WSU bears test products meant to confound their wild cousins

"Bear proof" is never 100% when it comes to camping equipment. Given enough time and determination, a grizzly bear can break into anything containing food. Bear-resistant, however, is an official term applied to products that pass bear-assisted tests.

Grizzlies at Washington State University's Bear Research, Education, and Conservation Center help administer those tests, which make for safer backcountry experiences for humans and the much larger mammals.

The WSU bears stress-test equipment made by a variety of companies seeking to earn placement on the Bear Resistant Products List maintained by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee. WSU bears started testing products in 2022.

"Bears are incredibly smart and will remember certain tricks that work on different products," said Chelsea Davis, WSU Bear Center manager. "Our bears love a mental and physical challenge or puzzle, so these tests are popular. The younger bears, especially, love destroying things."

To earn the bear resistant rating, a product must withstand 60 minutes of active attempts to break into it. So, if one center resident gets bored after five minutes, the clock stops and another will get to take a crack at it, with the clock resuming at the stopped time.

"Bears are much like humans; they have different personalities and approach problems differently," Davis said. "Kio, one of our female bears, is very good with coolers and knows how to find their weaknesses. The first time she tested one, it took her 30 minutes to break in. The next time it was 15 minutes, then 10, then five. She learned from each test and remembered."

Cookie, another female, is good with canisters, Davis said, while Zuri likes to throw stuff.

"She will shot put the products against hard objects, which our other bears don't do," Davis said. "She's found a few interesting weak points on some of the items."

Canisters, often cylindrical containers that screw together with snaps to hold the pieces in place, are harder for bears to break into than coolers, but nothing keeps them out forever. During the tests, any grizzly who breaks into an item is rewarded with what's inside.

That prize includes smelly items, like fish or cheese, plus harder items like apples or biscuits that rattle around and keep their attention. The containers aren't required to be leak-proof, so honey water is often added. As that leaks out, it increases the bears' interest.

After accessing the contents, the puzzle-solver also receives an extra food reward for their efforts. This encourages them to keep trying even after the frustration sets in, Davis said.

There are several reasons the center allows their bears to take part in these tests. The first is to protect creatures in the wild. Bear-resistant products limit habituation to humans; making it harder to get food from people reduces human/bear conflicts.

Another reason is that the tests are excellent enrichment programs for the bears. They get to work on their problem-solving skills, and it keeps them mentally sharp.

"This project is an example of public-private partnership and a win-win for everyone," said Raj Khosla, Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean of WSU's College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences. "It helps prevent human-animal conflict while stimulating our WSU bears, making it a fantastic example of how research has real-world impacts."

It's also fun for WSU staff, volunteers, and the public to watch. Davis said she frequently talks with and answers questions from people who just happen to stop by while the tests are happening.

It's a surprisingly difficult challenge because you have to design something that is both functional for people to use, but also resists paws, jaws, and claws.

For companies, the WSU bears are an invaluable quality control step in their product design. Last summer, a company called BearVault brought out a new canister product they wanted to test before selling it.

"It's a surprisingly difficult challenge because you have to design something that is both functional for people to use, but also resists paws, jaws, and claws," said Grant Breidenbach, marketing and sales manager for BearVault.

There are three common ways bears try to get into their products, he said. They pump on it, like a person performing CPR, they bite or chew on it, or they scratch and claw at it. Stopping that, while making the container still usable for every human is the key.

"WSU has some of the smartest bears we've seen, so it's been a fantastic experience working with them and the staff to ensure we make products that help keep people safe and their food secure," Breidenbach said. "Testing on captive bears saves the lives of wild bears in backcountry areas. It means they're not being euthanized because they're becoming familiar with human foods."

As the WSU bears wake up from hibernation, food won't be front of mind for a while. But by the time summer hits, Davis and her team will be busy taking care of the active grizzlies. They'll keep breaking into things meant to keep them out, because every bear loves a challenge. And honey-flavored fish bits, of course.