TAOS, NM – July 23, 2020 – Recently the Santa Fe National Forest had a camper and a bear interaction that left a Los Alamos woman in the hospital with a collapsed lung, several broken bones and multiple bites. The Carson National Forest (NF) has had bears entering developed recreation sites along Hwy. 38 on the Questa Ranger District looking for food. In an effort to prevent similar occurrences, the Carson NF is implementing a Food Storage Order for the following areas:
o Goat Hill Campground
o La Bonita Campground
o Fawn Lakes CG and Fawn Lakes Day Use Area
o Columbine Campground
o Elephant Rock Campground
o June Bug Campground
What is a Food Storage Order?
- All food and refuse must be acceptably stored or acceptably possessed during daytime hours:
o In the Daytime – All food, attractants, and refuse must be acceptably stored or attended. Attended means that someone is within 100 feet and in sight of accessible food.
o At Night – Unless being transported, eaten, or prepared to be eaten, all food must be properly stored.
o What Methods of Storage Are Acceptable? To be properly stored food and other attractants may be secured in an enclosed hard-sided vehicle (including pick-up camper shell or enclosed horse trailer); a certified bear-resistant container; or suspended at least ten feet clear of the ground at all points and four feet horizontally from any supporting tree or pole.
o What Items Must Be Properly Stored: Anything (excluding water, baled hay, or hay cubes without additives) that can be eaten to provide nourishment, including soft drinks, canned food, alcoholic beverages, pet food, processed livestock feeds and grains, personal hygiene products (toothpaste), and refuse, including empty food and beverage containers, must be properly stored. If you use a barbeque grill, try to burn off any remaining food residue and properly store the grill at night.
- The Forest will continue to coordinate with the New Mexico Dept of Game and Fish on all bear matters
- Camping Tips: Whether camping in a campground or in the backcountry, make your campsite a bear avoidance campsite by ® Always keeping a clean camp ® Keep your sleeping area, tent, and sleeping bag free of food and odors ® Don’t sleep in clothes that you wore while cooking or handling fish or game ® Cleaning barbecue grills and storing them so they are unavailable to bears ® Using bear-resistant trash receptacles and food storage lockers ® Keeping pets under control at all times ® Properly disposing of all fish remnants
See the Forest Service Be Bear Aware webpage for more information on hiking and camping in bear country. For additional information on managing a wildlife encounter, see the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish brochure on living with large predators. It’s also worth a minute of your time to watch the National Park Service video on how to use bear spray effectively.
Stay up to date on recreation opportunities by checking the Carson National Forest website and following us on Facebook and Twitter at @CarsonNF.
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