As black bears emerge from their winter dens and start looking for food, six towns in New Jersey are getting a little extra help to keep the hungry animals out of their trash. The towns of Sparta, West Milford, Jefferson, Rockaway, Hardyston, and Hampton are set to receive bear-resistant garbage cans. These towns have the highest number of incidents involving black bears and trash cans, according to state officials.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has teamed up with Toter LLC, a company based in Statesville, North Carolina, to provide nearly 3,000 certified bear-resistant residential trash receptacles. These special trash cans have been rigorously tested and proven to keep bears out, said Janine MacGregor, Director of the DEP’s Division of Sustainable Waste.
"Bears have an extremely keen sense of smell. They are actively searching for food as they leave their dens. The risk of an unwanted encounter rises if they associate you or your property with food," said NJDEP Fish & Wildlife Assistant Commissioner David Golden.
The bear-resistant garbage cans are part of a broader effort to reduce bear-human encounters. The Murphy Administration has provided $500,000 in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget to provide these trash receptacles to residents in municipalities that are being impacted by bear-related nuisances.
The first shipments of the bear-resistant trash cans are expected to arrive in the six towns before the end of the month. Each municipality will be responsible for distributing the receptacles after they receive them from the supplier.
In addition to providing the bear-resistant trash cans, the NJDEP is also running a multimedia campaign to increase awareness of bears and bear safety. The campaign includes bear safety tips and public service announcements on social media, TV streaming services, radio broadcasts, and email blasts. The campaign began in March and will run through the fall of 2024 during periods of peak bear activity.
Feeding bears is illegal in New Jersey and carries a fine of up to $1,000. The NJDEP is urging residents to secure potential food sources such as trash, pet food, and bird seed to prevent encounters with bears.