Are Bear-Resistant Trash Cans Worth It? Here's What We Know

Bears toppling trash cans to gorge on the contents can be seen as almost comical — unless it is your trash can. Unfortunately, this type of behavior has become quite common for a few reasons. For one, the population and range of both grizzly and black bears – two dangerous types of bears – has been steadily increasing across the United States over the past few decades. At the same time, the human population has been rising and housing developments, neighborhoods, suburbs, and cities have been spreading into previously undeveloped land at a rapid rate.

The combined growth of bear and human populations has led to more shared living space between the two species. No longer do you need to go on a bear-watching excursion in the wilderness to see these massive mammals. In many regions of the country, it is possible, and even likely, according to Newsweek, to run into one in your own yard in close to 20 states. These encounters are becoming much more frequent and often end with bears rifling through trash bins. With that in mind, people have begun taking steps to keep bears away from homes and yards. One of the most common is the use of bear-resistant trash cans. But, are these receptacles really worth it and do they actually prevent bears from dining on your refuse?

The short answer to this question is possibly. Bear-resistant receptacles are meant to be a deterrent to bears, they are not guaranteed to be bear-proof and completely prevent bears from ever accessing the contents. However, when properly using bear-resistant trash cans on a consistent basis, along with implementing a few other precautions with trash disposal, you can greatly reduce the chances of attracting bears to your yard.

The first step to limiting a bear's access to your trash is to obtain a bear-resistant trash can. This is often also the first obstacle, as these trash receptacles can be costly. The very best and most effective models are made from metal and have locking latches. Beyond the cost, these models aren't always compatible with trash service pick-up systems, necessitating transferring trash to a standard bin for pickup. While some are willing to invest the money and spend the time transferring trash each pickup day, others have opted to add bear-resistant straps or latches with padlocks to their current heavy duty plastic trash bins.

Regardless of the style of bin being utilized, in order for it to be effective, it must be used properly. This is often another obstacle to these cans being an effective deterrent, as latching and locking can become a bit of a hassle and homeowners become complacent with securing them. But, if you live in an area bears are known to frequent, you need to be diligent about locking your trash bins even if you have yet to see or encounter bears in your yard. It has also been shown to be most effective if everyone in an area utilizes a secure trash bin, so try to encourage neighbors to do the same.

What goes in these trash cans can also make a difference. While it is impossible to keep from dumping any food in a bin, try to limit and conceal it as much as possible. Rinse out bottles, jars, and containers before tossing them in the trash. You can also repurpose any airtight bags or containers you are tossing, such as used ziplocks or jars, in order to limit enticing scents emanating from your trash can. You can also freeze these items, wrap them in newspaper, or toss mothballs into your can to accomplish this.