94. How Do Bear Canisters Work? with Holly Jaleski

In episode 94 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we discuss the importance of proper food storage when hiking and camping in bear country. If you haven’t had a chance to listen yet, I recommend going back and tuning into episode 85, where I interview a wildlife biologist specializing in bears from Glacier National Park. He shares some great tips on safely recreating around bears and avoiding an encounter altogether.

So, to build on that topic and focus on one of the primary ways bears and humans collide, I was excited to interview Holly Jalenski, the co-founder of Grub Can, about how she and her husband created a bear-safe food canister that’s comfortable to carry.

You’ll hear us chat about what inspired them to design a new bear canister, how they’re tested, and if they actually work when a bear gets their hands on them.

Holly Jaleski and Jim Corning are a husband and wife backpacking duo. They've both been backpacking all over the US for over 40 years. They created Grubcan out of a desire for a bear-resistant container that fits comfortably inside or outside backpacks and opens easily without tools. Grubcan’s are handmade in Flagstaff (and we love visitors!).

Holly is the CCO at Grubcan. She is trained in wildlife rehabilitation and is the Director of a rescue ranch. Her parents instilled in her a respect and love for nature from an early age. She has been on the BLM Resource Advisory Council for many years as an advocate for preserving nature for the good of all. She is also a novelist and writes environmental fiction.

Jim is an Aeronautical Engineer and has been designing and manufacturing airplane parts out of carbon fiber for 26 years; now, he’s used his expertise to transform the bear-resistant container market.

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Grub Can

Website: https://tuffystuffy.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildiproducts

Instagram: @grubcan

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Episode Resources

IGBC Website: https://igbconline.org/

#85 A Bear Biologist's Tips For Respecting Wildlife and Being Bear Aware

Use of an approved canister is mandatory in some national parks and wilderness areas. This list includes:

• Yosemite National Park (entire backcountry except a few sites where food lockers are in place)
• Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks (selected areas; food boxes in place in numerous locations)
• Grand Teton National Park (entire backcountry except where food lockers are in place)
• Rocky Mountain National Park (all backcountry campsites below treeline)
• North Cascades National Park (selected areas)
• Olympic National Park (selected areas)
• Denali National Park (selected units)
• Glacier Bay National Park (all treeless areas)
• Gates of the Arctic National Park (most areas)
• Inyo National Forest, eastern and central Sierra Nevada, California (selected areas)
• Eastern High Peaks Wilderness Area, Adirondack Mountains, New York (between April 1 and Nov. 30, all areas)