Bear prevention

[rcormier1717]

Hi everyone, I had some sad news for the second time this week. A few days ago our two ducks were swiped from from their coop due to a bears ability to rip off the exterior wall. This morning I woke up to find one chicken was squeezed from the coop door and eaten out of her coop. The bear just pulled the door right off. I’m completely at a loss as my boyfriend went out last night to scare him off with a gunshot before he swiped our hen. He has implemented screws all over the coops exterior walls to keep the bear from pushing against the coop itself which I thought was pretty solid. There’s a predator skirt around the exterior floor of the run and I’m still just waiting for the next victim. I will take any and all advice as we live in New Hampshire and this is a common problem for all. SOS

 

[Cryss]

Can we see pictures of the coop and the door? I have bear here and am building a coop so I'm wondering what works and what doesn't.

 

[Howard E]

What works.....and about the only thing that does.......is a super hot electric fence designed and installed with bears in mind. An e-fence has become the near universal method of protecting property from bears. What is super hot? tested at minimum of 7,000 volts and 9,000 to 12,000 is better. Super hot means pain of course, but it goes beyond that. You want it cranked up to the point of induction........a potential shock so powerful it is trying to jump through the air to get to ground. Helps shock through fur, etc. Cranked up so hot that when the animal touches it with it's nose, you see the spark and hear the snap. The next thing you notice is the animal heading for the horizon at a high rate of speed.

Youtube has several videos on how to do these. The #1 mistake folks make is going cheap and getting a wimpy fence charger. Get a powerful one and light em up. Once installed, baiting the fence with a smelly attractant will assure they get zapped on their sensitive nose or tongue and send them on their way.

 

[Cryss]

Would a goodly layer of barbed wire be a bear deterrent?

 

[aart]

Would a goodly layer of barbed wire be a bear deterrent?

If it's HOT.

 

[Howard E]

If it's HOT.

X2......ONLY if it's HOT!

BTW, for very long runs that are mostly straight, barbed wire makes a pretty good E fence. In some rural areas, used coils of the stuff can be found pretty cheap. The advantage of barbed wire, in addition to being heavier than most so able to stand up to some abuse, is the barbs (especially the longer 4 barb style) are able to punch through dense fur to deliver a shock to the skin below. Disadvantage is it is heavy and not pleasant to work with. But if you were going to do a few acres of permanent E fence, it would be something to consider. You can stretch it fiddle string tight, so won't sag. Never use it around horses.

 

[Cryss]

I have 2ft and 3ft areas around the run and coop that are hardware cloth aprons. Clos behind it all is a drop off wooded area which marks my property border. Currently there is a wood pile at the very edge which doesn't give what I imagine would be enough room for a proper E fence so it doesn't electrify the apron which in turn would electrify the chain link/hardware cloth run.

 

[Howard E]

Can you share a photo? Likely as not you do have room for it.

 

[Cryss]

Can you share a photo? Likely as not you do have room for it.

Trying to give some perspective.

The run.


The back corner


The space behind.


Tried to get a straight shot to see the HC when you zoom in.


From the other end.

 

[Cryss]

Ok pictures are out of order a bit but I hope you get it.