The Top 10 Reasons Bears Break Into Trash Cans Looking For Food

Practical ways you can prevent bears from getting into your trash.

We've identified the 10 most common reasons that bears come into residential areas searching for food. Below you will uncover what attracts the bears into your neighborhood, yard and even into your house or car in a quest for food. We offer practical solutions you can do to deter bears from coming into your yard as well as ways to safely secure your trash cans to prevent bears and wildlife from breaking into garbage cans and making a mess.

1. Strong Food Odors

Even sealed bags leak scent. Bears and other animals are attracted to strong food aromas that's why trash cans with leak-resistant or screwtop lids help prevent food smells from escaping and attracting bears and other wildlife.

Solution:

• Bearicuda Basic - 30 Gallon bear-resistant trash can with a screwtop lid to keep food aromas inside
• Bearicuda Stealth - 35, 65 & 95- Gallon Bear-resistant garbage can cart with leak-proof lid
• Bearicuda Fortress - 50 & 95 gallon Chewproof wheeled bear-resistant garbage can with a screw top lid.

2. Weak Plastic Lids

Standard bins are no match for a determined bear who will breach the can easily to gain access to food inside. Trash cans with screwtop lids or leak-resistant lids help prevent food smells from attracting bears and other wildlife. Bearproof metal garbage can carts made of welded heavy-gauge steel offer the greatest deterrent for bears.

Solution:

• Bearicuda Titan - 65 & 95-Gallon bear-resistant metal trash can cart provides the greatest barrier for a bear to try and breach.

3. Learned Behavior

Bears remember easy food sources. Bears are attracted to bird feeders, berry bushes, animal feed for farm animals, and food in trash cans. Once they find a source, they will be back for more. Bears have a heightened sense of smell and will try to breach cans, enclosures and even break into homes searching for food.

Solution:

• Do not leave trash and/or food sources out where bears will be attracted to food.
• Remove bird feeders
• Keep trash containers inside until pickup day.
• Put trash cans inside a secure metal trash enclosure.
• Close and lock doors and windows.
• Make sure outdoor grills are clean and free from grease or food residue.

4. Overflowing Trash

Exposed waste is an open invitation. Don't make it easy for bears and other wildlife to find food in your trash. Use trash bags for food garbage and compact trash so that it will fit inside the can, making sure the lid is closed securely. Don't leave cans out overnight, bring them out in the morning.

Solution:

• Do not leave trash and/or food sources out where bears will be attracted to food.
• If you have a lot of trash, get a second can so they can be securely closed.
• Put trash cans inside a secure metal trash enclosure.
• Keep trash containers inside until pickup day.
• Use heavy-duty garbage bags, tied tightly to help reduce food smells from escaping

5. Improper Storage

Outdoor bins without enclosures are vulnerable and are ripe for bears, raccoons and other animals to get into looking for food. While plastic or wooden sheds are good for outdoor storage and provide safe, secure storage from smaller animals, lockable metal enclosures provide safe garbage can storage that deter bears from getting into your trash and making a mess in your yard.

Solution:

• Bearicuda Highlander Bearproof Trash Lockers - Bear-resistant trash can enclosures for 45-gallon up to 95-gallon garbage cans.
• Bearicuda Telluride Trash Can Enclosure - 32 & 64-Gallon ADA-Compliant, bear-resistant metal enclosures, also available with decorative slats

6. Night‑Before Placement

Bears are most active at night, so unattended, unlocked trash containers are easy pickings for a hungry bear looking for a snack. It is wise to keep your trash cans in the garage, closed shed or locked enclosure and wait until morning to put your trash cans out for pickup. The less time food trash is out in the open for bears to pick up on the scent, the better.

Solution:

• Do not leave trash and/or food sources out where bears will be attracted to food.
• Keep trash containers inside until pickup day.
• Put trash cans inside a secure metal trash enclosure.

7. No Locking Mechanism

Bears are incredibly curious and strong. They can easily pry open standard garbage cans with unsecured lids. If you live in a bear-populated area, we recommend purchasing a bear-proof garbage can specifically designed to deter bears from getting into the can. Bearproof and bear-resistant cans typically will be IGBC certified, have leak-resistant lids to keep food smells that attract bears from escaping. Another essential feature to consider is that the cans are compatible with your local waste haulers.

Solution:

• Bearicuda Stealth - 65 & 95- Gallon Fully-automatic, Bear-resistant garbage can cart with leak-proof lid

8. Compost nearby

Food scraps increase attraction. If you have a garden and compost food scraps in the open, that is an invitation for bears and wildlife to crash your party. Bears have a heightened sense of smell so gardens, compost piles, berry bushes, birdfeeders and food garbage will most certainly attract bears looking for food.

Solution:

• Do not have open compost piles in your yard.
• Remove bird feeders, berry bushes
• Do not leave trash and/or food sources out where bears will be attracted to food.

9. Pet food in the trash

Strong odors draw wildlife. Bears will be attracted to human food, pet food and bird feeders, so don't make finding food easy for them. Bring dog bowls inside and store animal feed in a secure container with a screwtop or leakproof lid so food smells won't escape to attract bears. Remember, if your pets and farm animals like their food, so will bears and other wildlife.

Solution:

• Don't leave open pet food bags or containers in your trash cans
• Remove bird feeders, berry bushes
• Minimize any kind of food left outside.
• Bearicuda Basic - 20-Gallon food or trash container with an airtight screwtop lid. Ideal For Packing Foods or Use As A Waste Receptacle Its gasketed sealed lid keeps food and trash air-tight, with no smells. This small 20-gallon can is made of heavy-duty, impact-resistant, high-density polyethylene

10. Lack of Bearproof Equipment

If you live in bear-populated areas and do not have bearproof containers or enclosures, you will be an easy target for bears who are looking for food. Bears looking to fatten up for winter are very resourceful in finding food. Once they find a good source, they will keep coming back.