Bear-resistant containers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from small, lightweight backpacking containers to massive dumpsters ready to hold up to 20 tons of garbage. For those living in bear territory, portable wheeled bear-resistant trash carts help keep the animals out of neighborhoods.
To determine how bear-resistant these containers really are, they’re often put to the test against the animals themselves at different zoos and sanctuaries. The Alaska Solid Waste Services put their cans to the test at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, letting grizzly bears try their hand at cracking open the containers.
No container will ever be 100% bear-proof, but bear-resistant containers are majorly important when it comes to preventing habituated bears. Feeding bears is dangerous for both the animals and humans, with conditioned bears returning to neighborhoods, campgrounds, and dumpsters, until the food is no longer available or they’re killed. Animals that become habituated can become agressive as well. Read more on living among bears below.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Preventing Food Conditioned Bears Around Cabins or Homes:
Preventing bear problems is everyone’s responsibility. Work within your neighborhood and community to encourage others to manage their garbage, dog food, birdseed — anything that might attract a bear. Keep all human sources of food out of reach of bears. If there is a bear in the neighborhood, let people know. Work together to protect your neighborhood and to keep people and bears safe.
Store garbage and animal feed inside secure buildings or in bear-proof containers. Keep your garbage secured until just before scheduled pickup. Some Alaska communities prohibit garbage to be outside in an unsecured manner except for the morning of trash pickup. Even if it’s not required by law where you live, encourage neighbors to keep garbage secure in a garbage, study shed or a bear-resistant container until the morning of trash pickup.If you take your garbage to a collection site, do so regularly. Make sure to place it in the dumpster and close the lid. These collection sites attract bears.
Take down all bird feeders and clean up birdseed when bears are active. Bears, especially black bears, like birdseed and suet. Don’t feed birds from April through October or even November, depending on the weather. Clean up uneaten food and seed hulls each spring when you put your feeders away.
Bears like pet food, livestock feed, meat scraps and fish. Keep them in a secure place. Be sure to bring uneaten pet food inside when pets are done eating. Store livestock food out of reach of bears. Barbecues can also be powerful attractants. Storing them in a protected place and cleaning grease from grills after each meal helps to discourage bears.
Do not leave a meat or fish smoker unattended. If you are planning on leaving, protect fish and meat drying racks and smokehouses with electric fencing.
Place your garden so it doesn’t attract bears. Placing your garden in the open, away from cover and game trails, helps to discourage bears. Avoid composting anything you think a bear might like to eat. Fish and meat are favorites, and seaweed and kelp have enough fishy smell to attract bears.
Close and lock all doors and windows bears could climb through. This includes your garage door. Keep it closed if you’re not nearby.
Domestic animals draw bears. Keep them where they are safe and use an electric fence to protect livestock enclosures. Chickens and rabbits kept in outside pens are easy and attractive prey.
Electric fences can be effective. If used properly, electric fences can keep bears out of gardens and compost piles. They can also protect cabins and domestic animals.
Keep your property and vehicles as clean as possible and reduce attractants. This includes all the obvious attractants such as garbage and bird seed, plus animal hides, bones, fish, seal oil, waste water, fish tackle, fishing nets, dry racks, petroleum or rubber products and fuel cans.
At cabins, pack your garbage out. When staying at a remote cabin, keep your garbage in a secure building or in a bear-proof container such as a steel drum fitted with a locking lid. Never bury your garbage; bears can still smell it and might dig it up. Burning garbage can also attract bears. When leaving a remote cabin, it’s best to pack all garbage out. Also consider boarding up the structure with thick wood with nails pointing outward, or protecting your cabin with electrified mats or an electric fence.
