Advice on bears?

[theoldchick]

I'd contact DNR and if they won't help shoot the thing! If you don't want to handle a large bore rifle-I'm sure you can hire a hunter who will love to kill it.

One thing about bears is they like to investigate human habitats and will break into a home. Living in LongCreek, I had a black bear come in one night. I grabbed the 30-06 and managed to get a head shot. The creature still lunged for me. I crapped my pants and went out the back door. The bear did not go far though....he was already wounded and was trying to survive by stealing food from an easy source. The head shot finished him off. God was with me that night. He steadied my hand for just a second-long enough to pull the trigger. Bruised my shoulder, though, and to this day I get goose bumps thinking about it.

 

[panner123]

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Not sure where in N J you live, but I assure you there are plenty of bear there. I was bornb and raised there and killed my first bear in North Brunswick. Many posted have appeared here from people there where major bear problems. Hopefully you never have to deal with any bear, they can be mean. Most of the time they will run, those that don't will hurt you.

 

[jjthink]

Thanks - I'm really hoping that day doesn't come. They've been sighted very rarely in this area (central NJ). I know the major concentration of them is in NW NJ. But North Brunswick - wow - that is notably south of there.... I wish all could coexist safely and I realize that means major league over the moon Fort Knox coops and runs for chickens in bear territory.
JJ

 

[Equus5O]

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LMAO You are in bear country in NJ!

 

[Alaskaman]

My wife and I live in heavy bear country here in Alaska we live on the coast and have both Brown and Black bears. Brown bears rome our property all the time, infact just two nights ago had one of our bears stop by. The way we have detured our bears with 100% success over the past twenty years is simple Electrical fence the same used for cattel. I installed a few runs of the wire type around the chickens yard. I had only one bear get ticked and took some of the fenceing down on his quick retreat.

Best of luck. Sorry but moving your hole setup will not work what so ever. save your self the extra work and go electric or solar units work just as well.

JMA

 

[jjthink]

jjthink wrote:
Unfortunately, the first attack meant that another one was imminent. I hope lots of folks read your post because probably the only way to save all surviving birds is by spiriting them away to a safer place immediately after a first attack. Otherwise they are just sitting ducks (pardon the species swap there).

I couldn't have chickens in such a situation as I would struggle mightily with all the death at one end of the spectrum or the other (birds...bear). Or I'd have the Fort Knox to shame all other Fort Knox's, so no one dies.

Thankfully there are no bear issues where I live (so far!) so it's wayyyyyyy easier. But I pred proof to the hilt re: the preds I do have so my feather-kids can wake to see another day and so I never have to contend with trying to do in all the wild things that want in. I hope never to have a breach but I know it's always possible. If I were in bear country, my set up would be useless, pulverized lickety split.

I'm so very sorry about all your birds

JJ

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Truly not so much down here in Mercer County where humans have filled practically every crevice, but not all that far away, I know....

JJ​

 

[aprophet]

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We deal with them slightly different here we fill our freezers and deal with them one bite at a time . There are a number of folks in jersey who would enjoy the bear meat the same way my family does. I mostly eat animals that are vegans I hardly ever eat the scavengers like possum coon or bear but I really enjoyed some bear at our last family reunion

I have used a .30-.30 A coupla times on bear they were small black ones 200-350 lbs good luck with your birds

 

[Equus5O]

Truly not so much down here in Mercer County where humans have filled practically every crevice, but not all that far away, I know....
JJ

There's probably a few stashed away somewhere that you don't know about.

I work in Bergen County, and I know the residents of Englewood were absolutely shocked when we tracked a bear for a few days before it was snagged. If there's coyotes in NYC, it's not beyond the pale for bears to be in Mercer County.

I'm just busting your chops; I hope you know that.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Get a Karelian Bear Dog. They are used in the National Parks systems for bear issues and also used privately (exceedingly successfully too) in parts of the U.S. where bears of any species are an issue. They will alert to any bears and then go out and chase them away.

You can PM me if you want more information about them. I do rescue for the breed and breeds that are similar, as well as know several breeders here in the U.S. and Canada.

 

[jjthink]

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It's okay

JJ