Bear-safe Trash Cans
One of our board members recently moved from a town that required (and the local trash company provided) bear-resistant trash cans to a town that doesn’t.
After asking the local chamber about bears in the area and being told that bear-proof trash cans were not needed he decided to do a bit more digging. After seeing bear sign and eventually a few bears on early morning trail runs in town he decided that the chamber might be missing something.
After visiting with local Fish Wildlife & Parks it turns out that several neighborhoods have had bears trapped and relocated because they found their way into human trash and bird feeders. With some real data in hand the real work began.
Most towns have a single trash management company, some more rural communities have options simply because the city doesn’t provide the service. No matter the situation you will need to work with them to find out what your options are.
Our board member was lucky in that the second option for trash pickup happened to be a friend so the conversation was easy. “I want to use a bear-resistant trash can, will your crew pick up my trash if I buy and use an appropriate can?”
The answer was “yes,” and the next step was to order a can. For many the answer might be “no” or for an “additional fee.” There might have to be some education, or even community organizing to show the need and demand for such protections.
As this is an overview we will skip the advice on how to negotiate or community organize, but more on that later.
The board member came from a town that mandated these incredible Kodiak cans. They were big, heavy, and expensive. https://kodiak-products.com
They were too big for the new trash company, so some searching was in order. Totter makes some smaller and lighter and surprisingly ACE Hardware sells them, with free ship to store.
$280 and the board member had his can a week later, thanks ACE
Now if you can’t use bear-resistant cans, or even if you do, it is recommended that trash be kept secure until it is placed curbside for pickup. A garage, barn, or even a concrete pad fully enclosed by a chain link fence will do the trick nicely. Remember even the best if these cans are not bear-proof, they are bear-resistant and susceptible to break in if a bear is given enough time.
