HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-21-26 Public Comment - J. Arthur - Urban Wildlife TroublesFrom:Jean Arthur
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Urban Wildlife Troubles
Date:Monday, September 21, 2026 10:09:26 AM
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Hello City Council Members.
My family and I live in Bozeman's Figgins subdivision, very possibly
the most wildlife-impacted neighborhood in town.
Black bears regularly roam our neighborhood, due to fruit trees, bird
feeders and garbage. This year, many fruit trees did not produce due
to last spring's super freeze--including our trees. The bears are
especially hungry. Unfortunately, the bears are raiding unsecured
trash cans regularly--one house on Arnold St. had bears raid the trash
can just about every night for a few weeks and certainly weekly since
April, yet the renters would not move the bin into the garage nor get
the bear-proof bin. Similar situation has occured at a rental on
Westridge Dr. (photo attached from Sept. 19), weekly trash raids.
Often the bears drag trash to other yards, the sidewalk, the street
to eat. It's disgusting. The renters are not good at picking up filthy
personal-care products which are on the sidewalk, in the street or on
the boulevard. I propose a city ordinance to ticket people for feeding
the bears via the garbage raids. First incident, a warning; 2nd $250
fine; 3rd $500, etc. In my proposal, I'd like to see that both renters
AND the homeowner get fined. The same houses may have different
renters year to year, but the same problems continue to occur. A few
rentals are owned by the same people who don't take accountability for
their renters' garbage problems.
Yes, we've spoken to the mostly MSU student renters--me, my husband,
other neighbors, and little change. I showed the Arnold Street renters
a
photo of a bear that was in our tree about 2 weeks ago, and suggested
they move the trash can into the garage (the garage door was open and
certainly revealed plenty of space for the bin).Yet the renters
neglected to make the easy move, garbage bin into the garage. Next
day, the kids walking to Morningstar School had to negotiate the nasty
garbage on the sidewalk.
I believe there's only 2 or 3 Figgins subdivision houses that lack garages due
to remodels; those places need the bear-proof containers although
those houses don't appear to get bear raids. I don't want the city to
require the bear-proof bins for all homes because of the expense
to the many retirees in the 'hood AND because the bins are really
difficult to open for some people. Please. Fine the offenders!
I also request that the city institute deer
control as allowed by Montana Code Annotated 7-3-1105. Anecdotal, of
course, but we've lived in Figgins for 2 dozen
years. Seems like we have more deer in Figgins now. A neighbor watched
a truck hit a deer on S. 3rd on Friday--driver kept going apparently.
While we drive cautiously, knowing the deer are here, we are
impacted--all of us in Bozeman--thanks to car insurance rates whichincrease when other people hit deer. According to Fish, Wildlife'sJulie Cunningham, the southside of Bozeman has upwards of 700 deerroaming here! And according to FWP, Bozeman's urban deer herd now hasCWD!
Please take action regarding fines for feeding wildlife via unsecuredgarbage bins and the dangerous urban deer population.
Regards,Jean Arthur504 W. Springcreek Dr.Bozeman, MT 59715