WILDLIFE -- After destroying a shocking number of bears habituated to camping food along the Smith River in recent years,  Montana and federal officials finally are requiring floaters to be bear aware.

Smith River float permits in Montana now include new regulations
The application period for the much-coveted permits to float the Smith River in Montana opened on Monday, and applicants must have plans in place to keep their food away from bears, an increasing problem on the remote river.

Boaters who hope to float and fish the regulated 59-mile stretch of the central Montana stream in 2016  have until Feb. 18 to apply to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department for one of the coveted permits for the spring-summer season.

About 8,000 people submitted applications for permits last year, and 1,000 were successful.

Starting this season, floaters must bring bear-resistant coolers, use portable electric fencing or hang their food out of reach of bears and other scavengers at the river campgrounds managed by the state and U.S. Forest Service.

No bear-resistant lockers or hanging posts have been installed at the designated campsites, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials that manage the river recreation.

“We don’t want people showing up with a rope and saying, ‘I’m going to hang a 70-pound cooler,’ ” Smith River State Park manager Colin Maas told the Missoulian. “The responsibility is on the public to come prepared with proper food storage options.”

Few trees are available at campsites to effectively hand heavy gear, he said.

The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee tests and certifies coolers and boxes for their ability to withstand a grizzly bear’s attention for one hour. Mass said there is no standard for black bears. A list of IGBC-approved food storage products is available at bit.ly/1YIa2mF.

Some stores in Montana are beginning to rent bear-resistant storage containers.

Last year, the Montana Parks Board voted against requiring bear-proof food containers on Smith River.

However, in 2013 through 2014, eight black bears were killed along the Smith River corridor because of conflicts with people floating the river, prompting the agency staff to recommend that campers and boaters be equipped to keep their food from tempting bears into trouble.