Bear Country Storage Score
Rates a food-storage plan against local bear activity and regulations.
Storage inputs
Result
A natural placement between the calculator and the explanation.
What this solves — and what it doesn't
Food storage in bear country is the difference between an uneventful trip and a damaged tent or worse. This tool rates a storage plan against your region’s bear activity and the method you’re using. Bear canisters are the gold standard; counter-balance hangs (PCT method) work but are easy to botch; storing in the tent is essentially failing the LNT and bear-safety test at once.
How to read the result
The result is a 0 to 100 score with a band:
- 80+ Strong — meets or exceeds typical standards
- 55 to 80 Acceptable — fine with proper technique
- 30 to 55 Marginal — re-think your setup
- <30 Fail — change something before tonight
Grizzly range gets a stricter multiplier because of the severity of habituation.
Limitations
- Doesn’t model bear problem history at specific sites.
- Doesn’t account for habituated bears (some ignore all methods).
- Counter-balance hang scoring assumes you actually executed it correctly.
Frequently asked questions
Are Ursacks as good as canisters?
Generally yes for black bears; less proven for grizzlies. They are easier to use and lighter.
Does toothpaste matter?
Yes — bears investigate scented items. Cook and store toothpaste, deodorant, and sunscreen with food.
What about sleeping with food?
Don’t. A habituated bear that gets food once will keep testing tents.