Businesses and Restaurants

Businesses run the risk of attracting bears. While those that have food waste, like restaurants or grocery stores, may be obvious draws for a bear, most businesses have something that can attract a bear, like garbage.

If a bear accesses garbage, petroleum products, food deliveries, leftover grease, food scraps, or other items at a business, it will learn that these areas are a source of easy meals. These food rewards encourage bears to hang around, creating dangerous situations for customers and employees, and potentially deadly situations for bears. When a bear learns that human-inhabited areas mean food, it often leads to the bear being euthanized.

Read on to learn more about how you can keep your business, employees, customers, and bears safe.

Why Bears Visit Businesses: What are Attractants?

Just as any hungry human might follow their nose down a street to a particular restaurant, bears are guided by their senses of smell in their constant search for food.

The things that produce smells that draw bears to an area are called bear “attractants.” The attractants at a fast food restaurant will be different than those at an auto shop or hotel, but all of these places may have items stored outside that can attract bears. Some attractants may offer no nutritional value, but bears will still investigate the smells.

Some attractants at businesses are:

  • Garbage, recycling, and compost

  • Packaging that has come into contact with food (like plastic wrap, empty drink containers, etc.)

  • Food, drinks, food scraps, and food deliveries

  • Used grease or fryer oil

  • Outdoor barbeques and grills

  • Outdoor fridges and freezers

  • Some cleaning supplies (like scented soaps, laundry detergents, etc.)

  • Petroleum products

Check out our Bear Attractants Guide to see what other things can draw bears to an area.

Keeping Bears Away from Businesses: Securing Food, Garbage, and Grease

If attractants are stored outside, bears can get at them. Bears will even take advantage of open or unlocked doors and wander into businesses.

All attractants need to be stored in a bear-resistant manner. Store items in hard-sided, locked buildings or in bear-resistant enclosures or containers.

Use the dropdowns below to explore in more detail how to keep bears from accessing some common attractants and areas.

  • All waste needs to be stored in a bear-resistant manner, especially food scraps, empty food or drink containers, or packaging that has come into contact with food.

    There are a number of bear-resistant garbage cans on the market, from plastic 65-gallon cans to metal cans for pedestrian use to large dumpsters. Learn more on our Bear-Resistant Products page.

    If your business uses a waste hauler, coordinate with them to determine the best bear-resistant option. They may offer bear-resistant containers, or, if you need to provide your own, they can tell you which bear-resistant containers are compatible with their trucks.

    Make sure bear-resistant containers aren’t overfilled and are always locked (don’t prop them open during the day). Provide all employees with training on how to properly use bear-resistant containers, and add signage or stickers on the cans with reminders.

    Waste can also be stored in bear-resistant enclosures. Just make sure anyone accessing the enclosure (both staff and waste haulers) knows how to properly close it. Find more information about enclosures on our Waste Management page.

    Keep in mind that even when garbage is inaccessible to bears, it can still draw bears to it because of odors. To reduce odors, schedule a regular (weekly is good) cleaning of waste storage areas and equipment using hot, soapy water.

  • If used cooking oil is stored outside, make sure it is stored in a bear-resistant manner.

    While there aren’t currently any certified bear-resistant containers specifically for grease, other bear-resistant containers can be used. Explore available containers on our Bear-Resistant Products page.

    Some individual communities have created their own grease storage systems that aren’t certified but work well. If designing your own container make sure all access points are closed and lockable to prevent a bear from scooping out oil with its paws, that it is made of a heavy-duty material like steel with no gaps where a bear can pry it open, and that it has a user-friendly locking mechanism.

    Bear-resistant enclosures are another good option for storing grease containers. Find more information about enclosures on our Waste Management page.

    If any grease is spilled, clean it up as soon as possible. Make sure containers are bolted to a hard surface or secured in a way that a bear can’t tip them over.

    Even when grease is inaccessible to bears, it can still draw bears to it because of its smell. To reduce odors, schedule a regular (weekly is good) cleaning of storage areas using hot, soapy water.

  • If food is delivered and left unattended outside, there is a chance for a bear to access it. Not only will you be out of food, but you’ll have taught a bear that your business is an easy spot to get a meal. Bears are smart, and some have even been known to figure out delivery routes and times so they can get at food.

    Ensure all food deliveries are met by a staff member, not left outside unattended, and promptly put away.

  • Keep patios and other outdoor spaces clean to prevent bears from visiting.

    Clean outdoor tables in a timely manner. Also clean up any spilled food or drinks.

    Don’t leave bus bins with dirty dishes outside.

    If grills or barbeques are outside, make sure they are kept clean of grease and food residue. If possible, move them inside at night and when not in use.

    If there are garbage cans, make sure they are bear-resistant and either stored inside at night or made of metal and bolted to the ground. Make sure guests know how to lock and unlock cans.

  • While not likely, bears can and have entered businesses through back-door loading bays, kitchen doors, open windows, and even front doors. A bear inside an occupied building poses a significant public safety concern for staff and guests and is usually killed as a result.

    Management and staff should always be alert, especially at night and wherever there is easy access to food or garbage.

    When not actively in use, close loading bays.

    If kitchen doors are left open because it’s too hot, consider adopting alternative methods to keep the kitchen cool and comfortable to work in.

    While open front doors may be welcoming to patrons, it can also be welcoming to bears. The best practice is to keep front entries closed. Otherwise have a host who stays at the front entry whenever doors are propped open.

    When closing up, make sure all access points are shut and locked.

What to Do If a Bear Shows Up

If attractants are properly secured and business are kept clean, the chances of a bear encounter are greatly reduced.

Regardless, have a clear system in place for if a bear does show up, and be sure all employees know what to do.

If a bear is approaching or near your business and you are in a safe location, yell at the bear in a loud authoritative voice to deter it. Call for other staff to help, if possible. Notify your manager and call local law enforcement or wildlife managers.

If a bear enters a patio or building, get everyone to a safe place, either inside the building or as far away from the bear as possible. Do not block the bear’s potential escape routes, and do not let anyone approach the bear or encroach on its space. Immediately call law enforcement or wildlife managers.

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