By Matt Fetinko

No plans to roll out more bear-resistant garbage cans to other Prince George communities

Apr 22, 2020 | 3:53 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — It is the time of year when bears start coming out of hibernation. A big issue is with garbage cans, as it is an easy food source for bears. The bear-resistant garbage can pilot project enters its second year, but now it may be time to re-evaluate where they are needed most.

Last April, the City wheeled out 288 bear-resistant garbage carts up to the Hart, where they felt bears would be more susceptible to finding their way onto properties. The carts are specially made to prevent bears from being able to get inside and cost about three times as much as regular carts But where they are needed most differs depending on who you ask.

“It’s always a very slow progression that starts here in Prince George. The beginning is always Lower College Heights and then it moves into Upper College Heights and then we move into the Heritage area. Usually, generally speaking, the Hart, the Upper Hart, is the last to see any activity,” said Northern Bear Awareness Society President, Dave Bakker.

“We do get complaints from the College Heights area but we haven’t picked any other areas [for the project],” explained Mike Dimassimo, Foreman for Solid Waste Services. “There are certain areas in town where we don’t see bears like downtown so it wouldn’t be beneficial to put any there.”

As of right now, there are not any plans to expand the project. The City will look at its options once the pilot is completed.

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Important things to consider whether you have the cans or not is to limit easy food sources like garbage or bird feeders. And it’s best to be proactive in protecting them.