How to Keep a Bear Out of a Compost Pile

Bears will tear apart compost piles in search of food.

Yogi bear may seem funny in cartoons and movies, but anyone who has ever watched a video on Yellowstone National Park knows that bears are very determined when it comes to scavenging food. If you live in bear country and have a compost pile, you may frequently be faced with a bear nosing through your pile in search of vegetable or fruit scraps. While having a bear scatter your pile is one way to turn the compost, it is not the way most people prefer.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Pitchfork
• Lime
• Compost thermometer
• T post drivers
• T posts
• Electrified fencing clips
• Electrified fencing wire
• Fencing wire cutters
• Electrified fencing box

Instructions

1. Bury all food scraps at the center of your compost pile. A bear will not paw through a compost pile if it cannot smell food there. Food scraps should be placed at least 8 inches deep within a pile. Alternately, avoid using food scraps in the pile at all, and simply compost your grass clippings other other yard refuse.

2. Mix lime into a compost pile to keep the odor of the compost down. This will help avoid attracting bears to your compost.

3. Test the internal temperature of your compost daily with a thermometer. Stir compost anytime it drops below 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This will keep compost aerated, which will cause faster decomposition and fewer smells.

4. Fence compost piles with electrified fencing by driving four T-shaped posts into the ground at four corners around the compost pile. Place wire clips at the top of the fence and 2 feet from the ground. Run wires between the clips. Connect the wires together, and attach them to an electrified fence box. Post warning signs around your property to warn others that electrified fencing is in use.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid adding melon rinds or other pungent food scraps to your compost. Bears that smell these food items will be attracted to the compost.

• Food scraps such as meat, fish, fats and oils should never be added to a compost pile. These items will not only attract bears but may become rancid.

• Avoid using bloodmeal in compost. The scent of bloodmeal attracts bears.

References

• Rossland Bear Aware: How to Compost in Bear Country
• "The Christian Science Monitor"; How to Keep Animals Out of the Compost Pile; The Editors of E Magazine; April 6, 2010
• Missoula Bears: How to Keep Bears Out of Your Yard