Bear!

[mikesbigroo]

be careful, we have had a mama and her 2 cubs hanging around for awhile now, can't seem to run them off, the DNR said some bears will get more brazen as time goes by, getting into garbage and then who knows what, i been playing a radio 24 7 in my coop

and have not seen it since

 

[lalaland]

I did get the fence on again after cleaning out the fence line - had a couple of screams during the night which I think were coons hitting the wire, and this am found the electric wire gate hook unhooked - don't know how they did that as the tension is pretty strong, almost too tight.

didn't see the bear again, although I was out in the run patrolling at dusk.

 

[Cetawin]

mikesbigroo is right..put a radio on in there. It helps. I have one going in mine on a talk radio thing at night and the cat (mt lion) skirts the coop.

 

[Chickens n' more]

BEARS!?!? I thought those were only on television!

Never thought I would say this, but "Thank God I live in Kansas!". Have heard a few rumors of bear sightings, but never seen one myself. I love my chickens, but wow! If I actually ran into a bear, those chickens would be on their own!

I am scared to go outside in the dark when coyotes are howling near by. I would never step foot outside again without a big, big, gun!!

 

[lalaland]

geesh, who thought this could be so complicated?

I had the weather radio on for weeks this spring trying to evict skunks from under my screened porch - just about drove myself crazy with the noise.

I have the windows in the coop closed as it has been so chilly, down to 45 at night, so the noise wouldn't be loud enough to keep anything away. But, today it was 60 when I woke up, so maybe there is a warm front coming? in which case, I could open the windows, plug in the weather radio and drive the chickens crazy....

bears are very common here. so common they sell 5 gallon buckets of expired cookie dough meant for bakeries as "bear bait" for those who like to hunt but can't figure out how to track bear, so they bait the bear and then sit and wait til the bear comes.

getting off on a tangent here. to tell you the truth, for all the times I've watched bears in my yard, I was really surprised to have one take an interest in the chicken run. We had a drought for the first two months of sping, so there aren't any willd berries, so maybe bears are extra hungry.

ok, back to pickle making.

 

[ravensview]

Your bear will definitely be back, once they find a source of food (chickens or grain) they remember it. If you can, net the top of your coop (keep chickens in) and turn on that electric fence. I lost my whole flock to a black bear and was devastated. It took the bear 3 days to figure out how to get in, (they can rip a hole right in the side of your wire fence), they are a big problem here in AK. Bear has been back every day since checking to see if I have any more chickens. We are in the process of making our coop even more bear-proof....and believe me it was quite something to begin with. Electricity seems to be the only surefire solution.

 

[Gonzo_MN]

Chalk up at least one good reason for living closer to the cities. I've had coon, possum, fox, coyote and mink trying to get in, but not a bear! Even though I'm in Plymouth, MN - I have an electric fence running the perimeter of both the bottom and top of my run.
I usually smile quietly to myself when I hear one of the aforementioned critters stick their nose against the wire. Music to my ears

Good luck! Although I usually bear hunt near the north shore, maybe I'll ask my uncle if I can hunt his woods this fall. He's in Brook Park.

 

[lalaland]

yikes! ravensview, did this happen during the day or evening? I'm so sorry, it is so painful when you lose your flock - I lost mine last fall to a dog that dug under the fence.

I think I'll have to work on getting a second row of electric wire since I'm thinking the row that is 6 inches off the ground wouldn't really deter a bear.

and Gonzo, I hear there are a lot of bears in brook park! didn't know there were coyotes in plymouth!

 

[Mrs. Glassman]

Holy Cow!

And I thought I was having a predator problem!

I would just DIE if I saw a bear. No kidding. I'd NEVER be able to leave my house again.

Good Luck on that....really, GOOD LUCK.

 

[WalkingWolf]

Hire the guy from this video to take care of your bear.