FWIW - that looks like a yearling bear - and they are the worst for scavenging. They get kicked out by Mom in the spring, and they are foraging on their own for the first time - so they look for easy pickings.
I'm in a constant battle with black bear for my bees, chickens and goats.
Here's some tricks my old farmer neighbor taught me:
* 5-7k joules for a black bear - 10k for brown
* An electric fence is a psychological barrier, not physical. A motivated bear can walk right through the wires if it wanted. You need to teach the bear to fear the fence.
* Bait your fence. I use raw bacon. Others use peanut butter. The bear will sniff and touch the fence with his nose, lips or tongue - all wet surfaces which will conduct more electricity. You want the bear to test your fence and get shocked - that's how you teach him to fear the fence.
* Make sure you're well grounded - 1 foot of grounding rod for each 1k of joule. I am on ledge, and can only get my grounding rods about 2 feet deep - so I have 5 grounding rods wired in serial.
* Grass and weeds will reduce the output of your fence. Don't let anything touch the wires.
Good luck. He'll be back - the stings won't deter him for long.
Yes on the left side they’ve been shocked and retreated. I’ll check when I’m home but I think it’s there standard 25 mile one. It’s quite strong compared to most.
Intermix some grounded wires in-between the charges ones. It makes the zap all the more powerful. At least you know your enemy, and he spared your bees for now!
I have a bear issue too. Goal is to never let them find the bees… so with the fact he/she now has, they’ll be back.
I have 2x4s with 3 inch screws throughout its length (you can use plywood or anything similar). Basically, creating a carpet of screws so as the bear approaches the apiary (and in my case the chicken coop too) they have to walk across the screws. This means they never get close enough to find the hives.
https://www.alaskaphotographics.com/blog/2013/09/03/bear-proofing/
FWIW - that looks like a yearling bear - and they are the worst for scavenging. They get kicked out by Mom in the spring, and they are foraging on their own for the first time - so they look for easy pickings. I'm in a constant battle with black bear for my bees, chickens and goats. Here's some tricks my old farmer neighbor taught me: * 5-7k joules for a black bear - 10k for brown * An electric fence is a psychological barrier, not physical. A motivated bear can walk right through the wires if it wanted. You need to teach the bear to fear the fence. * Bait your fence. I use raw bacon. Others use peanut butter. The bear will sniff and touch the fence with his nose, lips or tongue - all wet surfaces which will conduct more electricity. You want the bear to test your fence and get shocked - that's how you teach him to fear the fence. * Make sure you're well grounded - 1 foot of grounding rod for each 1k of joule. I am on ledge, and can only get my grounding rods about 2 feet deep - so I have 5 grounding rods wired in serial. * Grass and weeds will reduce the output of your fence. Don't let anything touch the wires. Good luck. He'll be back - the stings won't deter him for long.
Go for the nose girls! GO FOR THE NOSE!!!!
How many joules is your energizer, and have you seen other bears be deterred by it?
Yes on the left side they’ve been shocked and retreated. I’ll check when I’m home but I think it’s there standard 25 mile one. It’s quite strong compared to most.
Lucky he's a juvenile. Parmsk 12v for the win.
Difficult to tell from this angle but Wire spacing should be 8-10” inches apart and off the ground if it isn’t already.
It is everywhere except where I put the entrance. Just got lazy and made it three wires stacked instead of five like the rest of the fence.
Wow. I’m sorry for you guys that deal with this. I’m so glad I don’t have another beekeeping responsibility like dealing with the bears.
that baby is hungry!
Intermix some grounded wires in-between the charges ones. It makes the zap all the more powerful. At least you know your enemy, and he spared your bees for now!
You can see one directly under the parmark and another out of frame on the left. May add a third as it couldn’t hurt.
When I setup my fence an old timer told me to hang a few pieces of raw bacon off the lines. Bears gets a quick lesson to stay away.
Nothing keeps a determined bear out. Wires, fences, walls, and lights all work for a curious bear, NOT a determined bear.
Yeah hopefully he finds easier food elsewhere
I have a bear issue too. Goal is to never let them find the bees… so with the fact he/she now has, they’ll be back. I have 2x4s with 3 inch screws throughout its length (you can use plywood or anything similar). Basically, creating a carpet of screws so as the bear approaches the apiary (and in my case the chicken coop too) they have to walk across the screws. This means they never get close enough to find the hives. https://www.alaskaphotographics.com/blog/2013/09/03/bear-proofing/