Bears getting into unsecured garbage around Whitefish

Wildlife officials are asking Whitefish residents to secure their garbage containers in light of recent conflicts with bears.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks bear and lion specialist Erik Wenum said several black bears have been accessing unsecured garbage, particularly in the Lion Mountain and State Park Road areas.

“If residents secure garbage it would take care of most of our problems there,” Wenum said.

Residents are being asked to secure garbage inside a garage or secure shed, bring pet food in at night, clean up livestock food, and bring in bird feeders and clean up spilled seed.

Bears that access garbage can become food-conditioned and can become potentially dangerous, according to Wenum. Wildlife biologists usually have to euthanize food conditioned bears in the interest of public safety, he added.

In the city of Whitefish, all residents are required by law to keep their garbage cans in a secure location until 4 a.m. on the day of trash pickup, and then return containers by 7 p.m. the same day. In addition, those with bear-resistant containers are required to keep those containers latched until the day of trash pickup.

For more information or to report a problem, call Wenum at 756-1776.