I havean issue 300lb issue!! - Page 3

Yikes! Bears... oh my. DH heard growling out by our coop last night, we thought it was probably a fox coming back for more. Never thought it could have been a bear. We have hives in the yard too, so I guess you never know.

So sorry to hear of your loss. Poor chickens, so tragic for the survivors too

Years ago a farmer I know had bears destroying his corn crop.  He called a wildlife officer.  He sent a biologist out to survey the damage.  The bears would clear about a 1/4 acre of corn and pile it up.  They would come back in the winter to eat the corn in piles.  Smart animals.

The biologist came back with a powder.  They told him to mix it up in honey or some sort of syrup.  The bear would eat it and then proceed to eat corn.  The powder would make the bear extremely sick and he would relate it to the corn and not come back for more corn.  It worked that year.  The farmer said he would go out and a bear would be moanng and rolling around on the ground.  He said it sounded like death groans.  The bears could hardly walk and just rolled around sick for a few hours.  The effects would wear off and the bear would run away.  The next year they would not give him anymore of the powder.  Just said tough crap.  I guess he is still having bear problems. 

I would suggest surrounding your chicken coops with boards with nails in it.  Kinda like a bed of nails.  Just farther apart.  When the bear steps on them it will puncture his foot.  Also a good electric fence will keep them out.  Just make sure you don't forget about the boards and step on them yourself. 

Darin

Wow, how scary!  So sorry for your losses.  i don't think i could live somewhere with bears.  i would be terrified all the time.  Just seems like, if they want to get at something, nothing but a gun will stop them.  i hope your bear has moved on.