In response to bear presence in Government Hill, neighborhood becomes ‘secure trash zone’
Bear-resistant cans now required after repeated issues with animals getting into garbage
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - For at least the last decade, Government Hill has had an issue with bears getting into garbage.
For almost as long, neighborhood advocate Thomas Pease has been pushing residents to use bear-resistant cans to help relieve a problem he said he believes has gotten worse.
“The problem is, bears won’t change their behavior,” he said. “We as humans can if we are willing to, and as the problem persisted, it became apparent to all of us, or many of us, that bear-resistant containers were going to be necessary.”
Bear-resistant containers are now the law in Government Hill after the Government Hill Community Council unanimously passed a resolution to make the neighborhood a “secure trash zone.” The Anchorage Assembly then approved that resolution in early April.
The secure trash zone designation means all neighborhood residents must now use bear-resistant cans, including dumpsters, as of April 1, 2025. Solid Waste Services has provided the cans at no extra charge.
Community Council President Jody Sola said council members worked closely with both Solid Waste Services and the Department of Fish and Game on the ordinance. Sola also said biologists told her there are generally two options when dealing with bears and trash: the bears will be euthanized, or they can learn that there is no longer food in the neighborhood.
She said she was told that the process could take up to two years before bears begin to move on from a given neighborhood, but she was hopeful the designation would make a big difference.
So far, we’ve been met with nothing but positive responses from the neighbors,” Sola said.
Sola and Pease have both been handing out fliers to let neighbors know about the new cans and the new rules, reminding them that trash can only be put out the morning of pickup and should be kept secured in an enclosure or structure prior to that.
Pease said he has heard complaints that the cans are sometimes difficult to use or that some homes don’t have an indoor area to keep them in, but he considers that an inconvenience that’s worth it.
“The bottom line is,” he said, “do we want our bears alive and thriving, or do we want them dead?”
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