A BEAR DESTROYED MY COOP WHAT DO I DO

[Folly's place]

Get another fence tester, so you'll know if there's a problem with the fence. Our livestock fencing hits 9 joules, or a little more, and hasn't ever damaged the testers we have. See what the tester is rated fro before purchase!
I just read this whole thread, and I'm so sorry for your losses, and you are doing all you can do to manage the problem. I do hope somebody gets this bear safely!
Mary

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Get another fence tester, so you'll know if there's a problem with the fence. Our livestock fencing hits 9 joules, or a little more, and hasn't ever damaged the testers we have. See what the tester is rated fro before purchase!
I just read this whole thread, and I'm so sorry for your losses, and you are doing all you can do to manage the problem. I do hope somebody gets this bear safely!
Mary

Thank you. Bear season is just a few weeks away. I've spoken with two neighbors that are intending on going bear hunting this year. Hopefully if we don't have luck, they will. I'll sure miss getting a nice bear rug though! After losing my chickens, the worst part has been just the paranoia. Especially after seeing him at 6AM.

 

[Folly's place]

It's not paranoia, it's reasonable fear! Well, reasonable paranoia, then. Getting this particular bear should be a neighborhood priority, agree, and hope it's possible safely.
Was your sheriff helpful at all?
Mary

 

[humblehillsfarm]

It's not paranoia, it's reasonable fear! Well, reasonable paranoia, then. Getting this particular bear should be a neighborhood priority, agree, and hope it's possible safely.
Was your sheriff helpful at all?
Mary

We haven't heard from them at all. Nor have we heard back from the game warden either. He spends all of his time chasing after teenagers on dirtbikes. That seems to be his sole priority. He even said to me once the bear population will never be under control because everyone dumps trash up the road from us. When I asked why he doesn't get the trash dumping under control, he said that's not his responsibility. Meanwhile, he can take the time to set up game cameras all over the place to catch teenagers, but cant set up those same game cams to catch the trash dumpers!

 

[cmom]

I check my power every evening when I collect the eggs. If there is an issue I usually find it.
I have a couple of testers. This one I've had for a few years. The other one I bought a few months ago. it was about half the cost and works ok.

 

[cmom]

We haven't heard from them at all. Nor have we heard back from the game warden either. He spends all of his time chasing after teenagers on dirtbikes. That seems to be his sole priority. He even said to me once the bear population will never be under control because everyone dumps trash up the road from us. When I asked why he doesn't get the trash dumping under control, he said that's not his responsibility. Meanwhile, he can take the time to set up game cameras all over the place to catch teenagers, but cant set up those same game cams to catch the trash dumpers!

That would piss me off. Who is in charge of the dump? I remember when we were young and would go to the dump near our house and throw cans around to make noise and watch the bears come out. It didn't take long. I would look up the owner of the dump. I'm not a trouble maker but maybe something can be done.

 

[mommiesrcool]

We haven't heard from them at all. Nor have we heard back from the game warden either. He spends all of his time chasing after teenagers on dirtbikes. That seems to be his sole priority. He even said to me once the bear population will never be under control because everyone dumps trash up the road from us. When I asked why he doesn't get the trash dumping under control, he said that's not his responsibility. Meanwhile, he can take the time to set up game cameras all over the place to catch teenagers, but cant set up those same game cams to catch the trash dumpers!

hey how you are you doing have you seen him lately

 

[humblehillsfarm]

hey how you are you doing have you seen him lately

We haven’t seen him at all. He hit up the neighbors the day after he was at our house. It’s been a little over two weeks. For the first week I set an alarm every two hours and woke up and scoped the property but exhaustion got the best of me.

Things we’ve done to bear proof the place:
- Nails facing outwards from the doors and windows of the coop (which I’ve already injured myself on)
- unwelcome mats
- revamped the electric fence
- added baby monitor which has successfully woke me up at 5am daily when the roosters start crowing
- motion sensitive lights

I have purchased motion sensitive lights WITH an alarm but haven’t installed it just yet.

 

[Folly's place]

The whole 'nail thing' seems like a bad idea to me. Better the electric fencing, baited, and really hot!
Mary

 

[humblehillsfarm]

The whole 'nail thing' seems like a bad idea to me. Better the electric fencing, baited, and really hot!
Mary

I relied solely on electric previously, not baited though. Regardless, I can’t sustain anymore damage to my coop or loss to my birds. At this point I will do any extra step necessary to prevent loss. I didn’t love the nail idea either which is why I didn’t do it the first time it was suggested.