Hunting News

Cooperative solution fixes old bear problem

Cooperative solution fixes old bear problem

By New Mexico Department of Game and Fish

The City of Raton and New Mexico’s Department of Game and Fish recently have installed 650 bear-resistant trash dumpsters to discourage bears from frequenting the town in search of food.

Bears have been raiding Raton’s trash dumpsters for years and the department frequently was called to deal with them. The city came up with a bear-resistant trash dumpster design that worked with its trash collection vehicles. The city and department pitched in to get them built and distributed.

“The collaborative project has been a huge success,” said Scott Berry, Raton’s city manager. “The new containers have provided numerous benefits, including decreased operating costs associated with cleanup, a cleaner city and a healthier environment for the area’s wildlife.”

The department partnered with the city to buy the custom-built dumpsters and contributed about $382,500 to the effort. The city provided another $213,000, said Bob Osborn, the department’s assistant chief of private lands programs.

“This is a good example of how we can work with communities to address wildlife issues in a mutually beneficial manner,” Osborn said.

Instructions on how to operate the new dumpsters are available at www.ratonnm.gov.

For more information on living in bear country visit www.wildlife.state.nm.us.

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