Missoula County enters 'Phase 3' of Bear Buffer Zone plan, activating new trash requirement

MISSOULA, Mont. – Missoula County will enter the final phase of its three-year “bear buffer zone” plan starting on April 30. The final phase expands bear-safe container requirements to new areas and is the last expansion of the bear buffer zone plan.

The new buffer zone includes areas near the Clark Fork River from I-93 to near Harper Bridge, areas between the City of Missoula and the Pattee Creek Trail Head spanning from Miller Creek Road and I-90 and more. 

Missoula County shared a tool for residents to see if their property is within the Bear Buffer Zone after the Bear Buffer Zone plan was first implemented in 2023.

Residents within the Bear Buffer Zone are required to use bear-resident trash containers or enclosures to store their garbage. 

How to get bear-resistant trash containers 

A joint release from Missoula County and the City of Missoula said that Missoula’s two private garbage haulers, Grizzly Disposal and Republic Services, were working to switch out customers’ regular garbage carts for bear-resistant garbage carts. The release said 12,000 customers would be affected by the Phase 3 expansion and it might take around six months for all customers to receive their new container.

“Customers who have questions or want to advocate for quick transition in their neighborhoods because bears are present can call Republic locally at 406-610-2479 or stop by 3207 W. Broadway during business hours. Grizzly Disposal customers can call 406-541-7171,” the City-County of Missoula wrote in its release.

It added that Missoula Public Health staff and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks were working with haulers to prioritize areas of the highest concern.

Residents who lease containers outside the two main garbage haulers should call their service or learn which bear-resistant container to use, the City-County said.

Bear-resistant containers need to be compatible with haulers’ trucks and need to be certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, the City-County explained. A list of approved bear-resistant products is available on the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee website. 

What is the Bear Buffer Zone Plan?

The expanded Bear Buffer Zone plan was adopted by Missoula County and the City of Missoula in 2023. 

The plan was developed by the multi-agency Bear Smart Working Group. The bear hazard management plan endorsed by the group referenced research that showed that between 2018 and 2021, 49% of bear-human conflicts centered around unsecured garbage.

“The rules, implemented through the Missoula City-County Board of Health, aim to reduce human-bear conflicts and keep bears from becoming habituated to human foods through access to garbage,” the City-County wrote in its release about Phase 3.

The plan itself designated a Bear Buffer Zone, which would require those inside it to secure their garbage in bear-safe containers. The plan dictated that requirements would activate in three phases, starting small and growing larger every year starting in 2024.

New phases activated on April 30 in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Bears tend to wake up from hibernation around March through May. 

Missoula City-County said residents with questions about the new rules can contact Missoula Public Health by emailing envhealth@missoulacounty.us or calling 406-258-4755.