Jackson Council to weigh phased expansion of Bear Conflict Zone Aug. 2026

Jackson’s Town Council is scheduled to discuss “Potential Changes to Bear Conflict Zone” at its April 20 workshop, including whether to expand the town’s Bear Conflict Zone and how quickly to do it in phases. The zone triggers the requirement for bear-resistant trash containers in designated areas, adopted in 2022 with the residential/commercial container requirement taking effect April 1, 2023. Staff reported townwide compliance inside the zone rising from 70% (Jan. 2024) to 77% (2026), with wide variation by street (50%–94%).

Staff’s core recommendation is to expand the Bear Conflict Zone and to lay out a predictable, multi-year schedule so haulers and residents aren’t left guessing year-to-year. The proposed plan would implement a Phase 1 “minor expansion” by Aug. 1, 2026 (aimed at eliminating situations where adjacent neighbors face different rules), followed by a Phase 2 “moderate expansion” by Aug. 1, 2027 (pushing toward the center of town, adding neighborhoods with documented conflicts, and covering wildlife movement corridors; also adding some public properties such as Karns Meadows and the Rodeo). Staff said it would return in 2028 with a recommendation on any further expansion.

The packet outlines—but does not recommend at this time—two broader future options: requiring bear-resistant household-sized cans townwide while keeping dumpster requirements limited to the conflict zone (Phase 3), or requiring both cans and dumpsters townwide (Phase 4). Staff flagged dumpster expansion as more difficult because bear-resistant dumpsters are heavier, noisier, more injury-prone and more likely to break, and noted haulers have expressed concerns about expanding dumpster requirements.

Council is also being asked whether to fold the annual bear-conflict update into the town’s Ecosystem Health Indicator Report instead of bringing it as a stand-alone agenda item each year. The discussion is slated to be informational at the workshop, with any boundary change requiring follow-up action.

Sources: Town Council Workshop Agenda Packet, Town Council Workshop Meeting Agenda