Whether intentionally or by accident, some Woodstock visitors and residents are feeding the bears, and the town is suggesting measures to stop it.
A proposed Woodstock law makes it illegal to deliberately or incidentally feed bears and carries a penalty of $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second offense, $300 for the third, and $1,000 and a mandatory court appearance for subsequent offense.
The fine for the first offense can be waived if the material or food is removed within 48 hours. All fines are minimums, and each violation can be subject to a fine of up to $1,000.
In addition to the fines, violators would be required to abate bear attractants, which includes, but is not limited to, removing bird feeders or pet food, cleaning or securing barbecue grills, using bear-resistant trash containers, and modifying trash storage practices.
Enforcement will be the responsibility of the Woodstock police and/or the code enforcement officers, depending on the time of the violation.
During a Sept. 23 public hearing on the law, resident Urana Kinlen expressed concern about enforcement and short-term renter education. Kinlen said there are a few short-term rentals by her residence that are creating a nuisance.
“I’ve taken specifically with one of them multiple pictures the last couple of years of just piles and piles of garbage that they don’t have in their containers.”
She is also concerned about bears getting into plastic trash containers at her apartment complex.
“Because it was plastic, even though it had a bar and a lock, the bear went through it, plowed through and opened it up, so it’s just stronger than the plastic top,” she said.
“[She] showed the cubs, and so now they’re constantly coming, and it’s just this forever problem and fear, and I’ve got people that are older, they just are afraid to go walking now.”
Bear task force member and town board member Anula Courtis said unsecured trash is something the town aims to address with the new law.
“We want to stop that because that is how those bears will be killed,” Courtis said.
“My biggest thing is that there’s a ton of laws, and they’re just not being enforced nationally and locally,” Kinlen countered.
Courtis said the bear task force can facilitate working with the departments to make sure the law is enforced.
Jess Lunt asked if there are recommendations for all-metal locking dumpsters because she believes that is the only thing that keeps bears out of the trash.
Courtis said there are ways to strap trash bins, but the all-metal bear-resistant containers are a financial burden for people because they cost around $400.
At least for now, the trash companies have not been willing to provide bear-resistant bins.
“We looked into that a long time ago and it was kind of a no-go. So it’s up to citizens and residents. It’d be nice to, in the future, do some type of an online event where maybe we can work with one of the local businesses to reduce the cost of the bear cans,” Courtis said.
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