VIDEO: Grizzly Bears Put "Bear-Proof" Trash Cans to the Test

If bears and other animals are getting into your cabin trash, that's a real problem. Ingesting garbage can compromise an animal's health, but it's also risky for you to keep your trash out in the open where wildlife can get at it. Some states and municipalities issue fines to homeowners with unattended garbage, and bears can be highly unpredictable and pose a threat to people if they get too close.

One solution is to purchase a certified bear-resistant container for your trash. (To learn other ways to deter bears from grazing on your property, click here.) How do receptacles get certified? They are subjected to rigorous testing by real grizzly bears at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, Mont. The bears relentlessly try to break into the treat-filled containers, even bouncing and gnawing on them. Only containers that pass the test without sustaining significant damage gain certification.

In the video news report below from FOX 21 in Denver, Colo., you can watch footage of the testing done at the Discovery Center. In Boulder, Colo., a new city ordinance requires trash and curbside compost to be secure from bears, so having bear-proof containers is now more important than ever.

To share your own videos of wildlife and other cabin happenings, click here.