Burrtec Unveils New “Wildlife Deterrent” Trash Barrels Now Available to Duarte Residents

OK, bears, try to get into this trash barrel.

Burrtec Waste Services, the contracted waste hauler for the City of Duarte, has introduced a “new and improved” wildlife deterrent trash barrel that the company notes was developed with the help of customers’ feedback on a previous model. The new container features a steel-reinforced lid and rim with additional metal security latches. Two metal clips attach to reinforcement brackets and a secured closure bar.

“It isn’t the sole solution to bears going into the garbage cans. It is a deterrent if households and residents are properly disposing of some of the attractants to bears such as the smelly, tasty garbage and utilizing our container. We hope that it would provide some part of the solution to the problem,” said Burrtec Director of Municipal Services, Richard Nino.

The wildlife deterrent barrels are available to Duarte customers for an additional $6 a month. Some 30 customers are already using the barrel and response has been positive from the people, not the bears, said Nino.

Garbage pillaging bears have been the bane of hillside residents in Duarte and other foothill communities. Two years ago, in an effort to control the problem, Burrtec offered residents the choice of the first version of a wildlife resistant container and the City imposed an ordinance modifying the permitted time that trash containers may be placed curbside by residents of the hillside Duarte Mesa area. While the restrictions have proved somewhat successful it hasn’t solved the problem completely. In search of trash day goodies, the bears have widened their pillaging activities to include other residential neighborhoods further down the hillside.

“Bears are now present not only in the Mesa area, but bears are now seen regularly in portions of the Hearthstone and Fish Canyon neighborhoods. The further incursion of the bears into other residential areas as they search for food presents an increased threat to the public health, safety, and welfare because of actual and potential bear-human interactions,” said City Manager, Darrell George.

Duarte and neighboring foothill cities with similar bear problems have formed a Bear Task Force that meets regularly to discuss bear issues and develop a unified approach to the problem. One option the City is researching and will take to the Bear Task Force is a program modeled after one in San Diego County in which the county contracts with the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services for depredation services on a shared cost basis. Depredation is only used in cases where a bear has lost its natural fear of humans and poses a threat to public safety. Because USDA Wildlife Services only contracts with counties, the Bear Task Force cities would need to approach the County as a group and ask for the program to be instituted in Los Angeles County.

Continuing to educate residents on how to live peaceably and safely with bears is crucial. Springtime and summer means prime bear season is approaching. Duarte Public Safety Director, Brian Villalobos said the City is working to have the Department of Fish and Game do assembly programs for children at Valley View and Royal Oaks elementary schools where bears are often seen. The City is also preparing flyers to distribute to residents all along the Duarte foothills to educate them about eliminating the food source to reduce contact with bears.

For more information, call the Duarte Public Safety Department at (626) 357-7938.