If you live in an area of the country where bear sightings are common, it is essential to have bear proof trash containers in your home or business.
If you experience damage to your yard, home or belongings, some home insurance policies cover damage by bears and other creatures, although the deductible amount can often be high, and a better strategy is to do everything possible to keep bears away from your property.
Before you even buy a trash can designed to deter bears, you should check for any restrictions governing size and design of trash cans where you live. Some homeowners associations require all residents to have the same type of trash can, while the garbage trucks in some municipalities will not be able to pick up a larger trash can, meaning those with a capacity of around 90 gallons.
A bear proof garbage container is typically heavy duty, closes securely with a manual latch system and is often reinforced with metal or steel.
There are other steps that you can take to keep bears out of your yard.
One strategy is to keep your trash indoors and only place it outside at the last minute, although there is still no guarantee that it will not attract bears.
Place bird feeders high off the ground and away from trees and other climbable structures, and always clean your grill thoroughly, as bears have a strong sense of smell.
You can also purchase and install a bear electric fence to help keep them off your property.
Once bears knows that food can be found in a certain location, they become what is known as ‘food conditioned’ and tend to return there.
Bear proofing your trash cans and your outdoor space means that a bear will simply move onto somewhere else in search of food.
Stay safe