Bear Proof Trash Cans

Secure Your Trash

It's the law!

Ready for you to come

pick up right in town!

30 Gallon $139.99

32 Gallon $199.99

 65 Gallon $239.99

95 Gallon $249.99

95 Gallon Steel Container $399.99

The City of Aspen requires all residents to store trash in bear-resistant containers to prevent access to trash, pictured above. The Aspen Police Department is patrolling to ensure compliance and is ticketing residents who do not have a "Bear Proof" trash can.

Aspen’s Wildlife Protection Ordinances are in place to ensure your safety and the safety of our wildlife.  When wildlife has access to trash, it brings them closer to our homes, creating a potentially dangerous situation for animals and people.  Please comply with these laws by making your trash inaccessible to animals.

Penalty

Failure to comply with these ordinances may result in the following penalties:

• 1st Offense: $250
• 2nd Offense: $500
• 3rd Offense: $999 + mandatory court appearance

For more information on the laws please visit www.aspenbears.com

  Follow Aspen Bears on Facebook, they will keep you informed about all things bears in Aspen!

Alpine Ace Hardware in Aspen and Ace Hardware of Carbondale have three sizes of trash cans available depending on your needs.

30 Gallon $139.99

32 Gallon $199.99

 65 Gallon $239.99

95 Gallon $269.99

Please Be Bear Aware. 

It is our personal responsibility to do our part to keep bears wild. Today, bears are sharing space with a growing human population. Curious, intelligent, and very resourceful, black bears will explore all possible food sources.

Aspen bears can be attracted to human food sources when natural food sources are unavailable. These bear have been known to  damage property, vehicles, and even homes in their pursuit.  Bears that find food around homes, campgrounds, or communities are often desensitized to human encounters.  Even though black bears are not naturally aggressive towards humans, a bear intent on getting a meal could injure a person who gets in its way. Every single year bears that have become too comfortable with human interaction have to be destroyed. Every time the Department of Wildlife is forced to destroy a bear, it’s not just the bear that loses.

How You Can Help

Black bears are curious, smart and can adapt to almost any environment. They’re not picky and will eat just about anything with calories, including your leftover garbage.  Bears want the most calories that require the least amount of effort. As a citizen living in bear habitat, please remember to: 

    * Secure your trash.
    * Remove birdfeeders.
    * Keep BBQs clean.
    * Keep pet food indoors.
    * Keep garage doors closed.
    * Secure windows and doors.
    * Be responsible about trash and bird feeders. 
    * Don’t leave food or trash inside your vehicle.
    * Pick fruit before it ripens, clean up fallen fruit.

Bear Proof Your Property

Don’t leave any garbage near your house or deck.

Never Feed the Bears! A fed bear is a dead bear.

Do not leave pet food or dishes outdoors at night.

Be sure your doors are solid wood or metal and you install good quality round door knobs that bears cannot easily push or pull open.

Keep garage doors and windows closed and locked at night and when you aren’t home. Screens are not bear-proof.

Clean up and store your outdoor grills after use. Bears will destroy a BBQ that has even the slightest scent of food.

Do not place meat or sweet food scraps in your compost pile.

If you must have a compost pile, enclose it with electric fencing. Keep it aerated and properly turned. Add lime to promote decomposition and reduce odor.

Brush Original scent Pine-Sol on window and door casing to mask food odors coming from inside. Place open pans of Pine-Sol in garages to mask garbage or food in freezers.

If your house is not your primary residence (vacation home or vacant rental) remove all food when the house is unoccupied. Bears can smell spices, teas, pasta and other foods and they will use their incredible force to get to it.

Don’t use D-Con, it attracts bears.

Be aggressive if you ever come in contact with a bear; make them think you will harm them.

Make lots of noise at a bear in your yard, either by yelling or blowing an air horn to let a bear know he’s not welcome. When he turns to run, throw rocks at him.

If you have questions or need help come by or call us at 970-925-3031.