The Story of Bear Cans, part 2

[Steve]

[Wildebeat.net] This wild places program is part two of an exploration of the situation in the Sierra Nevada wilderness areas that lead to the development of the bear-resistant food canister. Who makes these things, and how do we know they work?
Steve tells the story with the help of:

• Calder Reid, wilderness manager for the Inyo National Forest.
• Harold Werner, a wildlife biologist from Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park.
• Allen DeForrest of Wild Ideas, manufacturer of the Bearikade.
• Tom Cohen of Ursack
• Jamie Hogan of Bear Vault.

Harold Werner and Calder Reid are members of the Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group (SIBBG), the standards-setting body for bear management in the major Sierra Nevada wilderness areas. Their group also performs the tests that lead to the approval of canisters for use in Yosemite National Park, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park, and the Inyo National Forest. Several other jurisdictions also require canisters from the SIBBG approved list.

Note: We'll have to delay posting the bonus audio we mentioned in the show until September 5th.
Photo credit: Calder Reid, Inyo National Forest

• Show number 55 [MP3 format; length 9:51; 2,367,240 bytes]
• Show number 55 script
• Bonus interview segments with bear can manufacturers (coming September 5th)

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