Whitefish residents will soon have to change the way they take out their garbage.

Bears getting into residential garbage cans have become a problem for the city, so the city council took steps to combat the problem Monday night.

The Whitefish City Council unanimously passed an emergency ordinance regarding city-wide preventative measures regarding bears and garbage.

Garbage and waste products north of Denver must currently be secured until 4 a.m. on garbage collection day, and be brought back in by 7 p.m.

However, under the emergency ordinance, these rules will apply to the entire city of Whitefish
garbage cans must also be secured in an area that is animal resistant before being put out for garbage collection.

Whitefish Police Chief Bill Dial says these measures are necessary to protect both bears and humans.

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