Animal-Proof Trash Cans: Why Bear-Certified Is the Only Tested Standard

What "Animal-Proof" and "Animal-Resistant" Actually Mean

Shoppers search for animal-proof trash cans, animal-resistant garbage cans, and raccoon-proof trash cans, and many products use those words. We searched for an official certification or standard behind them and found none for raccoons. We did not come across a program for other non-bear animals in the same searches either. What we found were the two bear programs described below, plus advice from wildlife agencies.

That does not mean a locking can is useless against raccoons. It means there is no official list to check a raccoon claim against, so the claim rests on the maker's own testing, if any. If a product advertises raccoon resistance, ask what test it was put through and who ran it.

The Two Programs That Test Trash Cans With Live Animals

Both programs test with bears, not raccoons. BearWise says the two US programs listing products that passed testing are run by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee and the Wildlife Management Institute, and that both use captive bears that try to defeat the products.

IGBC: grizzly bears

The IGBC says products pass either a live test with captive grizzly bears or a technical evaluation. Live testing is done at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, Montana, and the Washington State University Bear Research Center in Pullman, Washington. Larger heavy-duty metal products, such as dumpsters and food storage lockers, can be assessed by comparing their specifications against IGBC standards. Once a product is approved, the IGBC issues a unique certification number for that model, and the manufacturer must display it on every unit. The IGBC says the certification applies only to the specific model submitted, not to every product in the same line.

WMI and SEAFWA: black bears

The Wildlife Management Institute runs the Black Bear-Resistant Product Testing program, and SEAFWA provided start-up funding and professional expertise. WMI is a nonprofit institute, not a government agency. WMI says residential garbage carts, backpacking canisters, coolers, outfitter panniers, and garbage dumpsters are tested with live captive black bears that will never be returned to the wild, at a WMI-authorized facility (the page lists the Brevard Zoo). To pass, a product must withstand at least 60 minutes of the bears rolling, clawing, biting, and pouncing on it, and it fails if a bear breaks in and gets the bait or if it does not function properly afterward. Approved products carry a WMI certification mark with a number.

See how these relate to each other and to the products on this site on our certified products page and the full IGBC list.

What a Bear-Certified Cart Does and Does Not Claim

The IGBC also says certified products must be used properly. Its example is a certified cooler, which is not bear-resistant unless it is locked. The same logic is why the latch on a certified cart should be closed every time. BearWise says to keep a bear-resistant can closed and latched.

Ready to look at tested carts? See our bear-proof trash cans, or compare with the finder quiz.

Raccoon-Proof Trash Cans: What Wildlife Agencies Recommend

Because there is no raccoon rating, the best evidence we found is what state agencies and a university extension office tell homeowners to do. None of these is a certification, and the pages are general advice rather than test results.

• Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: keep lids tight, for example with rope, chain, bungee cords, or weights, and that cans with built-in lid clamps work even better. It also says to anchor cans so they cannot tip, such as by attaching side handles to stakes, to store cans in sturdy bins, a shed, or a garage, and to set them out in the morning for pickup.
• New York DEC: keep garbage bags in a garage or entryway inside a metal can, thread a rubber strap, rope, or soft wire through the lid and fasten it to the can handles, and raise the can about a foot off the ground or put it on a rack, kept upright.
• University of Maryland Extension: keep cans in a garage or shed, or if they must stay outside, fasten them tightly with heavy-duty straps and tie them to a fixed object. It also lists garbage cans, compost piles, pet food, and bird feeders as outdoor food sources to eliminate.
• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife: make cans hard to tip or open, store them in a closed garage or shed, and anchor them to a sturdy object or with a long stake through the handle.

Trash Can Locks and Latches for Animals: What Is Actually Certified

If you want to keep a cart you already own and add a lock, the only certified options we found are on WMI's approved list, which includes locks and one cover. The IGBC and WMI lists are for bears. Plain straps, ties, and bungee cords are not certified by either program, and agencies describe them as general advice. Our certified locks and accessories page has the details for each product.

Each lock is certified in a specific lock-and-cart pairing, according to the listings on our locks page, so check that your cart matches before you buy. For other fixes, see our guides on bear deterrent accessories and DIY bear-resistant trash storage. Or replace the can with a bear-proof enclosure or a certified cart.

How to Check an Animal-Proof Claim

1. Look for a certification number on the product. The IGBC says to match the number on a product to its list, and that not all manufacturers display the IGBC logo. WMI says to look for its certification mark and number.
2. Check which animal was tested. IGBC means grizzly, WMI means black bear.
3. Check the exact model. The IGBC says certification applies only to the model submitted.
4. Check the list status. The IGBC says products from manufacturers that have not completed its annual verification appear on a separate unconfirmed list instead of the certified list.
5. If the claim says "raccoon-proof" or "animal-proof" and nothing else, treat it as a manufacturer claim. We found no official list to check it against.

Our how we verify page explains how we check products against these lists.

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