Bear rules went into effect over the weekend in the town of Jackson. Those rules require a bear-proof garbage can is some parts of town.
Bear Conflict Zones
Last fall, the Jackson Town Council approved an ordinance that mandates the use of bear-resistant containers in what are called bear-conflict zones inside the city limits.
Those zones consist of property adjacent to public lands on Snow King Mountain, near Hidden Ranch, and near Indian Trails.
Wildlife attractants like garbage, food products, pet food, feed, compost, or any other material attractive to or edible by wildlife shall be stored in a bear-resistant container or inside a bear-resistant building, fencing, or enclosure.
Other rules also make it against the law to provide supplemental feed to wildlife.
Bird Feeder rules
Bird feeding is still allowed but now it is required that all feeders be inaccessible to any wildlife besides birds and that the area below the feeder must be kept free of the accumulation of seeds.
Fruit Trees
Ornamental fruit bearing trees, which are not harvested for food like crabapple and cherry trees, will no longer be allowed to be planted in Jackson
Ornamental fruit trees that were already planted before the law went into effect, must be managed to prohibit wildlife from eating the fruit by fencing or pruning branches at least 10 feet from the ground. Tree owners are required to keep the area below the tree free of any fruit.
Native fruit bearing trees are allowed. These are mostly berry producing shrubs like huckleberries, serviceberries, raspberries, thimble berries, strawberries, and hawthorns.
In general, if a tree or shrub grows naturally on our public lands, it is not prohibited.
Certified Bear-proof containers
Bear-resistant containers are self-locking and certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee. A list of certified bear-resistant containers and dumpsters is available on the IGBC website.
