Bear Safety

Tips for Preventing Nuisance Bear Problems:

• Secure your garbage: Store garbage indoors, in a shed, in a garage, or in a bear-proof container.
• Put garbage out in the morning of pickup, not the night before.
• Take trash to the dump frequently.
• Pick up pet food: Feed pets only what they will eat in a single feeding or feed them indoors. Remove the food bowl soon after pets finish. Pick up uneaten food. Do not leave food out overnight.
• Remove the bird feeder: Bears consume seeds and nuts found in the wild, so bird feeders become a favored target for bears.
• Clean the outdoor grill often.
• Do not put meat scraps or any other strong-smelling food in the compost pile. Consider an enclosed compost bin.
• Pick up and remove ripe fruit from fruit trees and surrounding grounds.
• Install electric fencing to protect beehives, dumpsters, gardens, compost piles, or other potential food sources.
• Talk to your neighbors: Make sure your neighbors and community are aware of the ways to prevent nuisance bear problems.