White Mountains campers could face sizable fine for breaking new rule

Certain campers in New Hampshire‘s White Mountains are facing a new food storage requirement amid an increase in bear encounters, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

More than half of the reported bear incidents in the White Mountains in 2025 occurred in the Pemigewasset Wilderness, prompting officials to implement a stricter rule in that area.

Beginning next month, overnight campers will be required to store food and scented items inside an approved bear-resistant canister, officials said. Failure to comply could result in fines or other penalties.

“The Pemi Wilderness is one of the most popular backcountry destinations on the WMNF,” the U.S. Forest Service said in a statement. “As visitation has increased, bears have learned to associate humans with food, leading to more frequent and potentially dangerous encounters.”

Ineffective food storage also poses a significant risk to the black bear population, as it can lead to bear habituation, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Here’s what to know about the upcoming food storage requirement in the Pemigewasset Wilderness.

Violation of the bear-resistant canister rule can result in a fine

Those who violate the bear-resistant canister requirement in the Pemigewasset Wilderness could face fines of up to $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, as well as up to six months in prison, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Bear canisters required for overnight campers in Pemigewasset Wilderness

Beginning May 1, overnight campers in the Pemigewasset Wilderness will be required to store all food, scented items (soap, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.), and trash in a cylindrical, hard-sided bear-resistant canister, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The canister must be certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.

Alternative food storage methods, such as “bear hangs,” will no longer be allowed, as officials have determined them to be less effective.

“Bear incidents in the Pemi Wilderness area have risen sharply in recent years, with most cases involving bears accessing improperly stored food,” the U.S. Forest Service said. “This new requirement is necessary to reduce an increase in human-bear interactions and to improve visitor and wildlife safety.”

The only exceptions to this rule are the bear-resistant food boxes at the Thirteen Falls Tent Site, the U.S. Forest Service said.

Visitors can rent bear-resistant canisters for free

Visitors to the White Mountains National Forest can rent a bear-resistant canister for free at the following locations:

• Lincoln Woods Trailhead Cabin in Lincoln
• Pemigewasset Ranger Station in Campton
• Saco Ranger Station in Conway
• Androscoggin Ranger Station in Gorham

These canisters are also available for sale at most outdoor equipment stores, the U.S. Forest Service said.

Is a bear-resistant canister required in all areas of White Mountain National Forest?

No, bear-resistant canisters are required only in the Pemigewasset Wilderness, according to the U.S. Forest Service. However, food and scented items still need to be stored properly.

Items can be stored inside a closed building, a closed trunk, a hard-sided camper, or a closed passenger compartment of a car with its windows rolled up and doors locked.

They can also be stored in Forest Service-provided food storage boxes and containers, behind electrified fences designed for bears, or suspended 12 feet from the ground using a “bear hang.”

Reporting by Bailey Allen, Portsmouth Herald