Garbage Handling in Bear-Use Areas

Please help Jackson become a Bear Wise Community by learning more about the causes of human/bear conflicts and helping to reduce conflicts.  There is a wealth of information on avoiding human/bear conflicts on the internet or you can start by following these rules:


Bear Wise Garbage Handling Video

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GARBAGE

  • Store garbage in certified bear-resistant garbage cans or dumpsters.
  • Keep garbage containers inside a secure building until the morning of pickup.
  • Store recyclable containers, such as pop cans, indoors; the sweet smells attract bears.
  • Store especially smelly garbage, such as meat or fish scraps, in a freezer until it can be taken to a refuse site.

AROUND THE YARD

  • Do not leave food from barbeques and picnics outdoors, especially overnight; coolers are not bear-proof.
  • Replace hummingbird feeders with hanging flower baskets which are also attractive to hummingbirds.  Many communities ask residents to take down bird feeders between April 1 and December 1.
  • If you do have a bird feeder during warm weather months, hang them 10 feet up and 4 feet out from the nearest tree.  Use a rope and pulley system to refill them and clean up seeds that spill onto the ground.
  • Store pet food inside and feed pets inside.
  • Clean and store barbeque grills after each use, put them in a secure shed or garage.
  • Pick fruit from trees as soon as its ripe and collect fallen fruit immediately
  • Limit compost piles to grass, leaves and garden clippings, and turn piles regularly; adding lime can reduce smells and help decomposition; do not add food scraps; kitchen scraps can be composted indoors in a worm box with minimum odor.
  • Use native plants in landscaping whenever possible.
  • Do not put out feed for wildlife (corn, oats, pellets, three-way, nor molasses blocks). It is not only harmful to wildlife, it is prohibited by a Teton County Ordinance.