Bears!

[Renshawfarm]

At the summer camp I worked at in New York State the camp ranger was given rubber buckshot by the local forestry department since we had "trouble" bears that would come looking for food and a lot of kids sleeping in tents. The ranger would keep his 12 guage loaded with 3 rubber bucks and 2 slugs in case the bear turned on him. Usually worked first shot, bears hear the bang, feel the sting and go away unharmed.

On another note does anyone have any good suggestions for the food storage issue? We are going to be moving into bear country and I'm not sure if there is a good location on the property for storing our feed, I do know that we have to build the coop first thing when we get there but I was wondering if there was any suggestions for specific containers or how safe inside a building would be. I know after seeing videos of bears ripping the doors off of cars in Stokes State Forest they are quite a force to be reckoned with.

 

[Miss Lydia]

At the summer camp I worked at in New York State the camp ranger was given rubber buckshot by the local forestry department since we had "trouble" bears that would come looking for food and a lot of kids sleeping in tents. The ranger would keep his 12 guage loaded with 3 rubber bucks and 2 slugs in case the bear turned on him. Usually worked first shot, bears hear the bang, feel the sting and go away unharmed.

On another note does anyone have any good suggestions for the food storage issue? We are going to be moving into bear country and I'm not sure if there is a good location on the property for storing our feed, I do know that we have to build the coop first thing when we get there but I was wondering if there was any suggestions for specific containers or how safe inside a building would be. I know after seeing videos of bears ripping the doors off of cars in Stokes State Forest they are quite a force to be reckoned with.

We are dealing with a bear right now, He has been bold enough to come inside our back yard across 2 different sets of fencing, got our trash last night and carried it up the hill. Well I have been just chasing him off with mostly just coming outside till last night when he came right up to our home and our coops are right next to our house,my so my dh shot off our 410 he was gone in a flash, but he is ready tonight to pepper him since he is being so bold. My one coop has a storage area with a door that is where I keep my feed. I have to say I am concerned about this bear he's at least 300 lb. We have the game camera set up to catch him when and if he comes tonight and dh is ready with shot gun. we won't kill him just want him to know he is not welcome so close to all of us. I have sensor lights and also predator lights all around my coops so hopefully he will take the hint. We love our wild life just don't want them so close.

 

[Renshawfarm]

Hey Miss Lydia,
I'm curious about your predator lights, I've seen a product that has a solar cell and two green led lights labeled as a predator light, is this what you have?
You can also get "pepper spray" shot for a 12 gauge which I think would have a similar effect to the rubber buckshot. My wife and I are of the same opinion though, we believe that we can deter bears without killing them, but they are sneaky. I've heard enough stories of bears that wait for people to leave the property to come around and I'm still curious about what we can do to prevent them especially with food storage. Our plan is to have some sensor lights and electric fencing, but I'm not sure how fast we can get that up and I know the owner of the property has said the bears come around to check on his merlot grapes so the bear issue is in the front of our priority list for arriving at the property.

 

[LR Gamefarm]

okay first off the regulation is stupid second off i dont know how to deal with bears but where you live must not be near me because where i live poultry and other livestock problems inculding predators give you the right to kill them i dont know check and see if it legal to shoot a animal that is attacking livestock or poultry

 

[LR Gamefarm]

i got it find someone who has some rottweilers and get you two of them i preffer males but they will scare the bear away are even kill it rottweilers have been know to kill and hunt bear im pretty shure they will take the bear on my rottweiler is a 3 yr old and fought a cougar off while i could load and get a shot him with my gun

 

[desertdarlene]

I was wondering whatever happened in the OP's situation. I hope they come back to tell us. From what I know about bears, if they smell or suspect food in the area, they will keep coming back until all of it is eaten or they are kept away by force.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hey Miss Lydia,
I'm curious about your predator lights, I've seen a product that has a solar cell and two green led lights labeled as a predator light, is this what you have?
You can also get "pepper spray" shot for a 12 gauge which I think would have a similar effect to the rubber buckshot. My wife and I are of the same opinion though, we believe that we can deter bears without killing them, but they are sneaky. I've heard enough stories of bears that wait for people to leave the property to come around and I'm still curious about what we can do to prevent them especially with food storage. Our plan is to have some sensor lights and electric fencing, but I'm not sure how fast we can get that up and I know the owner of the property has said the bears come around to check on his merlot grapes so the bear issue is in the front of our priority list for arriving at the property.

http://www.niteguard.com/pages/Videos/ these are the lights I have along with motion lights all around too. We don't want to kill this bear either but since my husband shot off the 410 the other night he hasn't been back, YET! Our coop are right next to our house and one is actually attached to the house[use to be where my dh parked his Harley] and in that house we have made a storage room complete with door that is where we keep all feed and our freezer. But I am not taking any chances since this bear is very brave, we are now putting our trash cans up and dh is making a box type thing for them complete with heavy wooden lid and lock. So far he hasn't messed with the coops/duck houses yet, so hoping maybe the pred light are a deterrent I saw on a post once about some one had done about their bear problem and I'll try to find it since your just starting out and haven't built your houses yet it may work for you.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/bear-chicken-predators-how-to-protect-your-chickens-from-bears
more ideas. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/bearfacts_agricultural.htm