A Ouray resident figured applying a healthy dose of chili powder to the lid of a trash can might deter a hungry bear last week.

There was just one problem: A waste collection worker got to the trash can first.

The Waste Management employee was temporarily blinded by the powder, prompting a phone call to City Hall and a Ouray Police Department social media request asking the public to ‘cease booby trapping your Dumpsters with cayenne pepper bombs.’

The incident happened on the east side ...