bear proof (?) garbage box

[nocheepgas]

I left them large so you could pick up on any details you wanted to see. I made a handle out of 1/2" round bar with a washer welded on each side to secure it within the square tubing. On the outside I bent it 90 degrees for a handle. On the inside I attached a steel plate. When the handle rotates, so does the plate, which actuates an upper and lower steel rod which is fed through tubing at the upper and lower portions of the door, and then into a hole in the upper and lower frame. Works great and I haven't had any issues at all with it. We get bears from time to time as well as an assortment of other critters. I've had bears on top of this thing, but it's never been opened by them and the sanitation workers manage to get in it too! Just a note, if you use this method, make sure it's latched in the side or down position so if the bears push down on it it won't open up.

Door in closed position:




Latch in Closed Position:




Latch in Open Position:




And here's some Turkeys that have been visiting me for the past week!




And you thought Arizona was all desert!

[SpyGuy]

Vert good work on the enclosure, nocheepgas. I like the way you set up the locking mechanism, simple and effective. Mind if I borrow the enclosure idea from you? I have several javalinas that sure enjoy knocking over garbage cans in my neighborhood ....

Where in Arizona? Am down in Tucson, dying from the humidity right now. Isn't Arizona supposed to be hot and DRY? ... (And I knew that parts of Arizona are green ...... so you're probably not in Phoenix )

[dseman]

I'm looking at building and bear proof ( resistant ) garbage box for the end of my driveway. The box isn't the issue, more the latch that a bear can't open. Any ideas that you have found that have worked would be appreciated.

Thanx in advance
Steve

I think your best bet will be a flush-mounted latch. Prior to backpacking in the Denali National Forest in Alaska, we were issued bear-proof, food containers. Each plastic drum had a flush mounted lid and a latch that was operated via the edge of a coin. No bashing or battering by a bear could open it. What you have currently could be batted by a bear if he decided to be persistent. I guess time will tell if you have any more problems with the critters.
--dseman

[nocheepgas]

Vert good work on the enclosure, nocheepgas. I like the way you set up the locking mechanism, simple and effective. Mind if I borrow the enclosure idea from you? I have several javalinas that sure enjoy knocking over garbage cans in my neighborhood ....

Where in Arizona? Am down in Tucson, dying from the humidity right now. Isn't Arizona supposed to be hot and DRY? ... (And I knew that parts of Arizona are green ...... so you're probably not in Phoenix )

Hey SpyGuy,
Feel free to use any parts you wish Those Javelina can be viscious! My daughters go to the UofA (Go Cats!) We live 70 miles S/E of you in Hereford in the foothills of the Huachuca's. It's about 8-10 degrees cooler here. Temps similar to Bisbee. Elevation 5000'

[SpyGuy]

Very cool, thanks. Been a long time since I've been out that way to Ft. Huachuca ... had to go there on several office furniture / cubicle installs.

(That's pronounced "wah-chew-kah" to y'all not from our area ....)

[bustednuklz]

Thanx for the input. I think I'm going to try something similar to what nocheepgas showed in his pics. I'm going to add a secondary spring loaded latch so you have to use both hands to actually turn the handle. These guys are really hungry right now, getting ready for a long winter nap, so a handle like you have shown won't keep them out for more than a couple of seconds without a secondary latch. They would just turn the handle and open it. It is incredible how smart these guys can be when it comes to dinner time!
Thanx again
Steve

[nocheepgas]

Post up some pics when you get it together!