For the last few years, Algonquin Provincial Park has invested in new infrastructure that protects bears and park visitors! Staff have been installing bear hangs on select backcountry campsites at the park.
Bear hangs are permanent horizontal wires anchored between trees, used for hanging your food and other wildlife attractants so bears can’t reach them.
To date, there are 122 bear hangs across the park, and more are coming!
Why are they important? Algonquin is Black Bear country. Safe food storage practices in the backcountry ensure safe coexistence with the local wildlife.
Bears are normally shy of humans, and are quick to get out of our way. However, they are very smart animals. When they find food at a campsite, they quickly associate people and campsites with food instead of something they should be scared of. They won’t continue to be shy if they think they can get a free meal!
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How do I use them?
All you need to bring is rope (~30 ft or 9 m), strong enough to carry your wildlife attractants!
Before you begin, have your food, garbage, and any other wildlife attractants together in a pack, ideally stored in several layers of packaging to reduce scents.
Then tie one end of your rope to your pack.
Next, toss your rope up and over the cable (this step can be tricky)! Tie off the rope so that your pack hangs roughly 4 m off the ground, 2 m down from the bear hang and 2 m away from the supporting trees.
You should hang your food and other wildlife attractants whenever you leave your campsite and while you are sleeping. Your food and wildlife attractants should always be either hung up or watched closely.
Wildlife attractants (i.e., things bears will want to eat or investigate) include:
- toiletries (such as toothpaste, chapstick, etc.)
- food and food storage containers
- camp stoves
- pet food and bowls
- garbage
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Look for the sign!
Do you see the bear hang? They can be very difficult to find, so make sure to look for the sign on your campsite!
Trails to the bear hang will be marked with this sign:
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Where are they located?
The majority of the permanent wire bear hangs exist on the Joe Lake system off the Canoe Lake Access Point on Highway 60, and near the Achray/Grand Lake Access Point on the east side of the park.
Below is a map of the entire park. Do you plan on visiting any of the lakes with bear hangs?
Please report damaged bear hangs to the park’s Information Line: (705) 633-5572 or by emailing Algonquin@Ontario.ca
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Other ways to keep your site bear-proof
If you’re camping in one of Algonquin’s campgrounds or cabins, there may be other options available for you!
- Bear bin at Fen Lake Cabin
- Bear lockers at Pog Lake, Kearney Lake, Lake of Two Rivers, and Mew Lake campgrounds
If you don’t have access to these options the next best thing is to keep all wildlife attractants stored in the trunk of your vehicle with its windows closed, where they can’t be seen or smelled.
In the back country at campsites where there are no bear hangs, continue to prepare food far from your site, clean your dishes immediately after eating, and keep garbage with your other wildlife attractants. Always hang food packs far from tenting and cooking areas on sturdy tree branches.
Leaving food and other attractants available for wildlife is against the law, and violators may be fined and/or evicted under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act.
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