For the Birds

 As soon as we left St John’s we started seeing wooden boxes at the side of the road, one in front of each house. Hexagonal mostly, almost round. what could they be. A composter? The wooden slats are too far apart and compost would fall through. Mail? They are too big. 

Then we noticed that most of them are painted in bright colours, matching the house they belonged to, although some really old ones were starting to fall apart. It was clear that these barrel shaped boxes were a thing.

We examined further. Two garbage bags would fit in each.  Ah, garbage containers! They are attractive and have personality, but what are they protecting the garbage from?  

In St John’s there were no boxes. On garbage day, plastic garbage bags would be left on the street covered in something akin to a thick fishing net. We did see signs advising to beware of foxes. So does St. John’s and the whole of Newfoundland have a fox-eating-the-garbage problem? 

In Vancouver, raccoons or coyotes are the problem with garbage left out. In other parts of BC it is bears. 

Sometimes you have to ask an expert, and bed and breakfast owners are experts. Seagulls! The garbage boxes protect the bags from seagulls. Mystery solved.

yes Roberta, you too!