Bear Safety in the Boundary Waters: Life-Saving Lessons from a Bear Attack Survivor

Proper food storage and bear-aware camping practices aren't just recommendations—they're life-saving skills that every Boundary Waters visitor needs to master. Alex Messenger learned this lesson the hard way when a 600-pound grizzly bear nearly killed him during a remote Canadian wilderness expedition, an experience that transformed him into one of the region's most passionate advocates for bear safety and wilderness preparedness.

On this episode of the Big Red Canoe Podcast, Alex channels his hard-won wisdom into practical advice for Boundary Waters visitors, covering everything from the U.S. Forest Service's  mandatory food storage regulations to proven bear hang techniques that actually work. As a volunteer with the St. Louis County Rescue Squad, he's seen firsthand how proper preparation prevents emergencies, and he and host Dave Meier deliver essential knowledge for safely sharing Minnesota's BWCA wilderness with its black bear population. 

At 17 years old, Alex was living every wilderness enthusiast's dream—42 days paddling through the remote Canadian tundra, hundreds of miles from civilization. But on day 29 of what should have been the adventure of a lifetime, that dream became a nightmare when he found himself face-to-face with an apex predator, armed with nothing but a camera case and his wits. The harrowing attack, which he details in his memoir "The 29th Day," offers more than just a gripping survival story—it provides crucial insights into bear and human behavior, wilderness medicine, and the split-second decisions that can mean the difference between life and death in bear country.

Whether you're a seasoned wilderness traveler or planning your first backcountry adventure, this episode provides the tools and mindset needed to explore bear country confidently and responsibly.

1:00 Introduction - Alex's background growing up going to the Boundary Waters

15:00 Alex describes the bear attack detailed in his book "The Twinty-Ninth Day"

46:00 Bears in the Boundary Waters, solo camping, Food safety, Bear safety tips

For more on Alex, visit his website: https://www.alexmessenger.com/

You can order The Twenty-Ninth Day from Blackstone Publishing, or your favorite purveyor of fine books.

Visit https://www.friends-bwca.org/podcast for more information and resources from this episode.

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