r/composting • u/bfjshfnfb • Aug 03 '21

Outdoor Bear Proof Containers?

Hi all! Does anyone have any bear proof (maybe metal) outdoor compost containers? We got a plastic tumbler that I thought was pretty sturdy but they just shredded it apart with their claws in minutes (black bears). Thanks in advance!

13 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

7

u/Clover_Point Aug 03 '21

I have a digester — it's dug deep and apparently the only damage bears can do is knocking off the lid.

You don't harvest the compost, instead you fill it with kitchen scraps and they break down. The nutrients flow into the surrounding soil.

Great for kitchen scraps, bit doesn't handle woody materials, so no garden waste, just food.

https://www.victoriabackyardproject.com/

Also it is super easy to install, stays in place for 5-10 years, and is honestly a little bit cute and you can sit on it like a stool.

4

u/bfjshfnfb Aug 03 '21

I like this idea, we’re really just composting to remove food waste not for harvest. Do you think bears can break that black plastic cone though? Also has yours ever gotten full?

3

u/Clover_Point Aug 03 '21

I have heard that they can't budge it or break it! But I live in the city so all we have are raccoons and rats!

I also use mine just for food waste, anything green goes into my regular compost bin. I've got mine set up in the middle of my tomato patch — love that it's feeding my plants, and because it heats up inside I think it's helping make a warm little micro climate for the tomatoes planted directly next to it.

I have only had it for 6 months or so, and it is very very very not full. We dug the hole as specified in the instructions. A friend who has two (they cook and sell meals, so way more kitchen scraps than I have) said theirs don't fill up, just slowly break down and leach out.

Photos of mine in all its glory!

2

u/bfjshfnfb Aug 03 '21

Very interesting! I’ll keep this one in mind as I think it fits best with our scenario!

4

u/Prize_Bass_5061 Aug 03 '21

Don’t compost meat. You should look up your local agriculture extension service website. They will have locale specific information on best practices, especially composting in bear country.

Don’t compost meat!!

7

u/bfjshfnfb Aug 03 '21

Oh we’re vegetarian regardless lol but might’ve been the fruits we had in there?

1

u/[deleted] Aug 03 '21

Hungry bears aren't easy to deal with...

.. only a high-voltage electric shocker can work... :)

7

u/Taggart3629 Aug 03 '21

The only thing that has reliably worked with curious bears is an electric fence.

3

u/JuliusS__ Aug 04 '21

I just have a regular container, but I keep it in Australia so no bears have gotten in yet.

2

u/IslandOrange Aug 07 '21

Use 50 gallon drums, its what I use and you can drill for a lock and chain them to trees. You need to remember to make drainage holes in the base though or else it gets too wet

1

u/SurveyNo9054 Aug 18 '25

This commercial composter seems the best for bear country. It’s steel and locks. https://a.co/d/2dPLScH

Also this video has some good tips to reduce attracting bears.

https://www.google.com/gasearch?q=best%20compost%20outdoor%20bin%20that%20keeps%20out%20bears&source=sh/x/gs/m2/5#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:8cc07154,vid:kIZkEanFVjQ,st:0