With new rules intended to reduce bear-human conflicts going into effect, Missoula County residents in the Grant Creek and Rattlesnake areas will be required to store their garbage in bear-resistant containers or enclosures starting Tuesday, April 30.
If residents already use containers provided by Grizzly Disposal or Republic Services, these haulers will automatically switch them out with bear-resistant ones before or shortly after April 30.
Residents who donāt lease containers with these haulers should call whichever garbage service they use to either lease a container or see which bear-resistant container they should buy that is compatible with that serviceās trucks.
Containers can be put out for collection the night before trash pickup and must be fully closed with the lid latched so no trash is overflowing. Containers must be brought back from the road within eight hours of collection, unless the containers are kept in an alley.
Residents who haul their own trash will need to purchase a bear-resistant container certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee or approved by a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks bear management team biologist. A full list of approved containers is online at https://igbconline.org/programs/bear-resistant-products/. Residents who haul their own trash must take it to the landfill at least once every seven days.
The requirements for bear-resistant containers in these areas is part of the Phase 1 rollout for the expanded Bear Buffer Zone, which Missoula County and the City of Missoula adopted last fall. The expanded zone and updated rules aim to reduce bear-human conflicts, 49% of which in the Missoula Valley are attributed to unsecured garbage. More information about the expanded Bear Buffer Zone and associated rules is online at https://missoulacountyvoice.com/bear-smart-missoula.
Residents can see if their home is in the Bear Buffer Zone by visiting https://gis.missoulacounty.us/propertyinformation/, entering their address, and then clicking the āFactsā button on the right side of the page. Property managers should share this information with tenants in the buffer zone. For more information on bears in the Missoula Valley or to report bear sightings, visit missoulabears.org.
Residents with questions about the new rules can contact Missoula Public Health by emailing [email protected] or calling 406-258-4755.