NFR PSA: Bears are active.

Non-fishing related
RCF

RCF

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Here in Renton Highlands, several local news outlets and local Facebook posts discussed it. I found bear scat about 10 feet from our patio two days ago. Neighbors reported garbage cans have been tipped over recently. Our garbage cans have not been tipped over. I spray pine oil on the cans every time before I take the cans out to the road.

I talked with WDFW last year about our garbage can issue. They recommended I spray pine oil on the garbage can.
Bears do not like it. Research on the internet confirmed it. I bought some 100% pine oil and mix it with alcohol used for painting. Much cheaper than PineSol. It worked, so far. Crossing fingers.
 
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My Cousin in Juneau, Alaska has bears that bother his garbage cans, I will call him tomorrow and tell him to spray his g cans with 100% pine oil.
 
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JudyM said:
My Cousin in Juneau, Alaska has bears that bother his garbage cans, I will call him tomorrow and tell him to spray his g cans with 100% pine oil.
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Let us know if it helps, or not...
 
The most fool proof method I ever found while living in areas with bears is not putting the cans out until the morning of, as late as possible. Nothing else worked consistently, and usually just led to me cleaning up a big mess in the morning. Suburban black bears with no hunting pressure can get pretty brash though so nothing ever works 100% of the time with them. They might just come inside and help themselves to whatever they want in your kitchen :).

www.nbcconnecticut.com

Hungry Bear Breaks Into Avon Bakery and Eats 60 Cupcakes

A hungry bear helped itself to 60 cupcakes at a bakery in Avon.
www.nbcconnecticut.com www.nbcconnecticut.com

My parents are in rural CT about 45 minutes from where this happened and where the bear population is denser but still not hunted. My dad welded a bear proof box and takes the garbage to the dump weekly. Cans on the road, regardless of what you do just wouldn’t work.
 
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Hiking in the foothills of Wenatchee a few days ago. Not sure why the guy above was so pissed. Maybe stepping on a rattlesnake is not such a good idea.

Oh well, at least he wasn't trying to get onto my float tube while I was fishing.

I like bears. We have had a female bear in our neighborhood for years. She is a good neighbor.
 
509 said:
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Hiking in the foothills of Wenatchee a few days ago. Not sure why the guy above was so pissed. Maybe stepping on a rattlesnake is not such a good idea.

Oh well, at least he wasn't trying to get onto my float tube while I was fishing.

I like bears. We have had a female bear in our neighborhood for years. She is a good neighbor.
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I still cringe but can't help but laugh at your friend and his rattlesnake(s) adventure at the "Pot".
 
Old406Kid said:
What's really sad is how many bears become habituated and eventually euthanized due to people's negligence in proper storage or bear resistant garbage cans.
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It depends on the garbage and recycler company that services your area. Some companies will provide bear-proof cans. Unfortunately ours does not. I looked into buying some, but they are very, very expensive.

I have to take our garbage cans down my 700' gravel driveway weekly. At 74, not as easy as it used to be...
 
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Old406Kid said:
What's really sad is how many bears become habituated and eventually euthanized due to people's negligence in proper storage or bear resistant garbage cans.
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Last year I rented an Airbnb in Rossland, BC. I got up early and made coffee and was standing on the deck looking out over the forest when a young black bear wandered down the street, turned up the driveway right below me before sensing me (I moved to get my cell camera out) and taking off. He was heading for the "bear-proof" garbage cans below the rental. I rented the same house this spring but the owner has moved the cans into the garage...............
 
I solved the bear getting into our bird feeder problem at our old place with a single lit firecracker tossed at him at just the right moment. A speeding black blur resulted.

It only took once, as it never came around again.

Laws have changed in some areas since so I’m not necessarily recommending this to anyone.
 
RCF said:
It depends on the garbage and recycler company that services your area. Some companies will provide bear-proof cans. Unfortunately ours does not. I looked into buying some, but they are very, very expensive.

I have to take our garbage cans down my 700' gravel driveway weekly. At 74, not as easy as it used to be...
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From your previous comment and unlike a lot of folks in my area I'm sure you try to do what you can to prevent the situation.
I keep my cans in this shed and knock on wood no problems between going to the dump days.
I used to keep our cans in the garage but the mice were a constant headache. They repeatedly chewed the weatherstripping off of the bottom of the garage doors as well as the flap on the side weatherstripping to get in. Things are much better now that I moved the cans to the shed where they haven't got in so far.

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As you can see, very beary habitat as well as a haven for other critters/opportunists.
I have something that burrowed under one of my concrete slabs in the past week and am in the process of setting up a Blink camera to see what I might be dealing with.
 
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