocol was revised to provide more detailed information about the relative bear-resistancy of various bear-resistant containers. Products are baited with special foods and placed into the bear enclosure at the GWDC. Two to four bears are released into the enclosure and video cameras record the bears as they try to gain entry into the containers.

Products must remain intact and functional without the bears gaining any of the foods placed inside the containers for a minimum of 30 minutes. Products receive 1, 2 or 3 stars based upon the length of time they are able to withstand the bears' biting, clawing, crushing and rolling.

Please note that LWWF no longer issues a pass or fail test result.

To view the actual testing protocol, click here: Updated Product Testing Protocol

Testing Results

LWWF maintains a list of products that have been submitted for formal testing through the IGBC Bear-resistant Products Testing Program. Click here for product test results.

Testing of Recreational Products or Products to be Used on Public Lands

Grizzly Bear Occupied Areas

Products that will be used on public lands and that must meet food storage regulations in grizzly bear occupied areas in the United States (Lower 48 States) are being tested by the U.S. Forest Service. For more information on the testing of backpacking containers and outfitter panniers, please visit the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee web site at http://www.IGBConline.org