09/02/2026
If you live in Vermont, you live in bear country. The good news is that Vermont's black bear population is healthy and growing, a sign of successful wildlife conservation. The bad news is that more bears can mean more opportunities for human-wildlife interactions, including around backyard compost piles.
However! When managed properly, compost piles generally do not attract wildlife. A short course offered by University of Vermont Extension, called "From Scraps to Soil," will show participants how to compost successfully while minimizing wildlife conflicts. It starts Sept. 11, 2026.
Interested? Register at go.uvm.edu/vtcompostingcourse, which you can also find at the link in our bio!
Photos by Debra Heleba and Elodie Reed.