Inappropiate disposal of waste is a serious problem. Especially in bear habitat, near hotels and campsites in the mountains where open containers are still used and attract bears in search for an easy meal. Bears in Mind and Slovak Wildlife Society (SWS) aim to prevent this by using bear-prooof waste containers, that can’t be opened by the bears. Educating the public is the other side of the medal. As website was specially developed in 2005, (www.medvede.sk), a film and education material created. By giving lectures in schools, public houses and hotels by the team from SWS, people are being informed about the ways to coexist with bears.

Slovakia ‘bear proof’
At a hotel in the High Tatra mountains the first bear-proof container protoype B was tested. A young bear, a regular ‘guest’ at the hotel, could not open the container. The idea is, in the coming years, that many such conatiners will be produced and placed where people are motivated to deal with the problems. At the same time practical solutions will be handed out, like placing containers in barns or building an electrical fence around the containers. Each specific location requires its own solution.