Potomac to add bear regulations as concerns over trash grow

The Missoula City-County Health Board is hoping to reduce bears' access to garbage in Potomac by requiring bear-proof trash cans after multiple years of food conditioned bears visiting the area.

The City-County Health Board approved a bear mitigation zone in the Potomac Valley at its Aug. 17 meeting, along with expanding the Bear Buffer Zone and related trash requirements across the Missoula Valley.

"The Potomac Valley, especially in the Union Creek area, is one of the worst 'bear behavior traps' I have seen in western Montana," said Jamie Jonkel, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) Region 2 bear specialist. "Essentially, it has become a training ground for bears to seek food rewards from garbage."

Currently, garbage cans are lined up at collection points for residents to deposit trash. Earlier in the spring before the grasses and berries came in, bears were hitting the garbage sites almost nightly, said Justin Iverson, a Potomac resident.

"People are concerned with what happens with that bear once he gets accustomed to garbage," Iverson said. "They're going to get into more than garbage; getting into homes, hurting animals and hurting people."

A bear-proof garbage dumpster was put in place at Potomac Bar and Country Store with help from Republic Services in 2022. A spokesperson with Republic garbage stated that bear-proof garbage cans and dumpsters are available by request right now.

"How is this going to be fixed?" a community member told the Pathfinder. "We need a consensus to come up with a plan. Regulations are questionable."

The Missoula Bear Smart Working Group formed following a pattern developed in Canada. In 2022 a bear hazard and management plan was completed, focusing on the Missoula area. The Health Department is involved because it oversees solid waste disposal.

At the first hearing with the Health Board, Jonkel and Potomac resident Jim Costamagna brought up the issues with bears and garbage in Potomac. In addition, Commissioner Juanita Vero had been approached about the bear-garbage problem. After talking with Vero and Jonkel, Potomac was included in the second draft of regulations for the Bear Buffer Zone, said Shannon Terriault, the environmental health director for Missoula City-County Health Department.

Based on FWP data from 2018 to 2021, 49% of the recorded human-bear conflicts were caused by unsecured garbage. The proposed regulations would reduce bears' access to unsecured garbage by requiring bear-resistant containers or enclosures.

Other attractants include birdfeeders, fruit trees in the fall, pet and livestock feed and unsecured human food like food stored in unsecured freezers.

The proposal is awaiting final approval from the Missoula County Commissioners and Missoula City Council. The expanded zone would encompass the upper Rattlesnake, Bonner, Pattee Canyon, Miller Creek, Big Flat, O'Keefe Creek, Butler Creek, Grant Creek and Potomac.

If approved, the three-year program to require bear-resistant garbage cans or enclosures in the Bear Buffer Zone will begin in April 2024 in the Rattlesnake area.

"The three phase project is needed to give the garbage collection companies time to obtain sufficient bear-proof garbage cans," Therriault said.

Garbage rates are expected to rise by approximately $30 per quarter to cover the cost of the cans. Customers can purchase their own cans, as long as it fits their garbage company's equipment. In that case, the can owners would be responsible for maintenance. It's expected that bear-resistant cans last approximately five years.

"The bottom line is that we have had increasing bear-human conflicts. Last year was especially bad because of the poor berry crop," Jonkel said. "Public officials are worried about public safety. The idea of drawing bears into town with unsecured garbage is a bad idea. Also when a bear becomes habituated to garbage the bear has to be euthanized by FWP."

Bears that become accustomed to foraging in garbage cause a number of problems, Jonkel said. They scatter trash, damage property in search of food and cause public safety concerns.

If the bear is "removed," meaning relocated or killed, another bear is likely to take its place if unsecured trash is still available. Jonkel noted that "the current reactive approach to human-bear conflicts is ineffective, dangerous for people, and a deadly cycle for bears."

The Board of County Commissioners will hold a first reading and public hearing Sept. 14 at 2 p.m. There will be a final reading and public hearing Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. Meetings will be held at the Sophie Moiese Room (Room 151) at the Missoula County Courthouse and remotely through Microsoft Teams.

The agenda item will be for the Commissioners to approve a resolution that adopts the new version of Regulation 3 "Solid Waste Management" by reference. The bear requirements and management zones are included in those regulations.