Clinton Township Newsletter

1 8 m a r c h 2 0 2 3 W W W . C L I N T O N T W P N E W S L E T T E R . C O M brilliantimprovements.com Design. Plan. Build. b e W a r e o f b e a r s ! Black bears will emerge soon from their winter dens across New Jersey. At this time of year, natural food sources are limited, so bears may travel into neighborhoods to take advantage of unnatural food sources like food waste in household trash cans. Just one meal from a garbage can or dumpster can encourage bears to come back for more. Bears accustomed to finding food in trash cans can become nuisances or show aggressive behavior towards people. Find tips for bear-resistant garbage management here. Some communities in regions of New Jersey with higher bear populations make certified bear-resistant garbage containers available to residents. Inquire with your local municipality. Below are some bear facts and garbage management for homeowners from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife. Human garbage is attractive to black bears. When bears get into people's garbage, they may be encouraged to return to the location because of the food reward. Bears that associate people with food may have to be trapped or destroyed. Be a good neighbor by following these tips: • Use certified bear-resistant garbage containers and keep the container outdoors if you live in an area frequented by black bears. Certified bear-resistant trash containers have passed a formal testing procedure and are proven to keep bears out. Certified containers offer the best protection. • If not using certified containers, store all garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids and place them within a secure location where bears are unlikely to see or smell them. For example, leave garbage containers in your basement until morning of garbage collection. Note: Occasionally, bears have tried to enter buildings in search of food, so use caution. • Wash trash containers with a disinfectant solution at least once a week to eliminate odors. Examples of disinfectant solution include hot water and chlorine bleach or ammonia. • Put out garbage on collection day, not the night before. • Use certified bear-resistant community dumpsters in housing developments and gated communities. • Store recycling containers in a secure building and only put them outdoors on the day of pick up. Empty recyclables, like beverage cans, bottles and food containers can attract bears. • Garbage containers or dumpsters may be stored within Bear- Resistant Dumpster Enclosures (BRDEs). These are fully enclosed structure consisting of four sides (i.e. solid panels or cyclone fencing,) eight feet high, and with a top of sufficient design (i.e. barbed wire or roof) constructed to prevent access by black bears. BRDEs should meet the standards specified by the Living with Wildlife Foundation. * w w w . s t a t e . n j . u s / d e p / f g w / p d f / b e a r / b e a r f a c t s _ g a r b a g e m g t . p d f ? u t m _ campaign=20230210_nwsltr&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery "When you make a wee wish on a green four-leafed clover, may your belly stay full and your cup runneth over." ~ Richelle E. Goodrich

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