It is much easier to keep food away from a wild bear in the first place than it is to teach a food-conditioned bear to stay away from unnatural food that it has learned to enjoy.

The first rule of BearSmartness is to not attract bears to areas frequented by humans. Securing attractants is the single best way to keep people safe, prevent property damage, and avoid the unnecessary destruction of bears.

Follow these simple guidelines and you will greatly reduce the chance of attracting bears and encouraging conflicts.

Dispose of Garbage Properly

• Never store garbage outside unless it is in a bear-proof container.
• Never leave garbage on your balcony or porch, even if it is screened. Bears are good climbers and can easily break into porches, garages and even unsecured homes.
• If you have curbside pick-up, do not put garbage out until one or two hours before the truck arrives. Use containers with locking lids.
• Do not let garbage pile up or develop strong odours that can attract bears. Minimize odours by storing garbage in tightly closed plastic trash bags or garbage cans.
• Stash food scraps, especially meat, fish, bones and fruit by-products in the freezer or in an airtight container until you can dispose of them properly. Even "dry" trash (like empty cereal boxes) has an odour, so be careful how you store it.
• Do not discard cooking grease in your yard. Collect it in a glass, plastic or metal container with a lid. When ready to dispose of it, transfer it to a plastic bag, seal the bag tightly and place in trash.
• Lobby your municipal government for a bear-proof waste management system with handy 24-hour drop-off.

Porches, Windows and Other Entrance-ways

• Keep doors and windows closed and locked. Food smells can lure hungry bears inside your home.
• Replace lever-style handles with a round door knob and knob collar/protector as well as a dead bolt.
• Do not store food of any kind outside, even if it is inside a locked refrigerator or freezer.
• Rural or unoccupied homes are susceptible to break-ins. Try installing extra security, tight-fitting doors and windows, electric fencing or a bear-resistant mat in front of any accessible door and windows.
• Block potential denning sites like crawl spaces under decks and buildings.

Vehicles

• Don't leave trash, groceries, animal feed, coolers or any odorous item in your vehicle or in the back of a pick-up truck. Bears can easily pry open vehicle windows and doors - even trunks - to access food inside.

Yards and Green Spaces

• Keep lawns mowed and weeded. Grasses, dandelions and clover are natural bear foods.
• Remove native and non-native plants that bears eat, especially in or near high-human use areas and playgrounds.
• Cut down or remove brush that is close to homes or along walkways frequented by people. (Bears like to have cover close by to which they can retreat. They are always reluctant to cross wide open spaces.)

Bird feeders

• Ideally, you should avoid using any type of birdfeeder during bear season. (Check with your local wildlife office to learn when bears are active in your area.) Not only do birds have access to plenty of natural foods during this time, but birdfeeders often spread salmonella and other diseases. And they readily attract hungry bears.
• Store birdseed securely indoors at all times.
• As an alternative to hummingbird feeders, plant red or pink native flowers which are known to attract hummingbirds.
• Bird baths are a great alternative that will attract birds to your yard without luring bears into trouble.
• If you intend on feeding birds, hang your feeder well out of reach of bears and bear-proof your system.
• Choose quality birdseed without millet. Almost all bird seed found under feeders is millet, which most birds toss out of the feeder because they don't like it. You can also switch to chips of sunflower seeds which will attract birds but leave nothing under the feeder.

Fruit trees and berry bushes

• Plant non-fruit-bearing trees and shrubs when landscaping.
• Remove plants and shrubs that bears like to eat (berry bushes, fruit trees) from areas where you don't want to find bears feeding, including entrance ways, busy paths, or around children's play sets. Replace them with ornamental, non-fruit-bearing varieties.
• Harvest fruits as or even before they ripen, and remove fallen fruit from the ground below the tree.
• If you are unable to pick the fruit yourself, ask a friend or neighbour to help, or call your local BearSmart organization and ask about their "picking" program.
• Electric fencing can be effectively used to deter bears from orchards and gardens

Gardens

• Vegetable gardens, especially those containing potatoes and root vegetables such as carrots and beets, attract bears. Flower gardens are not as attractive to bears as long as they don't contain sweet vetch, dandelions and clover.
• Harvest garden vegetables as they ripen.
• Consider a permanent electric fence to keep animals out of your garden.
• Never use blood meal, fish fertilizer or deer repellent in any garden.

Pet food

• Feed your pets inside and store their food indoors. Don't leave dog bones lying around your yard.
• A well-trained dog can help deter bears from entering a yard, or at least be effective at warning you if a bear is nearby. However, aggressive dogs may create conflict situations and may be injured or killed by bears as they defend themselves.
• Keep cats and other small pets (rabbits, guinea pigs) indoors when unsupervised, especially at night, when predatory animals (coyotes, cougars and bears) can more easily prey on them.

Barbeques

• Burn your barbeque clean and wash immediately after use, removing all grease and food residues.
• Remove and dispose of the grease in the drip can or grease tray every time you use your barbeque. Clean it thoroughly before returning it to the barbeque or store it securely indoors.
• Lava rocks trap grease and should be replaced with ceramic bricks that are easier to clean.
• Store your barbeque indoors when not in use (but please remember not to store your propane tank inside, as it is a fire hazard).
• "Smoker" grills require even more precautions to keep the odours down.
• Be watchful at barbeques - the smell from cooking can attract bears from long distances. Don't leave any food unattended outside. As soon as you are finished eating, bring all dishes, containers, utensils and uneaten food inside the house. Promptly and properly discard of all cans, used paper plates, cups, disposable containers and napkins.
• Citronella products contain a compound that is very attractive to bears, so it's best not to burn citronella candles or use any citronella-based bug sprays.

Compost

• Keep your compost clean and odour free.
• Never compost meat, fish, oil, grease or dairy products.
• Sprinkle your compost with lime to aid in decomposition and reduce odour. Cover kitchen waste with dry leaves or dried grass clippings. Keep compost aerated and properly turned.
• Locate compost well away from the forest edge, thickets and natural pathways used by bears.
• Start a community compost at your local electric-fenced landfill.
• Try indoor vermicomposting!

Salt and Mineral Blocks

• Don't put out salt and mineral blocks as they may attract unwanted wildlife to your yard. Your intent might be to draw deer, elk and moose, but bears and cougars may also be attracted to your property.