Thursday, May 23, 2013
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Trash Attracts Bears And Hefty FinesGarbage draws bears from the woods into your backyardsRelated Content
ANCHORAGE—A Muldoon neighborhood has been the scene of two bear shootings in recent weeks and biologists say that points to a people problem; specifically, a problem with people’s trash.
It’s an East Anchorage neighborhood that butts up against the military base where bears live in the dense woods. Fish and Game biologist Jessy Coltrane said people’s unsecured garbage lures bears from the woods and into the neighborhood. “I’m always surprised,” Coltrane said. “I'll come to people's houses where there will be a swing set and a tricycle sitting next to their four overflowing garbage cans and I think, ‘Are you worried about your kids?’ They are baiting the bear right up to their yard and then wondering why a bear is on the lawn.”
Coltrane said overflowing trash cans can get you a fine and so can trash that is strewn about. It could be as high as 300 dollars. She said it is also illegal to put out trash before your actual pick-up day, even if it’s just the night before.
“If you don’t put it out until the morning of pick-up, the trash is out for a shorter amount of time,” Coltrane said. “It’s not left out at night when the bears are typically more active and have hours to get into it.”
Another option is to secure your trash in a bear-proof can. They are available for a low monthly rental fee from Alaska Waste. But Coltrane said it doesn’t work to deter bears unless every neighbor does their part.
“Everyone on the neighborhood has to take personal responsibility for their own trash and their own property for this to work,” Coltrane said. “And that's the hard part getting everyone to recognize that and wanting to make that change.”
Coltrane said people can report neighbors who consistently have messy garbage by calling the municipal code enforcement officer. If you actually see a bear in a trash, Coltrane said she should be contacted at Fish and Game at 240-9194.
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COMMON SENSE said on Thursday, Jul 7 at 3:07 PM
JUST GET RID OF THE BEARS ABD THERE WONT BE A TRASH PROBLEM SILLY WABBITS
70320006gldrsh said on Thursday, Jul 7 at 3:31 PM
I once called Fish and Game to report a bear that was not only in someone's trash but was also not the least bit deterred by the multitude of people watching, talking, photographing, etc. Given the layout of the area and all it seemed an inherently hazardous situation. Unfortunately, the person I spoke with seemed much more interested in getting information to ticket the neighbor than in actually solving the immediate problem--a bear roaming the streets with the kids. While I fully agree that garbage should not be left out as bait, I also believe that once a bear has come to associate humans with food and is interacting with them it is more important to remove the bear than write tickets. And if this was not the intent of the person I spoke with it would be wise for them to revise their methodology so that future callers are not left with that impression.
70320961debi cole said on Thursday, Jul 7 at 4:11 PM
the trash co is a huge conglomerate .. they could..should supply the bear proof trash cans to everyone as a standard practice.. when supplied.. not rented..all of Anchorage could have ONE..and use it for food.. also, Anchorage residents.. What is so hard about keeping the food in a separate container???
70322574AGAIN said on Thursday, Jul 7 at 4:19 PM
THE PROBLEM IS THE "BEARS" NOT THE PEOPLE AND THEIR TRASH, WE PAY FOR PROTECTION FROM THE BEARS NOT TRASH
70322954pickit up said on Thursday, Jul 7 at 4:48 PM
there can be five garbage cans sitting around a car filled with somoans and all inside the vehicle will throw their garbage out the windows not even trying to hit the garbage cans, no doubt they leave their trash out too and bears have to die because they are lazy.
70324622KK said on Thursday, Jul 7 at 4:50 PM
The people who think the bears are the problem should move back to where ever they came from.
70324729say what said on Thursday, Jul 7 at 5:31 PM
people who think people and trash are the problem need to stop smoking their house plants and drinking the lib koolaid
70327052olddg said on Thursday, Jul 7 at 8:49 PM
Just get rid of the people and there won,t be a trash problem silly people
70335591you said it said on Thursday, Jul 7 at 10:00 PM
just like if the school dist could only get rid of the kids they would less problems running the schools
70336979Raven33 said on Friday, Jul 8 at 12:00 PM
Make it where a neighbor that reports the other neighbors violations gets 50% of the fine and I bet that pretty soon, there will be fewer neighbors putting/leaving their trash out! Then again, with the hot heads we have, there may be more shhoting too.
70372416Long time Alaskan said on Saturday, Jul 9 at 5:51 AM
Keep the bears scared of humans and the problem is solved. The blood of those mauled or killed is on the hands of those who believe the bears have more rights than we do. If you are one of these people, Thanks for visiting, but please leave Alaska, we know how to protect our communities.
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