Conservation Northwest installs new bear-resistant dumpster at Leavenworth Ski Hill
Conservation Northwest / Sep 11, 2025 / Recreation
By Kurt Hellmann, Wildlife Recreation Coexistence Manager
Conservation Northwest’s Wildlife-Recreation Coexistence Program (WREC) has led a new effort to address growing black bear conflicts near Leavenworth’s popular Ski Hill: the purchase and installation of a bear-resistant dumpster in the main parking lot.
This project grew out of close working relationships with the local Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) wildlife conflict staff and the City of Leavenworth. Together, this group connected with the Ski Hill team, who were already aware of increasing bear activity along Ski Hill Drive and problems with aging and ineffective trash receptacles. Unfortunately, bears had begun accessing unsecured food and garbage in the area, leading to habituation or food conditioning—situations that often end in translocation or euthanasia for the bears (see local coverage).
Investment in Bear-Resistant Infrastructure
Conservation Northwest’s WREC program works to improve outdoor recreation and wildlife dynamics through education, outreach, science, and policy. It aims to reduce wildlife-human conflicts across popular recreation sites, help shape policies that protect habitat and wildlife, and ensure people safely and sustainably enjoy access to public lands. WREC is especially focused on equipping communities within the North Cascades Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone with the tools and knowledge needed for successful coexistence with bears.
In 2023, WREC purchased and installed two bear-resistant dumpsters and thirty-six food storage signs at the Middle Fork Campground near North Bend. Since then, the site has seen remarkable success in reducing human-bear conflicts. Previously, the campground closed in 2022 due to increased black bear activity—likely the result of inadequate food storage infrastructure and inconsistent adherence to food storage policies. We’re hopeful in achieving similar success in the Leavenworth area.
A new bear-resistant dumpster at a busy trailhead might seem like a small change, but it represents meaningful progress toward a larger vision: ensuring people and wildlife can thrive together in the North Cascades.
Conservation Northwest supports Leavenworth’s commitment to human-bear coexistence and its ongoing work to adopt BearWise strategies. This project supplements local initiatives already underway, moving the community closer to being completely BearWise— an especially timely step as federal agencies have plans for future grizzly bear restoration.
