Bear Fence

[TomSeller]

Having troubles with a black bear getting in my apple trees this year on a remote property. I have seen the bear only once and estimate he is in the 450 to 500 lb range. Judging by the branches he breaks in the apple trees, I would guess that estimate is accurate. Scat is a the 1/2 to 2/3 bread loaf size. The bear has been around for years and no real issues until this year. I do have my replacement heifers on this property and a small calving bull and so far no issues with them except the bear tore down about 1000' of electric fence over three locations a month ago. My guess is he got hung up in the hot wire and bolted. Then I figure the bull challenged him and he got hung up two more times while trying to get away. That bull has been territorrial since he reached breeding age so no surprise there. No big deal with the fence as I fixed the fence the next day, but am more worried about my trees. I have a few scattered trees but have most of my seedlings are in a new orchard. I am wondering if anyone has had luck with an electric fence with a large male black bear. Not talking grizzlies here, just a big black bear. He seems to stay away when I am there with my dog so I can't get eyes on him much.

 

[randy41]

you can try baiting the fence...bacon or peanut butter are good baits.

 

[Ed of all trades]

My sister puts peanut butter on the electric fence so the deer stick their nose on it. It works for the deer, I can't help but think that your bear would do the same. Ed

 

[forgeblast]

best article I have come across. Bear Fence - Apiary Fence

 

[TomSeller]

Well apparently the bear was back again last night. He seems to be standing on his back legs and reaching up into the trees, pulling branches to him, often breaking them. Then eating the apples off of the branches. He also seems to be climbing into the trees and sitting on the larger branches, then pulling smaller branches towards him, breaking them off and eating the apples. He then was sort of stacking the branches in crotches of the tree. So today I picked every apple I could to save the trees. Too bad, because I like to see the deer come through and eat the excess apples.

 

[check]

The Bears were so bad at our little country dump near the cottage that there were as many as 28 at a time there!

So eventually the municipality put an electric fence around, which resulted into things. First all the Bears scattered and started breaking into the local cottages instead. Second, some of them learned to adapt to the electric shock, and would bull their way through to get back into the dump. Fortunately, only a few of them did this, so now I've only seen as many as seven bears at the dump.

We have been spared bear break-ins ourselves, because we religiously make sure there is nothing outside to attract them.

 

[TomSeller]

The Bears were so bad at our little country dump near the cottage that there were as many as 28 at a time there!

So eventually the municipality put an electric fence around, which resulted into things. First all the Bears scattered and started breaking into the local cottages instead. Second, some of them learned to adapt to the electric shock, and would bull their way through to get back into the dump. Fortunately, only a few of them did this, so now I've only seen as many as seven bears at the dump.

We have been spared bear break-ins ourselves, because we religiously make sure there is nothing outside to attract them.

I wonder if I could put enough recoil into the electric fence such that if a bear did bull through it, he would not tear down the fence.

 

[westcliffe01]

A custom charging circuit with a higher frequency will be more effective than the slow cattle or livestock fences. If you have something that is pulsing at 5hz vs once every 15 seconds the experience when touching a wire is quite different. The very slow cattle fences can allow predators enough time to get partway through the fence before they get zapped.

The energy level can also be increased.

 

[Ed of all trades]

I have seen people use the long springs from overhead garage doors, the kind that are like a big screen door spring. Put it under tension and use high tensile wire. It can then pull out then return to tight. Ed

 

[TomSeller]

I have seen people use the long springs from overhead garage doors, the kind that are like a big screen door spring. Put it under tension and use high tensile wire. It can then pull out then return to tight. Ed

That sounds like a good idea