Is there a way to safely compost without attracting bears?

Question:

Is there any way to safely compost without attracting bears? I live in an area known to have bear traffic and am looking for advice on ways to compost without drawing their attention.

Answer:

Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional

I don’t have any direct experience with the problem (our bears went after the bird feeders, which we wound up moving, but they left the compost alone), but I did find this great resource on composting in bear areas from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, and the suggestions all sound reasonable to me. I can’t guarantee it will work, of course–as with other hungry mammals, the only sure-fire solution is a physical barrier. But a lot of the suggestions might help make your compost pile less interesting.

Happy gardening.