Dive Summary:
- In order to prevent bears from entering the Pitkin County Solid Waste Center, officials are considering enclosing the compost area of the landfill with a solar-powered electric fence.
- In 2012, about 16 bears visited the landfill, with no aggressive behavior noted by the staff.
- The cost of the fencing the compost area is up to $60,950, with about $10,000 in yearly maintenance expenses, while the entire landfill would cost approximately $223,100 to enclose, with maintenance and electrical costs estimated at $40,000 per year.
From the article:
...the landfill’s high concentration of bears at the site increases the possibility for an encounter between a human and an aggressive bear.
Public Works Director Brian Pettet said, “what we’re recommending when the bear problem does happen again is that we’re allowed to conduct somewhat of a limited hunt and cull that herd based on how many bears are coming in.”
His [Kevin Wright, district wildlife manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife] recommendation would be to secure the landfill with fencing first, and if the bears are still a problem, then a limited hunt would be the next best option.
