Around the yard
. Do not leave food from barbecues and picnics outdoors, especially overnight. Coolers are not bear-proof.
. Replace hummingbird feeders with hanging flower baskets, which are also attractive to hummingbirds.
. Eliminate birdfeeders or hang them 10 feet up and 4 feet out from the nearest trees. Use a rope and pulley system to refill birdfeeders, and clean up spilled seeds. Where bears are a nuisance, birdfeeders should be taken down.
Store pet food inside and feed pets inside. If pets must be fed outdoors, feed them only as much as they will eat.
. Clean and store barbecue grills after each use. Store them in a secure shed or garage away from windows and doors.
Pick fruit from trees as soon as it’s ripe and collect fallen fruit immediately.
. Limit compost piles to grass, leaves and garden clippings, and turn piles regularly. Do not add food scraps.
. Harvest garden produces as it matures. Locate gardens away from forests and shrubs that bears may use for cover.
. Use native plants in landscaping whenever possible. Clover and dandelions will attract bears.
. Elevate beehives on bear-proof platforms or erect properly designed electric fences.
. Do not put out feed for wildlife (like corn, oats, pellets or molasses blocks).
Garbage
. Store garbage in bear-resistant garbage cans. Rubber or plastic garbage cans are not bear-proof.
. Keep garbage inside a secure building until the morning of pickup.
. Properly rinse all recyclable containers with hot water to remove all remaining product. Store recyclable containers, such as pop cans, inside.
. Store garbage that can become smelly, such as meat or fish scraps, in a freezer until it can be taken to a refuse site or picked up by a refuse collector.
. Take especially smelly or rotting garbage as soon as possible to your local refuse facility so it can be buried.
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