Do your part
Living in bear country comes with a shared responsibility to help keep both people and wildlife safe. Most bear conflicts begin when bears gain access to unsecured attractants like garbage, pet food, bird seed, or livestock feed. These conflicts are largely preventable.
Securing attractants is not only one of the most effective ways to prevent conflicts, it is also required under Teton County Land Development Regulations. Taking simple proactive steps helps protect communities, property, and the future of bears in our region.
Wildlife is an essential part of Jackson Hole’s identity, economy, and way of life. The opportunity to live alongside bears is a privilege that also comes with responsibility.
Bear conflict prevention only works when communities work together. Even a single unsecured attractant can draw bears into neighborhoods and developed areas. By making responsible choices and encouraging others to do the same, we can help keep bears wild and reduce unnecessary conflicts.
Simple actions make a big difference:
Secure garbage and other attractants
Use bear-resistant infrastructure
Carry bear spray and know how to use it
Practice responsible recreation and food storage
Encourage neighbors and businesses to participate in coexistence efforts
Together, we can create safer communities and a future where people and bears coexist.
How The Cans Work
Click this link or scan the QR code to see how the cans work.
We want YOU to be able to get into the can, but not bears!
Special thanks to Henrietta Rios at Aspens Management for making this informative video.
Bear-Resistant Trash Cans
Household trash is the leading wildlife attractant and cause of human-bear conflicts.
By simply swapping out your trash cans for bear-resistant containers, neighborhoods can avoid attracting bears to the area. This saves bears’ lives, protects community members and domesticated animals, and prevents property damage from bears’ attempts to access human food sources.
The goal of our nonprofit organization isn't to create financial gain from these cans, but to mitigate human-bear conflicts by ensuring residents of Teton County are able to access this community resource.
That means we encourage you to shop around! As a nonprofit organization working on human-wildlife coexistence, it doesn't matter to us where anyone gets their bear-resistant trash can, only that they have one.
Click here to request your bear-resistant trash container.
Livestock/Pet Food
All livestock and/or pet food stored outdoors needs to be secured. See this list of IGBC-approved bear-resistant products to find an appropriate container to store livestock feed if it cannot be kept in a secure, indoor structure.
To receive a subsidized bear-resistant container to store your feed in please contact us.
Electric Fencing
Apiaries, chicken coops, and outdoor compost piles (including plastic compost tumblers), need to be secured to prevent bears from accessing them.
For information and assistance obtaining and installing electric fencing please contact us.
Fruit Trees
Bears will seek out fallen fruit from trees, such as decorative crabapple trees popular in town.
Farmstead Cider was founded to prevent wildlife deaths by harvesting apples falling off of the many decorative trees around Jackson and crafting them into artisanal hard cider. You can help to avoid luring bears onto your property by signing up here and identifying fruit trees in your neighborhood. With permission from landowners, Farmstead will harvest apples and document the approximate locations of these trees in their innovative mapping database.
Photo Credit: Bear Smart Durango
TIPS TO KEEP A BEAR SAFE PROPERTY
Use electric fencing around beehives, chicken coops, and compost piles
Remove bird feeders or hang them at least 10 feet off the ground and 4 feet away from the tree or pole – this includes hummingbird feeders
Use a bear-resistant trash can
Don’t overfill your trash can, if it doesn’t fit, save it until next week or haul it to the transfer station
Feed pets inside – store pet food inside
Store livestock grain inside or in a bear-resistant container
Pick fruit from fruit trees and shrubs or sign up to have Farmstead Cider come to harvest your fruit trees for free
Store BBQ grills inside or clean well after use
Remove all salt and mineral blocks from your property
SLOW DOWN when driving! 45mph at night and be alert for reflections of eyes on the side of the road