Black bears are thriving in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. But so are human visitors. And the growing overlap between the two is creating problems that wildlife officials want to get ahead of.
Starting May 1, overnight hikers in the Pemigewasset Wilderness will be required to carry bear-proof canisters for food, trash, and scented items like soap and toothpaste. The rule will be enforced with fines. It’s the first requirement of its kind in the region — and it could expand across more of the White Mountain National Forest in the future.
“One of our slogans is, ‘a fed bear is a dead bear,'” said Pemigewasset District Ranger Ryan Twomey.
Why the rule is needed now
The requirement was prompted by a rise in what the Forest Service calls “bear incidents” — any case where a bear displays unnatural behavior. That includes rummaging through campsites, charging or following hikers, and begging for food.
Dan Bailey, bear project leader for New Hampshire Fish and Game, said the problem likely comes down to one or two bears that have been fed by people in the past. Because bears are highly intelligent, those animals learned that approaching hikers means an easy meal.
The concern isn’t just about individual encounters. It’s about what happens next. A bear that becomes habituated to humans may eventually need to be euthanized if it can’t be deterred. And negative interactions erode public opinion of bears — which can directly influence how many bears the state allows to exist.
How public perception shapes bear populations
New Hampshire manages its bear population based on what scientists call “social carrying capacity” — essentially, the number of bears humans are willing to tolerate. That number is often lower than the biological carrying capacity, or what the environment could actually support.
Fish and Game assesses public tolerance through input from residents. When conflicts rise and attitudes sour, the department may increase hunting quotas. That’s already happening. The agency recently raised the number of tags available per hunter per season.
Currently, the White Mountains average about 1.24 bears per square mile. The recent peak was 1.5. The department’s target is 0.8 — already the most generous allowance of any management zone in the state. In short, there are significantly more bears than officials believe the public will accept.
The region supports such high numbers because it contains the largest stretch of unfragmented bear habitat in New Hampshire. Dense forests, minimal road fragmentation, and plentiful nut-bearing trees make it ideal territory.
More hikers, more encounters
Human visitation to the White Mountain National Forest surged during the COVID-19 pandemic and has stayed high since. With more people camping and hiking in prime bear habitat, encounters have become inevitable.
That’s why officials say managing bear behavior often means managing human behavior first. Bear-resistant food storage methods — like tree hangs — were already required for overnight visitors. But canisters are considered far more effective.
The new rule requires a canister certified by the International Grizzly Bear Committee. The Forest Service offers free rentals at visitor centers in Lincoln, Campton, Conway, and Gorham.
The only exception is the Thirteen Falls tent campsite, which has bear-resistant food boxes. However, the Appalachian Mountain Club recommends bringing a canister anyway because the boxes are often full.
The Pemi loop and the boundary question
The Pemigewasset Wilderness covers roughly 45,000 acres — the largest wilderness area in New Hampshire. Its most popular route, the Pemi loop, is an approximately 31-mile trail that circles the edges of the wilderness and includes multiple 4,000-foot peaks.
Because the loop runs along the boundary, hikers are technically only required to carry a canister if they camp inside the wilderness. But Twomey emphasized that everyone planning an overnight stay in the area should use one regardless.
“Bears don’t respect boundaries,” he said. “Bear canisters are, bar none, the most effective way to store food.”
Bailey agreed. “I would recommend bear canisters any time you’re camping in bear country, which in New Hampshire, is statewide.”
What to do if you encounter a bear
If you run into a bear, make loud sounds and make your presence known. Don’t throw food to distract it — that teaches the bear to repeat the behavior. Don’t leave your pack on the ground either.
Instead, stay calm. Turn around. Walk away. Leave the situation behind.
This time of year is especially important for bear awareness. Bears are waking from hibernation and are highly motivated to find food. As Twomey put it: “This is the bear’s habitat, and hikers are simply visiting.”
