Colville National Forest campgrounds add bear-proof boxes

The Colville National Forest has installed 11 bear-proof food storage containers at campgrounds in the Sullivan Lake area.

The metal boxes are available for campers’ use. They were purchased with a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Colville National Forest requires campers to store all food, garbage and other attractants, such as soap, in a vehicle or approved animal-proof container at night and when the camp is left unattended.

Bears that associate food with campsites often lose their fear of people and become aggressive. They usually end up being destroyed by state wildlife authorities.

“The old saying, ‘A fed bear is a dead bear’ is all too often true,” said Franklin Pemberton, a Forest Service spokesman.

Two of the containers were installed at the Sullivan Lake Group Campground. The others are located in heavily used dispersed campsites on the lower Sullivan Creek Road.