kalberga
05-18-2005, 08:50 PM
Below and attached is the press release on the proposed bear resistant canister regulation. Here is a link for the proposed regulation and how to provide comment:
www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/propregs/index.html#190p (http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/propregs/index.html#190p)
It is also posted on the State register at: www.dos.state.ny.us/info/register/2005/may18/pdfs/rules.pdf (http://www.dos.state.ny.us/info/register/2005/may18/pdfs/rules.pdf)
For Release: IMMEDIATE
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Contact: Michael Fraser
(518) 402-8000
DEC REGULATION TO HELP REDUCE BEAR ENCOUNTERS IN HIGH PEAKS
Proposed Regulation Will Require the Use of Bear Resistant Canisters
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced a proposed regulation that will require overnight campers in the Eastern Zone of the High Peaks Wilderness Area to use bear resistant canisters for the storage of food, toiletries, and garbage during the period of April 1 through November 30 of each year.
The proposed regulation defines bear resistant canisters as a commercially made container constructed of solid, non-pliable material manufactured for the specific purpose of resisting entry by bears. Bear resistant canisters are usually made of hard plastic, weigh three to five pounds, and can hold up to six days worth of food for campers.
Bear resistant canisters have proven to be an effective means for preventing bears from obtaining campers food. Preliminary data collected by DEC during the summer of 2004 shows that of the approximately 400 reported bear interactions with humans in the Eastern High Peaks, half resulted in bears taking campers' food. More than 75 percent of the people who reported using tree hangs lost their food, and half of the people who used DEC bear cables lost food as well. Only one person who used a bear resistant canister reported a loss of food, due to failure to properly secure the canister's lid.
Requiring bear resistant canisters is just one step in DEC's comprehensive effort to significantly reduce negative encounters with bears in the Eastern High Peaks. In addition, DEC has undertaken the following:
implementing an extensive education and outreach effort to make campers in High Peaks aware of bears, the problems they can cause and the means to avoid those problems;
enacting a more systematic program for negatively conditioning bears; and
studying the bears and their interactions with humans to more precisely define the problem and the means to address it.
More information on bear resistant canisters, the High Peaks Bear Study and ways to avoid problems with black bears in the back country may be found on the DEC's web site.
The proposed regulations are published in today's issue of the State Register and the public may provide comments on these changes during the formal 45-day comment period that begins with publication in the Register and ends on July 5, 2005.
To send written comments on the proposals, go to www.dec.state.ny.us and select Proposed Environmental Regulations from the left column, or mail to: Bear Resistant Canister Regulation, NYSDEC, Bureau of Wildlife, Route 86, P.O. Box 296, Ray Brook, NY 12977-0296.
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05-54
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Kristofer A. Alberga, Supervising Forester
NYS, Dep't of Environmental Conservation
Division of Lands & Forests, Region 5
1115 NYS Route 86
PO Box 296
Ray Brook, NY 12977
(518) 897-1276
(518) 897-1370 FAX
kaalberg@gw.dec.state.ny.us
The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this message are intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s) and may contain confidential or privileged Information. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately or reply via e-mail and destroy all copies of the message and any attachments. Thank you.
www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/propregs/index.html#190p (http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/propregs/index.html#190p)
It is also posted on the State register at: www.dos.state.ny.us/info/register/2005/may18/pdfs/rules.pdf (http://www.dos.state.ny.us/info/register/2005/may18/pdfs/rules.pdf)
For Release: IMMEDIATE
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Contact: Michael Fraser
(518) 402-8000
DEC REGULATION TO HELP REDUCE BEAR ENCOUNTERS IN HIGH PEAKS
Proposed Regulation Will Require the Use of Bear Resistant Canisters
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced a proposed regulation that will require overnight campers in the Eastern Zone of the High Peaks Wilderness Area to use bear resistant canisters for the storage of food, toiletries, and garbage during the period of April 1 through November 30 of each year.
The proposed regulation defines bear resistant canisters as a commercially made container constructed of solid, non-pliable material manufactured for the specific purpose of resisting entry by bears. Bear resistant canisters are usually made of hard plastic, weigh three to five pounds, and can hold up to six days worth of food for campers.
Bear resistant canisters have proven to be an effective means for preventing bears from obtaining campers food. Preliminary data collected by DEC during the summer of 2004 shows that of the approximately 400 reported bear interactions with humans in the Eastern High Peaks, half resulted in bears taking campers' food. More than 75 percent of the people who reported using tree hangs lost their food, and half of the people who used DEC bear cables lost food as well. Only one person who used a bear resistant canister reported a loss of food, due to failure to properly secure the canister's lid.
Requiring bear resistant canisters is just one step in DEC's comprehensive effort to significantly reduce negative encounters with bears in the Eastern High Peaks. In addition, DEC has undertaken the following:
implementing an extensive education and outreach effort to make campers in High Peaks aware of bears, the problems they can cause and the means to avoid those problems;
enacting a more systematic program for negatively conditioning bears; and
studying the bears and their interactions with humans to more precisely define the problem and the means to address it.
More information on bear resistant canisters, the High Peaks Bear Study and ways to avoid problems with black bears in the back country may be found on the DEC's web site.
The proposed regulations are published in today's issue of the State Register and the public may provide comments on these changes during the formal 45-day comment period that begins with publication in the Register and ends on July 5, 2005.
To send written comments on the proposals, go to www.dec.state.ny.us and select Proposed Environmental Regulations from the left column, or mail to: Bear Resistant Canister Regulation, NYSDEC, Bureau of Wildlife, Route 86, P.O. Box 296, Ray Brook, NY 12977-0296.
###
05-54
---
Kristofer A. Alberga, Supervising Forester
NYS, Dep't of Environmental Conservation
Division of Lands & Forests, Region 5
1115 NYS Route 86
PO Box 296
Ray Brook, NY 12977
(518) 897-1276
(518) 897-1370 FAX
kaalberg@gw.dec.state.ny.us
The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this message are intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s) and may contain confidential or privileged Information. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately or reply via e-mail and destroy all copies of the message and any attachments. Thank you.