If you own a home or vacation property near Deep Creek Lake, you already know that the area’s natural beauty comes with some wild neighbors. Black bears are a regular presence throughout Garrett County, and one of the most common — and preventable — ways to attract them is leaving out an unsecured trash can.
Whether your property is a year-round residence or a seasonal retreat, the same problem applies: trash pickup happens on a schedule, but bears don’t. That’s why Sunrise Sanitation partnered with Primacy Solutions to create our bear-resistant trash locker straps — a tested, proven solution designed specifically for our Sunrise red trash cans and built for the real conditions of bear-active areas like Deep Creek Lake.
Why Bears Are Drawn to Trash Cans
Black bears have an exceptional sense of smell — estimated to be seven times stronger than a bloodhound’s. A trash can left at the curb the night before pickup is essentially an open invitation. Once a bear associates a property with a food source, it will return repeatedly, becoming bolder and more difficult to deter over time.
For vacation homeowners, the risk is compounded. If your property sits empty for days or weeks at a time, a bear that visits once will visit again. By the time you return, you may be dealing with scattered trash across your driveway, damage to your cans, and a habituated animal that no longer fears human activity.
The Real Costs of an Unsecured Trash Can
The consequences go beyond a mess in your driveway. Unsecured trash can lead to:
- Property damage — bears that find food once will push further, potentially damaging fencing, decks, or outbuildings
- Neighbor complaints — scattered trash doesn’t stay on your property
- Local ordinance violations — Garrett County has regulations regarding wildlife attractants, and fines can apply
- Increased wildlife habituation — bears that become food-conditioned often have to be euthanized by wildlife authorities
- Higher cleanup costs — dealing with a bear-ransacked trash area isn’t cheap or pleasant
Introducing Sunrise’s Bear-Resistant Trash Locker Straps
Sunrise Sanitation’s bear-resistant trash locker straps are designed to do exactly what the name says — lock your trash can lid securely shut, even in bear-active areas. Here’s what makes them different from a bungee cord or a brick on the lid:
Tested and proven on Sunrise cans
These aren’t generic straps sold online. Our locker straps have been tested and proven effective specifically on Sunrise Sanitation trash cans — the same red cans our customers use every week. That means you’re getting a solution that’s actually been verified to work, not just marketed as bear-resistant.
Custom fit for Sunrise cans
The straps are designed exclusively for Sunrise Sanitation trash cans to ensure a secure fit and maximum performance. A strap that’s too loose or incompatible with your can design defeats the purpose. Ours are built to work with what you already have.
Built for tough conditions
Garrett County weather is no joke — cold winters, wet springs, and humid summers put gear to the test. Our straps are made from durable, high-grade materials built to stand up to tough weather and determined animals, giving you reliable protection week after week, season after season.
The only licensed provider in our service area
Sunrise Sanitation is the only licensed provider of these trash locker straps in our service area. You won’t find them at a hardware store or through another hauler. If you’re a Sunrise customer in Garrett County, this solution is available exclusively through us.
Why It Matters Even More for Vacation Properties
Deep Creek Lake attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year, many of whom rent vacation homes. As a homeowner, you’re responsible for what happens on your property between rental guests — including what your trash situation looks like.
Rental guests may not be familiar with local wildlife behavior. They may leave the trash can out overnight without thinking twice. A bear-resistant locker strap removes that variable entirely. Your can stay secured regardless of who’s staying at the property, and you’re protected whether you’re there or three hours away.
Supporting Local Wildlife and Community Safety
Securing your trash isn’t just about protecting your property — it’s about doing your part for the broader Deep Creek Lake community. Bears that become dependent on human food sources pose risks to neighbors, guests, pets, and ultimately themselves. Habituated bears frequently have to be removed or euthanized by wildlife authorities.
By securing your can with a Sunrise bear-resistant locker strap, you’re helping discourage bears from associating residential areas with food — promoting safer wildlife behavior and a healthier local ecosystem for everyone who lives, works, and vacations in Garrett County.
How to Get Your Bear-Resistant Trash Locker Strap
Getting set up is simple. If you’re already a Sunrise Sanitation customer in the Deep Creek Lake area, contact us to add a bear-resistant locker strap to your service. If you aren’t currently a Sunrise customer and would like to have Trash Locker set up at your residence, sign up for Sunrise residential service here.
Don’t wait until after your first bear encounter to make the switch. Keep bears out of your trash, keep bears wild, and keep messes off your property.
Contact Sunrise Sanitation today at sunrise@sunrisesanitation.com to add a bear-resistant trash locker strap to your service. Sunrise Sanitation serves the entire Deep Creek Lake area — see all our Garrett County services here.