In the early years of Yellowstone, open pits of garbage could be found near all the hotels and camping areas. By 1889, black bears were gathering at night to feed on the garbage piles, and by the early 1890s, grizzlies had joined them. This soon became a problem. Sites around hotels and camping areas were damaged as the bears attempted to obtain more human foods. In 1891, Acting Superintendent Anderson reported that "bears have become very troublesome at all the hotels, camps, slaughterhouses, and other places in the park where there is anything for them to eat. They have not proved at all dangerous, but it is impossible to keep provisions anywhere within their reach." He also noted that it might prove necessary to kill some of the bears in order to solve the problem. There was no mention of removing the garbage at this time, only the bears!

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