To Protect Bears and People
By WRMS
Sixth-grade students from Wood River Middle School are stepping up to protect their community and local wildlife. On Monday, May 12, students will attend the Hailey City Council meeting to ask leaders to take action by purchasing bear-proof trash containers for public areas.
“We care about the safety of both bears and people,” said Mahayla Shipp-Stephenson, a sixth-grader at WRMS. “When garbage cans are left out too early, or unsecured, bears come into neighborhoods, which can be dangerous for everyone.”
The students have been researching the issue and are concerned that unsecured garbage attracts bears into towns, which can lead to harmful interactions. They believe that bear-proof containers are a smart solution to reduce these risks.
The class will present their findings and ideas during the public comment portion of the meeting, held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 12, 2025 at Hailey City Hall.
“We hope the city will listen and help us make a positive change,” said Kendall Monjaras-Marrujo.
For more information, please contact Jennifer Peterson at jpeterson@blaineschools.org.
