Safe practices for picking huckleberries in bear country

Do you know what the state fruit of Idaho is? If you guessed the huckleberry, then you would be correct. Beyond being delicious, huckleberries are high in antioxidants, iron and are a good source of vitamin C and potassium.

As much as we enjoy them, huckleberries are also an important source of food for bears in late summer and early fall. Here are a few tips to offer for safely spending a day in the woods in bear country.

• Carry bear spray and keep it accessible.
• Make noise and stay aware of your surroundings.
• Keep dogs on a leash.
• Be sure to store food properly - preferably in a hard-sided vehicle or in bear-proof containers.

When berries and other natural food sources in the forest begin to dry up, bears may come looking for an easy meal. If you plan on spending the night in the woods or live in bear country, here are a few things to consider:

• Keep pet food secured in a container and discard any uneaten portions.
• Avoid filling bird feeders until wintertime.
• Keep garbage in a secure location and place it at the curb only on the morning of pick up.
• When selecting a campsite, look for recent signs of bear activity such as tracks or piles of scat. If you find any signs of bear in the area, consider a different campsite.
• Keep your camp clean, cook and prepare food well away from your sleeping area.
• Never store food in your tent.
• Hang your food away from your sleeping area in a bag at least ten feet off the ground and at least four feet from the nearest trunk. Use commercially available bear-resistant containers, and locate them away from your sleeping area.
• Do not store personal hygiene products, such as toothpaste or deodorant, in your tent; secure these items with your food.
• Do not bury or throw garbage into the nearby woods. If you pack it in, pack it out.
• Hang harvested animals at least ten feet off of the ground and at least four feet from the nearest tree trunk. A meat pole hung between two trees is a good option.

If you would like to learn more ways to mitigate bear encounters, consider attending the “Be Bear Aware” presentation at the Boundary County Fairgrounds Aug. 26 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Memorial Park. Fish and Game staff will be available for any questions you may have.

Fish and Game will have informational booths at the Boundary and Bonner County fairs as well as the North Idaho State Fair. If you have any questions or concerns you can contact the Fish and Game Panhandle Regional office in Coeur d’Alene at 208-769-1414 during normal business hours. Remember to call the Citizens Against Poaching hotline 24-hours a day if you see or hear of a poaching incident at 1-800-632-5999.