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[proudlyfromNJ]

I am in the southern NY/northern NJ area. There was a bear at a house right on the border the other day in my town ambling along in someone’s back yard. Edited to add, this whole area is very woodsy.

[grandma r]

@PickyPicky3   you can find containers as mentioned at Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, etc.  Your trash cans will fit inside and you can put a locking device or even bungee cords on them.  It's an inexpensive way to secure your trash not only from bears but raccoons as well.  I hope you can still enjoy your surroundings!!!

[RedTop]

@PickyPicky3,

If your entire neighborhood is having a problem with bears being drawn to the garbage, contact the company that picks up your garbage, and ask if they could provide a dumpster for everyone’s trash, instead of individual cans.   

There is a very popular mountain overlook in my area of WV.    Many visitors stop there to enjoy a break from traveling, and locals often take their kids to the little park, and enjoy a quiet lunch or dinner there.  The trash cans were always full of smelly things that drew bears to that area.  

This time last year the park service closed that area for awhile, due to heavy bear activity.   All of the standard trash cans were replaced with bear proof receptacles, and once the food source was gone, the bear activity stopped.   

[colliemom4]

I've only seen a few at a place we've rented. The game warden said the mother kicks them out and the young males start roaming around. I tried an air horn but it didn't work. Someone told me pouring bleach in trash cans or something similar may deter them but I have no experience with it.

[PickyPicky3]

I'm getting a lot of good ideas here. My only experience with bearproof containers was in campgrounds where you were required to store your food in a locker on top of a 10-foot pole.

I've searched containers and was glad to see some small ones. I bet if I separate out food trash from non-food trash I could be OK with just one 20 gallon can. There's one with a screw-on lid that caught my eye.

I also see the benefit of a community dumpster rather than individual cans if this becomes long-term.

I remember visiting Denali National Park in Alaska 20 years ago when they were requiring tourists to learn bear sign language before entering the park. They were trying to teach the resident bears that people were not a threat if they made a full body "yo bear" movement. Anyone know if that idea was successful?

Thanks to all.