My daughter gets trash pick up once a week and wants to know if anyone knows how to keep animals out of your trash with out using a box or somthing.she heard hairspray and deoterant works but wants to know peoples oppinions.

little ole lady from missouri

-- Joyce Carter (raveneyeF@semo.net), October 26, 2001

Answers

We had around two dozen garbage cans to haul to the dump every week for 20+ years (resort). What worked best were round metal cans, with a piece of polypropylene rope permanently attached onto one handle. The rope would then pass through the handle on the top of the lid, and tie securely down onto the opposite handle on the can. Black rubber bungee cords of the right length worked as well.

It would keep everything but bears out if you tied it on right.

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), October 26, 2001.

A bit of cayane pepper in a water based spray works here.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), October 27, 2001.

I have large green plastic cans (Rubbermaid, I think) with lids that are held down by latches on the sides of the can. I thought I was clever until critters found they could tip the cans and get lucky once in a while with a lid coming loose at one side (which was all it took for me to find a mess in the AM). The next step was tying the cans to a couple I-bolts I put in the wall. Animal ingenuity beat me there, too, when I found the rope gnawed through one morning and the cans all tipped. Now it's chain with an old storm door spring in line to keep it taught. I make sure I keep track of all my metal cutting tools now, too. Just in case... ;o) I hope this helps.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), October 27, 2001.

I have not had a problem with animals in the trash since I started composting and sorting for recycling pickup. With food and empty food containers removed there is no attraction for scavengers.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), October 27, 2001.

Joyce I set the metal trash cans on an automobile tire to keep them from grounding out.Then I clip the cans to my electric fence with a clip lead. Just don"t forget to touch the cans with out diconnecting them first.

-- jay vance (jay.l.vance@worldnet.att.net), October 27, 2001.

I bag all my trash and before tying the top of the bag I add a capful of ammonia.

-- Grannytoo (jacres40@hotmail.com), October 27, 2001.

I just put a bungee cord from one handle to the other. No problem, no worries! LOL

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), October 27, 2001.

Shoot them?...LOL

-- grant (organicgrange@yahoo.com), October 27, 2001.

We do compost also and that does save on the food scraps that encourage animals in the trash. We also were able to get the trash company to leave us a small dumpster they they pick up twice a month for $38. We keep the lid down on it and it seems to work fine for us. Maybe you could check into the dumpster idea. Thought the ammonia idea was a good one too !!

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), October 27, 2001.

We use the locking rubbermaid cans and bungied it closed. A bear dragged the can up through the woods and even chewed some holes in it before he was finally able to open it. Unfortunately, it seems the garbage men needed a bungie cord...

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), October 27, 2001.

Joyce, An old friend in Tennessee, hot wired the trash barrels. He would flip it on at night or if he saw something around them. He got a big kick out of shocking the bejeebers out of any critter who laid a paw on it. But, he is the one who hooked up a florescent sign transformer for his electric fence and would instantly cook any chicken that flew up on it!!!

-- Karen in Kansas (kansasgoats@iwon.com), October 28, 2001.

I am not trying to be difficult, but the wooden box works great for us. We used to have a lid but the garbage man threw it all over (I saw him do this on occ.) and now just throw the trash in without a lid. It is narrow and tall which is what keeps deer and dogs out. I suppose raccoon could get in but I have never had that problem. My neighbors without a box use multiple bags to block the scent.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), October 28, 2001.

Joyce, the lady that mentioned ammonia has it right! Cheap, easy, and it hurts nothing! We had neighborhood dogs and cats tearing our trash bags apart. I just filled a spray bottle 1/2 and 1/2 with ammonia and water, and sprayed the trash bags when we put them out. No more problems!

-- Judy in IN (whileaway3@cs.com), October 28, 2001.

We take our trash to the dump 2 or 3 times a year so I have to work to keep animals out of it. We compost, recycle & wash EVERYTHING - even plastic wrap. I try not to let anything with food on it go in the garbage. So far, no problems.

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), November 03, 2001.

A pesky bear has ripped the top off of our garbage can box. Nothing keeps him out. Am about to try Cayenne pepper spray. NOt sure what to tell you. A box may help with smaller animals, but not a bear. Other idea is to keep cans in barn/garage until pick-up day.

-- amy (acook@in4web.com), November 03, 2001.