National Park Service LogoU.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNational Park Service
National Park Service:  U.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park Service Arrowhead
Gates of the Arctic National Park and PreserveCaribou migrating through the Killik Valley
view map
text size:largestlargernormal
printer friendly
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve
Food Storage Requirements
 
Grizzly bear in fall tundra
Grizzly bear in fall tundra.

Allowing a bear to obtain human food or garbage, even once, will cause it to seek out more human food. Eventually, if the bear becomes a threat to human safety, it may be killed. For this reason, it is against the law to feed bears in Gates of the Arctic, either on purpose or by carelessly leaving food or garbage where bears can get to it.

All Alaska National Parks and Preserves require that food and garbage be stored by an approved means.  Because in most areas of Gates of the Arctic Park and Preserve there are no trees appropriate for hanging food, Bear Resistant Food Containers are the best and easiest way to meet the requirement for overnight visitors in the Park.

Guardians of the Gates
Guardians of the Gates
Become a Guardian of the Gates
more...
Chapman Fire, 2005  

Did You Know?
In 1969, five wildland fires burned 129,820 acres in Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve. That was the largest acreage to burn in the park in a given year. Interestingly, 14 wildland fires, the most fires to occur in the park, burned a mere 500 acres in 1977.

Last Updated: May 23, 2008 at 17:20 EST