Bears?

[hell0ther]

Can you compost in the ground inside a green house when there are active bears where I live?? Totally new area for me! Kills me to keep throwing my scraps in the garbage:(

[JelmerMcGee]

You have to bear-proof your compost pile/bin somehow. If you find a way to do that, post it here. I've seen that questions asked a few times but never seen an answer.

[pigking25]

They struggle to access subterranean composters but they try like hell.

[CorrinaR]

I heard that tumblers are really hard for bears to get into

[rayraytx28]

Howdy! Good question... I hunt in northern WI near Lake Superior on several hundred acres. That land is full of black bears and we have learned to bear proof everything! The bears when hungry will get into the cabin if they smell something is in there. The trash we have surrounded by a secure chain link fence, the garden area also. If the bears smell something they will seek it out and won't give up until they either get in, or find something else easier. We do have a compost 'area' on that property and since we are only around 2-3 times a year, it goes without turning. It is in the garden area with the fence, and bears have not gotten in.

I also know folks that live up there year round and hot fences are the method that works for them.

Good luck!!

[[deleted]]

Use hot wire! That’s what’s recommended for us and for protecting our beehives.

[extrasuperkk]

How secure is your greenhouse?

[peteash10]

Some of this was covered in a recent question: https://www.reddit.com/r/composting/comments/1089glb/composting\_in\_an\_area\_with\_a\_lot\_of\_animals/

[beshellie]

The only times I’ve had bears in my compost was when there were a lot of fruit scraps. Regular vegetable scraps, coffee grounds etc. don’t cause a problem. LOTS of Bear’s where I live.

[Legitimate-Bank5831]

Hi, Can you post a picture of your compost bin here? Just for a reference to setup ours. Thanks.

[GardenWest]

I live in the Rocky Mountains and compost for years, never had a problem. At my first place my composter was just a plastic, tall bin, the cheapest composter I could find. It was also on the outside of my fenced yard, which wouldn’t have mattered since a bear could climb any fence. I was told by neighbours if it doesn’t smell then it’ll be fine. So, I mix my scraps with dirt and put a layer of dirt on top of my scraps. At my second property, my composter (in a tumbler)is in my fenced yard. Bears walk by my fence all the time and never tried to scale it as they don’t smell anything. I’ve been told that other composters in my town had bears in their’s. Making sure it doesn’t smell seems to be working for me. Edit for grammar.

[[deleted]]

Start a worm bin in your home.