My compost bin in the backyard just attracted a family of raccoons

I started composting food scraps three months ago to cut down on waste, but I didn't use a bin with a secure lid. Last night, the whole thing was tipped over and scattered across the lawn. Is a tumbler with a lock really the only way to do this without turning my yard into a buffet?

4 comments

4 Comments

jordan5112mo ago

My neighbor's compost bin got a bear once.

faith274d ago

Wildlife getting into compost is definitely a real problem, but I think putting up a full fence or a heavy lock setup is OVERKILL for most of us. Bears are pretty rare in a lot of places. Where I am, it's mostly raccoons and possums. A simple bin with a tight lid and some rocks on top usually works fine. People overcomplicate this by building fortresses when a little common sense and a bungee cord would do the trick. The real trick is just burying your scraps under a layer of browns like leaves or cardboard. Keeps the smell down and critters out without all the extra gear.

drew_walker2mo ago

I used to think a simple bin was fine, but your bear story and white.keith's advice convinced me to get a lock.

white.keith2mo ago

Yeah, a bear makes raccoons look easy. Once wildlife knows there's food, they don't stop. I had to stop putting any meat or dairy scraps in mine, not even pizza crusts. Even fruit rinds will bring them. A tumbler with a lock is good, but I just built a simple wood frame with chicken wire and a heavy lid that latches. It's ugly but nothing gets in.