black bears a problem ?

[flopshot]

my wife called my cell from the backyard lastnight and said she saw a black bear and cub walking the back fence. the coop is about ten feet off that fence line. have they been known to be a problem ?

 

[Equus5O]

Expect an abundance of replies to this one!

I haven't experienced any problems with bears, yet. But, others in NJ have. Search for "bears," and you'll find a bounty of threads about the topic.

 

[CMV]

In a word- YES.

 

[Namble]

Yikes! your dealing with a scarey BEAST!

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

We have quite a few in our area and have seen them in our driveway. To date we haven't had any problems with them. But there are couple of factors behind that I'm sure - bears are hunted around here so that makes them wary, people don't feed them, and at least once a week I take the dogs walking around the fence line to them their and my scent fresh.

Bears can do major damage in no time at all and I think if they really want in there isn't much you can do about it. Without concrete and steel bars.

Steve in NC

 

[flopshot]

the coop backs up to the kennel with two Huskies so maybe that will help deter the bear. i have a fence shocker i could install as well.

 

[CMV]

I'd recommend using the electric fence if you have it. That is the only thing that really slows them down. If you have an electric fence, bait it by putting tin foil envelopes open at the ends full of peanut butter stapled to the top wire. The bears go to investigate the PB and get the surprise of their lives. Baiting your fences works for deer and other pests/predators as well.

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

I wouldnt eat honey near the coop.

 

[Rootball]

Quote:
Sound advice!!!

 

[flopshot]

Quote:
or leave any pik a nic baskets laying around either eh Boo Boo ?