Bearproof containers help save bears by reducing food attractants that draw bears out of their natural habitat and puts them and others at risk. In a recent article "Saving bears: Revelstoke's garbage dilemma" the author addresses a a bear safety and awareness issue that is becoming more wide spread.

When bears become habituated to humans it can lead to more aggressive behaviour. In the Revelstoke community, 437 bears have been killed since 1986 - that's an average of 34 per year! The sad part is that this could be prevented. For at least 13 years the community has pushed the city to buy wildlife-proof garbage bins to reduce bear deaths.

The best way to manage bears is to manage attractants, says Alex Desjardins, conservation officer. Attractants include food from garbage cans, birdfeeders, berries fruit trees and vegetable gardens. Once a bear tastes human food, it can become habituated.

In July, Port Hardy became the ninth community in the province to become bear smart, meaning the municipality has bylaws to manage garbage and bear-proof bins. Desjardins said becoming bear aware shows the community values its wildlife and goes to extra lengths to protect humans and animals.

Bear-proof bins are an effective deterrrant
There is a buzz of political correctness whether bins as bearproof versus bear-resistance. Initially, the term bearproof meant that the cans were tested with different sized bears and prevented a bear from getting into the can for 2 hour period, not that the cans would never be able to be breached by a bear. Technically, nothing is bearproof meaning that there is not much that would stop an aggressive grizzly bear from getting into. All the symatics of which term to use isn't important. What is important is understanding the underlining problems which is managing the attractants.

Bearproof or bear-resistant containers and enclosures have been proven to be effective deterrants for bears finding food in residential areas. But you can have all the bearproof containers you want but if have birdfeeders, berries, fruit trees and other attractants in your yard, the bears will still come.

Jay Honeyman, biologist for Alberta Parks, said individual bear-proof bins are still subject to human error. People still have to close them properly. It is a whole community issue that everyone needs to be educated about bear safety and awareness and the practical steps we all can do to reduce the risk of bear encounters.

Bearicuda Inc has provided effective bear proofing solutions to communities for over two decades. They do this by serving the entire community, bear-resistant trash cans and enclosures for individual residents, larger metal bearproof dumpsters and enclosures for businesses, parks and municipalities. Most importantly, they take the time to fully understand their customer's bearproofing dilemma and not only provide the best product solution but often provide bear safety/awareness tips that can help their customers be proactive in deterring bears from seeking food on their property.