Kodiak High School students have recently developed a bear-resistant dumpster to address the increasing problem of human-bear interactions due to improper trash management.

This initiative, inspired by the rising frequency of such encounters on Kodiak Island, aims to prevent conflicts that could harm both people and bears. The project was introduced by Nate Svoboda, a wildlife biologist from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, as a way to engage students and the community.

With a budget of $1000, the students designed a dumpster they believed could withstand the strength of Kodiak bears, the largest subspecies of brown bears, which can weigh up to 1500 pounds and stand ten feet tall. Though testing on Kodiak bears was not feasible, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) offered the perfect opportunity to test the dumpster with their brown bears: JB, Patron, and Hugo.

The challenge was set: the dumpster needed to withstand the curiosity and strength of the bears for at least an hour. However, the temptation of snacks inside made the test more difficult. JB, known for his love of marshmallows, quickly approached the dumpster and began his investigation. Despite initially struggling with the design, JB resorted to flipping the dumpster over and over, using brute force to crack it open. Ultimately, JB succeeded in getting a taste of the snacks inside.

While the dumpster was not able to resist JB’s persistence, it put up a solid fight, proving the students’ design was no easy challenge. This exciting project hopes to inspire future improvements in bear-resistant technology, and we look forward to testing more designs in the future!

 

 

Discover the WILD of Alaska and come meet the locals! Walk on the Wild Side Tours are available year-round and include an animal encounter. Summer Moose Encounters (feed a moose!) & Summer Bear Encounters (feed a brown bear!) are available. Book early to ensure your spot!