Florida officials show effectiveness of 'bear-proof' trash can

APOPKA, Fla., Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Florida wildlife officials successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of a garbage can designed to keep black bears from feeding on trash.

Mike Orlando, a bear expert with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, threw a "bear-proof" trash can filled with cinnamon rolls, jelly donuts and apple fritters into a cage with a 450-pound black bear Friday at a wildlife rehabilitation center in Apopka, the Orlando Sentinel reported Friday.

The bear attacked the container with his teeth and claws but was unable to get to its contents.

"This is fall, the time of the year bears are most active. They're going to go where they can find food," Orlando said. "We're not just asking everybody, we're begging -- begging -- people to keep their trash locked up."

The bear-resistant trash containers sell for between $200 and $250.

Orlando urged residents of Orange, Lake and Seminole counties to use the containers or similar products.

"More than 60 percent of our bear problems are garbage-related," Orlando said.