Three Rivers Residents at Risk of Paying More for Less Protection
THREE RIVERS, CA — In a 3-2 vote on Tuesday, the Tulare County Board of Supervisors voted to introduce a bear-resistant trash cart ordinance that, if adopted, would add at least 30% to every Three Rivers household’s monthly trash bill without solving the community’s garbage crisis.
“This decision is disappointing for both residents and wildlife,” said Laile Di Silvestro for Bear Smart Three Rivers, a local community group that has worked for more than a decade to promote coexistence with black bears through education, deterrents, and practical solutions. “If the ordinance is adopted, Three Rivers residents will pay more for a system that still allows bears access to garbage, the very problem this ordinance should be solving.”
Bear Smart Three Rivers has long called for an effective and equitable plan based on proven models in other communities, programs that combine certified bear-resistant carts with strong public education. Yet no collaboration occurred with the residents most affected. The ordinance was drafted by Tulare County Solid Waste and Mid Valley Disposal, a private, for-profit company. “Partial bear resistance” is no resistance at all, and the County’s adoption of this ordinance would all but guarantee continued bear conflicts, property damage, and public frustration.
“We remain committed to working toward real solutions that protect both people and bears,” Di Silvestro said. “This vote may be a step backward, but our community’s resolve is stronger than ever.”
For more information or to learn how to support effective bear-resistance efforts in Three Rivers, visit www.bearsmart3r.org.
About Bear Smart Three Rivers— Formed in 2021, Bear Smart Three Rivers is a volunteer coalition committed to helping the community coexist safely with wildlife. Our mission is to identify and implement proven, affordable strategies, already successful in hundreds of bear-aware communities, to keep people and bears safe. The 13-member team includes expertise in communications, data analysis, education, project management, legal matters, government engagement, and wildlife behavior.
[Images: 1- Photo credit: L. Di Silvestro. This plastic cart is authorized by the ordinance, and it is the same model as the one displayed to the Board of Supervisors during the meeting. The manufacturer states that these carts are not bear resistant, and two Three Rivers bears figured out how to open them within two weeks. 2- Photo credit: Autumn Davidson DVM, Three Rivers resident; used with permission. The metal bins mandated by the ordinance, which accounted for 47% of reported garbage incidents this year, are involved in the community’s most serious incidents and caused at least one vehicle accident this year. 3- Photo credit: L. Di Silvestro. Short-term rental recycling bins are not addressed by the ordinance. They account for a quarter of the garbage incidents in Three Rivers.]
