It’s been awhile since we’ve done a bear sighting story, but this video is probably worth watching.
The black bear climbs the fence and actually pulls a large plastic garbage container out and over the fence with his mouth.
This might help explain why city officials ask residents to keep garbage containers inside their garages.
Braeburn Neighborhood Bear Exposed
Around 5:15AM, Friday, May 30, 2014, Snoqualmie resident Kevin Shea spotted a black bear climbing his fence, attempting to get into a 
secured, fenced-in section where his neighbor stores their garbage containers.
The incident occurred in the Braeburn neighborhood, about halfway down Snoqualmie Parkway toward historic Snoqualmie. Braeburn is surrounded by multiple wooded areas.
Shea said over the past couple of weeks his family has woken 2-3 times to find bags of trash spread out across the road, but this time they were able to witness it happening.
The incident was actually the bear’s second trip to the Shea’s home Friday morning. Kevin said he woke to noise around 4:45AM, only to see a bear running down the alley with a bag of garbage. When the bear returned, he grabbed his iPhone to document the incident.
Shea commented via email that it was “crazy to see this first hand… how agile they [black bears] are in being able to climb on fences and get into places.”
The City of Snoqualmie asks that residents report bear sightings by calling 911. The Snoqualmie Police Department works with the Washington State Department of Wildlife to track bear sightings and monitor their activity.
For more information on Living with Black Bears visit the Washington State Fish and Wildlife website.
See this incredible bear video click below.
Comments
Watching this video makes me think that perhaps putting the cans out at a set time isn’t going to help at all. Perhaps we should be supplied with bear-proof trash cans instead. We don’t have a good place to store the cans except inside our yard between the house and the garage. I would be very upset if I came upon a bear going through trash in the only “safe” place I have for the can. I would basically be cornering a wild animal. The garages aren’t oversized, so we can’t keep them in there when we park two cars. Any other suggestions?
We requested, and received, a wildlife resistant container from waste management. No extra fee. Just give them a call and they will deliver it at your next garbage pickup day.
Interesting. I just called Waste Management and ordered a wildlife resistant yard waste container. It’s an extra $3.24 a month as listed in the Snoqualmie pricing. However, a wildlife resistant 32/35-gallon trash container was $37.87 per month vs. $23 for the normal container!
While I appreciate your opinion Danna, that my cans should have been in the garage, I disagree. I have gone to the trouble of putting my cans in a secured area which 50% of my neighbors do not do. As Rebecca said, it’s either my cars in the garage or my trash. I opt for my cars as they are far more important to protect within a garage that is very small and barely fitting of two midsize vehicles. In the 7.5 years I have lived here, this has never happened. I was appreciative of the Fox News commentary both on the news cast and on the written article on their website which called me a conscientious homeowner. I do agree with that statement.
I am sorry and a little confused. In the article I don’t believe I stated cans belong in the garage, as mine are also behind a secured fence. I said maybe because of bears climbing fences is why city officials ask that we store cans inside our garages. Sorry if somehow my writing implied that I thought that is where cans belong.
I agree with you Felicia, you had the garbage cans in a secured area and the cars should be in the garage for they are far more important to protect.