Grizzly Bears Help Test Durability of Outdoor Products

Posted on June 22, 2017

Grizzly bears are testing the durability of products at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, MT. The products being tested include coolers, garbage cans and other types of containers. Many of the products are destroyed by the hungry bears. Companies pay to have their products tested by the grizzlies. The center says the durability of the products has been improving since the testing began.

The product testing helps both bears and humans. It isn't good for bears when they are exposed to human foods as it makes them prefer human food to hunting and foraging on their own. Desire for human food also brings bears closer to human campers and increases the likelihood of a bear-human encounter.

The bears testing outdoor products for manufacturers at the center have already fallen for the lure of man-made food. The Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center (GWDC) says a container baited with "especially enticing food" is placed in the bear habitat. If the container survives 60 minutes with the bears it passes as bear-resistant and receives certification from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC).

The GWDC is also open daily to visitors where you can watch the bears take on the containers. Take a look:



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