Put your trash in bear-resistant containers

As the cooler fall temperatures roll into the first snow of the season, bears are making their way to lower elevations, looking for food as they prepare to hibernate for winter.

Teton County officials want to remind you it is our responsibility to mitigate potential conflicts between wildlife and humans.

One of the best ways to do that is by using bear-resistant trash cans.

“It seems like many folks out in the community could do a little better in terms of preventing bear encounters that lead often enough to euthanizing the bear,” Teton County Commissioner Mark Newcomb said.

Reuse and recycling containers in Teton County are required to be bear-resistant in areas designated as a Conflict Area 1, which has been identified by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department as areas that overlap with, lay adjacent to, or are in close proximity to known bear-use areas.

You can be fined up to $750 per day, per offense if you fail to use a bear-resistant trash can.

You can acquire a bear-resistant trash can by contacting your garbage collection agency or can purchase one at hardware stores in the area for around $250.

For more information on bear-resistant trash containers, or to find out if you live in a conflict area, go HERE.

To view the list of IGBC-approved resistant containers, go HERE.

To report an offense, call the Code Compliance Officer at 307-733-3959.

Areas within the Town of Jackson, Melody Ranch and Rafter J subdivision are not required to have bear-resistant containers.