WHAT CAN YOU DO? BE RESPONSIBLE AND TAKE ACTION!

Eliminate or mask garbage and food odors

• Put unscented ammonia or unscented PineSol* ON THE FOOD inside every bag.
• Deodorize garbage can with bleach, uncsented ammonia or unscented PineSol.*
• Separate "wet garbage" and keep in an air and odor tight container. Use garbage disposal whenever possible. Freeze meat bones or other smelly items until pick-up day.
• "Deodorize" soil or other porous surfaces where garbage has been stored and other areas where the bear may have spread garbage around.
• Clean the BBQ, especially the drip pan.

Eliminate the source

• Install a "Bear Proof" garbage container. There are several excellent examples now available for purchase.
• Request a "Bear Proof" dumpster for neighborhoods or homeowner groups, cabin or apartment complexes, and especially restaurants Call your disposal company.
• Put garbage out on the morning of pick-up, not on the night before (and certainly not all week long!!). If you can't be there to put it out, ask a neighbor to help or take it with you for disposal elsewhere.
• Don't feed pets outside and don't leave pet food outside.
• Don't leave food in vehicles or tents. This includes toothpaste, lotions, gum or candy. Clean food from baby seats. Leave NO dispers, clean or soiled, in vehicles.
• Remove freezers, refrigerators, picnic baskets and ice chests stored in open porches, garages and breeze ways.
• Compost piles can be a serious attractant.
• Rinsing recyclables isn't enough, they recognize this as garbage and will still forage through it. Keep it out of sight.
• Bring bird feeders and suet in at night or whenever there is no one at home. Bears will climb trees to reach an upper deck feeder.

                                      NEVER FEED BEARS!

Inspect your property

• Close windows at night on accessible ground floors and decks.
• Don't leave pies, baked goods, or any food in or near a window sill or on a counter where visible. Sights and smells can be invitations to bears.
• Securely block any access to potential hibernation/den sites, i.e. under decks, houses or sheds before a bear decides to take up residence.
• Strengthen or fortify outside doors and windows on sheds, cellars, workshops, garages or any place where food or garbage is kept.

*PineSol's oil base evaporates slower and the scent remains                 Back to: Get Educated!