A little back story...

We've been up here for about 4 years full time now, and none of us has had any bear issues, even though we all seen them. Fast forward to earlier this year, bunches of folks on the side roads all keep their garbage bins out near the collective mail boxes so the truck and pick them up. Well... the bears found them, and found them again and again. Some have got together and ditched the bins and got a larger locking dumpster. That seems to have temporarily fixed their issue.

We haven't done that, because we live on the main road and every Tuesday I just put my bin out to the street like you would in a suburban neighborhood. Otherwise is stays on the side of the house, behind the grilling deck in a area that is lit up at night with a spot light. Everything has been cool until a couple of nights ago, I noticed my garbage can had been messed with and garbage strewed over the yard. Mrs. Irish and I cleaned it up and I got online and ordered a "bear resistant" garbage can locking device. It will be here Wednesday.

In the meantime, I put a rachet strap on it that is secure. Well... I got up this morning early, made me some coffee, go out on the deck to check on it and the whole garbage can strap and all is just gone. Dammit!

I'll go look for it and see what that son of a bitch has done with it when it gets light, but dammit... This sucks.

My buddy was telling me cayenne pepper all over everything. Any suggestions?

By the way this is what I ordered... Probably a waste of money if the bastard is going to just tote the whole garbage can off somewhere. By the way the can is HEAVY, garbage day is tomorrow and we just had a party Saturday night.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGNQ89WD?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

How did it get the ratchet strap off? Chewed it? Get you a can like the ones at Desoto SP.

I’ve used ammonia with dogs that liked to get into trash cans
Just put a soup can on top or inside the trash can and when the ammonia is spilled the super sensitive nose will burn and eyes will water
Job done

I'm guessing that product will be a very temporary solution and that the bear will just tote it off like you mention. Hard to outsmart a highly food motivated animal like that. Guessing it is time to get a different type of lockable can ... good luck man!

I lived in AK around bears for 27 years. Once they're habituated, the only way to keep them out of trash, without the whole SSS deal, is not to put trash out until the day of pick up.

Found it!

Looks like the ratchet strap held, but he managed to get some stuff out. I guess I got to get some pants on now and go down there.

I've thought of all the stuff I can do: More straps, install some anchors in the block wall and chain it to the side of the house, and in reality, it might just be best to go in with some other folks and switch over to a common shared dumpster.

Cain't have nuthin'.

Cell camera, and a box of dove loads with the shot removed and replaced with rock salt. That will solve your problem.

I guess a 22 is out of the question?

At this point I'm thinking .308 or 7.62x54. I think that's the biggest I got.

But then I gotta deal with a dead bear or a wounded pissed off bear.

Maybe I can throw some of that Chinese mustard in there.

According to a movie cocaine worked on a bear in Georgia ...

hot wire, bears hate electricity.

This is probably your best bet. Put an electric fence charger and train him to stay away. Probably only have to train a few bears and then you will be good to go with just the wire. Maybe you can borrow one from someone on here that has one not being used.

I would also put up a game camera so you can see how it works.

This. I figure if guides use it to deter brown bears from entering camp, it ought to work on your garbage raiders.

We had bears pretty thick in NC. The only way we found to keep them out of the trash was to keep the cans in the garage. Heck if you didn't lock your vehicle they would open it.

Cayenne will work. We buy a 10 lb bag from Amazon to keep them off the bird feeders.

As handy as you are i would just build a garbage can shed and put a swinging door with a lock on it. They have these all over gatlingburg at the cabins up there.

That's what I was thinking. Solar powered fence charger.

As a person with a bear problem we keep our cans in the garage. Although the bear proof cans work for the neighbors, but I think the local bears have learned not to mess with them and don’t tote them off. You cannot keep them outside. I’ve seen them climb over, or bust through vinyl, wrought iron, and dog ear fence panels.

Pro tip: now that you have bears make sure you keep your grill, and smoker very clean or in the garage. Also if you clean any game or fish in your back yard be prepared to have visitors. Also don’t leave a euro Mount in your back yard to dry and sun. It will get gone.