Composting in Bear Country
By Paula K. Beswick
While I’ve lived in SW Montana since 1996 and have had several gardens, it’s just been within the last 10 years that I’ve begun to compost to use as a natural fertilizer. Too bad I waited until I moved further outside of town, encroaching further into wildlife territory before I started putting food scraps to work outside.
I knew an open compost would not work nor would I want to provide human food to any critters, big or small. Having a large greenhouse instead of a fenced in garden, I did not want to put up a barrier simply to house a compost. So, a sturdy bear-proof compost bin was a must.
The author by a bear bed found on the property in early November, soon after the last composter incident.
I found a stand-alone compost tumbler that touted protection from bears. For the first couple of years, I put a make-shift fence around it in late fall and opened it back up in the spring. But I quit doing that and used it year-round without any problems. I was careful about what I put in the compost, would rotate it frequently, and create the right “mix” to encourage breakdown and discourage smells. A couple years ago, a bear pushed it over, but no damage was done. Then one morning I came out to a couple bite marks and claw punctures. But still, the composter held.
However, summer 2020 we had a large sub-adult black bear that started causing problems. As if a raging pandemic was not bad enough, we had a curious and persistent bear to deal with during lock-down.
Over a couple of months, the compost tumbler was not only knocked down, but three times it was pulled down a hill and into the trees. The 80-gallon bin was full, heavy, and awkward. It took both my husband and me to heft it back up. A small tree next to it was snapped and the metal pin holding the tumbler in place broke off. The bite marks turned into gaping holes and the claw marks were numerous. The composter survived, but this bear meant business. And it was not happy. The last drag down the hill, the bear dumped a pile of scat and dragged the composter through it. Shortly before leaving for hibernation, the bear was only able to shove it askew, but also left a very large, apple-filled calling card at its base.
Bite marks and ripping up of left edge – a sample of what is all over the composter.
Fast forward to April 2021, Lisa Upson was a guest speaker on the Library Community Forum with Mike Phillips, discussing co-existing with wildlife. She showed the incredible People and Carnivores video footage of the bear-resistant garbage bin made by Toter being used on a project. Seeing a grizzly bear literally jumping on the bin, I knew I needed something similar.
While my original Lifetime Composter worked well for quite a few years, the bear had finally done significant damage. Not eager for a repeat of pushing/dragging down hills, I wanted a different model. I searched online markets, went to numerous local retailers, and visited sites that Lisa provided (see links below). The take-away – there are few products that are truly “bear proof.” Most are bear-resistant. (Years ago, I asked Jan Cashman from Cashman Nursery & Landscaping for advice on what to plant for deer-proofing. Her response, “A fence.”)
Short of a fence, I needed something made from sturdy materials with a solid base that did have smaller components and did not allow easy access for bears (for instance there are several that have sliding door access.). Perhaps it was too early in the year, but I was disappointed that I couldn’t find anything local. I ended up ordering a Good Ideas 7 Cubic ft. Compost Wizard, which was recommended specifically for being “near bear-proof,” as good as I was going to get.
New and old composters: The rounder design of the new composter may help protect it from bear claw punctures.
This tumbler sits in a base, tumbles easily, and has screw-top access. I will put some stakes around the backside to keep bears from pushing it off the base, but it also has two side-by-side bins with smaller capacity than my larger one-bin. This allows me to create compost more readily and empty it more often. I have placed it further away from the greenhouse, making it less convenient, but hopefully less of an attractant (although I’ve never had a single problem with my greenhouse and critters, except for pesky aphids.)
Bears have not appeared yet, but I think I’m ready for when they do. Stay tuned…we will update you here!
Helpful links:
http://www.bearsmart.com/docs/Composting-in-Bear-Country-Squamish.pdf
https://critterproofcomposting.com
https://naplescompost.com/bear-proof-composting/