Carrying bear canisters has been proven effective in reducing conflicts with wildlife and is one of the simplest, most effective ways hikers can keep both people and bears safe, says the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
That’s why, beginning January 1, the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is saying: Bring a non-pliable bear-resistant canister with you when camping along the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. The new regulation is in response to public safety concerns and repeated human-bear conflicts in the forest which lies mostly in our corner of the state and is popular with day hikers from around Gainesville.
“With the Appalachian Trail going through the heart of North Georgia’s black bear habitat, we want the hikers who flock here to understand how incredibly valuable these public lands are – for people and for wildlife,” says Forest Supervisor Judy Toppins. “Finding a balance that protects hikers, wildlife, and forest health is our goal. Hikers are visitors to bear habitat, and everyone needs to do their part.”
The Appalachian Trail in Georgia has more than half a million visits each year, including thousands of aspiring A.T. thru hikers who arrive each spring.
The new Forest Service order applies to the entirety of Georgia’s 78 miles of A.T., along with the A.T. Approach Trail, and includes one-half mile on each side of the trail. The storage regulation is mandatory for all dispersed camping within the mile-wide corridor, including A.T. shelters. It is a year-round requirement.
“While only 3.5% of the Appalachian Trail is in Georgia, over 12% of the bear encounter reports on the A.T. have occurred in the state over the last decade,” said Morgan Sommerville, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Director of Visitor Use Management.
(USFS)