Update: Bears lose West Milford meal ticket | NJ Bear Issue | My Website

Update: Bears lose West Milford meal ticket

20/07/07 14:11 Filed in: NJ Bear Issue
WEST MILFORD -- More than two years after state officials said they would tackle the problem of bears raiding suburban garbage cans, more than 3,000 bruin-proof containers are being delivered to selected neighborhoods.
The cans, made of heavy-gauge plastic, are being placed in front of selected homes -- two per household -- by Department of Public Works employees.

Friday, July 20, 2007 bergen record

Deliveries should be completed by next week, said township administrator Rich Kunze.
The screw-in handles are mainly to blame for the delay. Officials went back and forth with suppliers over who would attach the handles, and the project was sent out to bid several times.
WHAT ARE THEY? The unique part of the 32-gallon containers is the screw-down lids. Bears can claw and kick and bite at the cans but lack the ability to unscrew them. At a wholesale cost to the town, each can amounts to $37.63 plus $7.22 for two sets of detachable handles. Residents must attach the handles themselves but are receiving them free.
WHERE? More than 1,500 homes in parts of Upper Greenwood Lake, Pinecliff Lake, Old Milford Estates, Wonder Lake/Forest Park and Farmcrest will get the cans.
WHY? State Department of Environmental Protection officials looked at ways to discourage wandering bruins and decided on testing the special cans in West Milford, one of the North Jersey towns with the most bear sightings in populated areas. The state awarded a $200,000 grant for the town to buy and deliver the containers.
NOW WHAT? State officials will monitor the number of bear complaints over the next year and compare the incidents to other years and to those of neighboring communities. Since the town spent only $137,000 for the cans, Kunze said he has asked the state to use the remaining grant money either to purchase more containers or help subsidize cans for additional residents.