Bear-proof bins would be worth the investment in Manitoba provincial park, expert says

Posted on October 2, 2024 by Peggy

A professor at the University of Manitoba says it’s shocking that larger commercial bear-proof containers haven’t been installed in Whiteshell Provincial Park, where black bears have been seen breaking into garbage bins to get food.

Garbage containers near Falcon Lake in southeastern Manitoba used to be stored in wooden structures that helped to protect the bins and prevent wildlife from eating what’s inside, residents say.

The province replaced the enclosures a few years ago with metal bins that have plastic lids.

“If you can open the container with a crowbar, it’s not bear-proof.… That is basic bear smart 101,” said Michael Campbell, a professor of environment, earth and resources at the U of M.

LISTEN | Manitoba professor explains the importance of bear-resistant bins:

Information Radio – MB8:02What is the risk of non-bear-proof garbage bins in Whiteshell Provincial Park

Some residents are concerned about seeing bears feasting on garbage in Whiteshell Provincial Park thanks to some easily accessible garbage bins. We’ll speak to Michael Campbell Professor of Environment, Earth, and Resources at U of M more about that

Campbell has seen dozens of videos online that show black bears using their paws to open similar garbage containers, which doesn’t surprise him, because the bins aren’t bear-resistant.

“The rule with bears is if you remove the attractant, you remove the bear. If it can no longer get into it, the bears won’t hang around,” he told CBC host Marcy Markusa on Information Radio last week.

A black bear stands between two brown garbage bins outside. — Mike Wilson saw a black bear eating garbage from a Falcon Lake bin three weeks ago. He honks his car horn before throwing garbage away to make sure there aren’t any bears around. (Submitted by Mike Wilson)

Bear-resistant bins are “significantly more expensive” than regular garbage bins, but it’s worth the investment to protect the health and safety of people and bears, Campbell said.

Mike Wilson, a Falcon Lake cottager, said there’s always a chance a bear could meet your gaze from inside a trash bin, which is why he reminds people to honk before they lift the lid.

He saw a bear hopping into a bin with a damaged lid on the south shore of Falcon Lake about three weeks ago, and warned another person who was about to throw trash away.

“The bears have kind of figured it out, I think, by now. They really know how to get in and out of those things,” Wilson said.

“We always honk when we go in there, just knowing that they’re around and to spook any off.”

A black bear can be seen propping the lid to a garbage bin open outside. — A resident took this photo of a black bear eating garbage from a bin between West Hawk Lake and Star Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park in early July. (Submitted by Ainsley Houndle)

The province needs to come up with a better garbage disposal system so people in the area can coexist with the wild animals, he said.

A provincial spokesperson said the Manitoba government is aware of the community’s concerns and is working toward a solution that balances the need for safety and accessibility.

“Bear-proof bins have heavy, self-latching metal lids that are more difficult to operate for people with strength and mobility issues, which is why they have not been set as a standard across parks,” a spokesperson said in a statement last week.

The wooden cages that were previously installed in the south Whiteshell region were not bear-proof and had issues with people leaving the doors open, allowing bears to cause damage and enter, the statement said. The bins also had to be manually emptied, which took “significant staff time” each week.

That’s why eight waste depot sites were installed in the park, with bins that could be mechanically emptied, the province said.

Five brown trash bins in a row have garbage strewn around it. — The province replaced garbage bins in wooden cages with metal bins that are easier to empty. (Submitted by Mike Wilson)

There are several single-bag bear-proof containers at beaches, waysides, trailheads and boat launch parking areas, including a few wildlife-resistant in-ground containers at various locations in the Whiteshell and other Manitoba parks, the province said.

The only two parks with larger, mechanically emptied bear-proof bins that serve cottagers are Grand Beach and Duck Mountain provincial parks.

Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba has multiple bear-resistant bins in dense tourist areas like Clear Lake.

A spokesperson for Riding Mountain National Park declined to speak about the bins. Parks Canada, which oversees all national parks, did not immediately respond to CBC’s request for comment.

In fall, bears go through a period called hyperphagia, when they eat thousands of calories per day to prepare for hibernation in winter, Campbell said.

Bears can become defensive of their food source if they are interrupted while eating, which could lead to a negative interaction between a person and a bear where someone gets hurt, he said.

“All it takes is one bear with a slightly more aggressive disposition to create problems like we had in Shamattawa this summer,” he said.

Shamattawa First Nation, in northeastern Manitoba, was on high alert after three bear attacks — one fatal and another involving a child — were reported, prompting conservation officers to investigate.

The province encourages people to be bear smart in the publication Coexisting with Black Bears, which advises people to remove attractants near homes, like pet food, bird feeders and fallen fruit, keep barbecues clean and not leave garbage outside.

The province also warns people to be aware of their surroundings when walking, carry deterrents and keep dogs on a leash, as pets may provoke a bear attack.