Residents of Rossland are being invited to take part in a pilot project to try out a new device to keep wildlife out of their trash and compost — for free.
And one of its biggest boosters is the city’s mayor.
“There’s nothing better than a happy customer to endorse something, it’s really true,” says Kathy Moore.
Moore’s talking about the Jolt, a cage-like device that fits over a compost or garbage can. It produces a high-voltage, low-amp electric shock that deters a bear or other wildlife, without causing serious harm.
She first ran across the devices in May while visiting some friends in Ainsworth. She was impressed and decided to try one out in her Lower Rossland home.
“I think they’re great,” she says. “I know I had two bears around this spring. One came up and got a shock, it flipped the thing off but didn’t touch the compost.
“I saw a second bear hauling ass out of my yard into the woods from my house. I think he must have touched the thing, but nothing had been disturbed.”
Similar to traditional electric fencing, the cylindrical cage fits over a container less than 26 inches in circumference, runs off two D batteries, and is constructed to withstand outdoor use. The shock that animals experience with the Jolt drives them away from the item being protected. This is done without human interaction, so that a negative and potentially dangerous response from the animal is avoided, the company says.
Moore says she hasn’t seen any bears in her yard since she installed the devices in May. She was so impressed she picked up a few more Jolts and and has been selling them (for no commission) from her garage.
“This is not my job, I just want these in my community,” she says. “I think we have a lot of bear attractants, and people want to have bird feeders and beehives and have compost, which is great, but you have to make sure wildlife doesn’t get into it.”
The devices usually sell for close to $200, but the company that makes the Jolt, ZAPS (which stands for Zap Animal Protection System) has offered to give 20 to 30 away as part of a pilot project in Rossland. Those interested in being considered as a participant in the pilot can contact Moore by phone at 250-521-1500. A demonstration model can be seen at the WildsafeBC kiosk at the Rossland Mountain Market today and Aug. 23.
The project is community-based, not connected to the City of Rossland.
Participants in the free demonstration will use the Jolt unit that has been provided to them for a year, and give feedback on their results with it. They’ll be given instruction on how to set it up, and cameras will be positioned around the devices to record animal-device interactions.
“ZAPS would use all the information gathered by volunteer participants to assess and promote the product,” says the ZAPS proposal. “Promotion would be done using social media platforms and other forms of communications. The promotion by ZAPS would also positively promote the Community and its ongoing use of the Jolt.”
More on ZAPS and the Jolt can be seen on their website at ZAPS.ca. It’s offered for sale at stores in Kaslo and Nelson.
