There’s nothing more rewarding than turning on the Barbeque to make delicious meals for loved ones, especially while immersed in the fresh mountain air and gorgeous scenery of the Valley. Given our proximity to nature, we must do our best to be Bear Aware and protect ourselves and the greater community. Here are some of the best ways to prevent bears and other animals from being attracted to barbeques after cooking.

1. After each use, scrape your grill to dislodge any food and residue from your barbeque.
This ensures there are no lingering pieces of meat stuck to the grill that would be a tasty
snack for black bears and other critters.
2. Burn off excess residue after scraping to ensure you do a thorough job. This only takes a
a couple of minutes but will make a world of difference to eliminate attractive odours and
any missed pieces of meat after scraping.
3. Clean and remove grease pans and dispose of drippings inside, so the smell does
not attract animals. Make sure to let the drippings solidify in a dish or container before
disposing of them, and never pour them down a drain.
4. Cover your barbeque after letting it cool. This should always be done to protect from the
elements, but will also add extra protection from animals trying to access your grill.
Following these steps after barbequing will ensure you better protect yourselves, your
belongings and the broader community from bear-related incidences and appearances. It will also safeguard your barbecue from the elements and general wear, improving its useful lifetime to allow you to cook meals for years to come.
