Black bears are becoming increasingly active around the City of Leavenworth, largely due to human-provided attractants that interfere with bears’ natural behaviors. The biggest attractant? Unsecured garbage and other human-provided food sources.
As bears find easy meals, they continue moving deeper into neighborhoods, increasing the risk of potential human-wildlife conflicts. There are steps you can take to help!
What YOU can do:
• Secure trash in a bear-resistant container and keep it indoors until pickup day. All trash receptacles that are not bear resistant must be secured in a building or structure that is inaccessible to wildlife and may only be put out the morning of your trash pickup service, not the night before.
• Remove or secure other attractants, including pet food, bird seed, and outdoor food waste.
• Never feed bears – intentionally or unintentionally! In Washington, feeding or negligently attracting black bears is illegal under RCW 77.15.790 and other state laws. Violations can result in fines of up to $1,025.
Help keep bears wild. A bear that finds food in town is more likely to return, putting both people and bears at risk. Removing black bear attractants is the best way to encourage bears to focus on natural food sources and reduce the risk of human-wildlife conflict.
Please do your part by securing attractants and encouraging your neighbors to do the same. Together, we can help keep Leavenworth safe for both residents and wildlife.
Need a bear-resistant garbage can for your home? Contact Waste Management at 1-877-466-4668 or www.wmnorthwest.com/leavenworth to learn more.
For more tips and resources, visit http://wdfw.wa.gov/blackbears
