The most effective means of reducing the availability of human foods to bears is the use of bear-resistant trash containers, which feature sturdy construction and wildlife-resistant latching systems. Note that “bear-proofing” tends to be a general term relating to the removal of food attractants.
Many Colorado communities including Snowmass Village, Telluride, Steamboat Springs, Rico, Basalt, Vail, Crested Butte, Boulder and Aspen have mandated that residents and businesses use bear-resistant residential containers and commercial dumpsters – and use them properly. How to get a bear-resistant trash container.
- Photo examples of residential bear-resistant trash containers
- Photo examples of commercial bear-resistant trash containers
A bear-resistant container testing program using captive grizzly bears at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center near West Yellowstone, Montana was established by the Living with Wildlife Foundation to test effectiveness amongst various manufacturers. Watch a youtube video of the bear-resistant container testing program below.
City residents and businesses with damaged bear-resistant trash containers should contact the city at 970-375-5004 to schedule repairs.
“In Snowmass Village, the number of bear encounters plummeted, and even problems created by other animals, such as raccoons, fell dramatically after the town required neighborhoods to switch to the latched depositories in 1999, said animal-control officer Tina White.” – The Denver Post, 2007