Bear

[Oblio13]

Had a young visitor today. Very bold, and in broad daylight. We chased it away, but I won't be surprised if it becomes a problem.

 

[morelcabin]

What an awesome picture! I love bears, really. Always had them around and never had a problem with them and my coops. Can I use this pic on my website?

 

[Beekissed]

AAAAAWWWWWWWW.....ain't he cute!!!!!!!!

 

[panner123]

You should have handled that problem today. It will be back and you will lose some chickens. Been there, done that. Now if one gets inside the electric fence Smith & Wesson handles it. Yes, they will run off until they get use to your neighbors feeding them or the easy pickings at the garbage cans. People say they are cute, that is until they have one get in their house. Or they go out to feed the chickens in the morning and only find feathers. Then they are not so cute. Most of my life I have lived in the mountians with wild critters all around. Now at night when I sit on the deck in the winter I can see the lights of to many new houses. Just today a neighbor of 35 years had a yard sale,
selling out to move away from all the retirees from L A and San Francisco moving in.

 

[hcammack]

hey bear grease is very usfull for sore joints

 

[Oblio13]

Quote:
Me too, and of course.

 

[spook]

Quote:
So true, you are trying to out run the smell that you can't even think about your soar joints!!!

Great pic tho!

 

[LynneP]

You can still do several things. Garbage control is vital.

You'll need to collect all kitchen grease/fat/bone/meat/fish/poultry/berry and grain scraps and freeze them until collection day. Put out as soon before pickup as possible. Clean out your garbage bins and keep them pristine. Remember that a bear can rip apart a shed or coop looking for food. If you have contaminated bird feed scraps bury them and if you feed wild birds stop for now. Strengthen your coop and run. Check with your local conservation officers, most can't come out on the first call, your bear needs to be listed as a problem animal so call in this visit now. Maybe they'll be able to relocate him.

Remember that his mother may be nearby, great photo but I gasped at the thought.

 

[panner123]

About 15 years ago a person living in the area trapped and relocated a bear. Now this bear was taken almost 90 miles away and tagged. In least than a month it was back and riped apart a coop and killed 2 dogs. Needless to say that bear was not relocated again. Had his children been playing at the time, it could have been them instead of the dogs. Relocated animals will return or give someone grief. Then it is up to them to handle to problem properly.

 

[ChickenToes]

We had a mama bear and 3 cubs in our yard two weeks ago. They completely ignored the chickens but went right for the hummingbird feeder. I really don't think a bear would go after your chickens unless the bear is extremely hungry and desperate for food. They usually go for berries and vegetation and garbage. Just make sure all your garbage is locked up. The bear and her cubs have not been back since but have ransacked a honey farm in the neighborhood. They go for the food that's easiest to get.