Black bears...

[ThreePumpkins]

So last evening my son (9yrs old) and I went to head out to close up the coop (7:30ish). He stepped out the door ahead of me and says "bear!" I couldn't see it immediately because our back deck sits above the walkout basement and my view was blocked by the railing. My two boston terriers rush out behind me and charge down the steps. Total chaos ensues. I am pushing my son inside, screaming at my dogs, praying they make it through this encounter...they charge the bear, thankfully it spooks and takes off down my yard and into the woods.

There has been a lot of bear activity in our area this spring and this is the second time in the last month I have seen this particular bear...I would guess a young adult. Last time it was on the woods line. This time it was in the middle of my yard, walking towards my coop (and within 50 feet from my young pullets in their fenced in area). We live in area with a lot of predators. (My neighbors have been losing their chickens lately). I am always worried about coons, possoms, fox, coyotes, hawks, eagles, owls, fishers, weasels, stay dogs, feral cats...bear, well that one is down right terrifying.

My son is not allowed outside without us now. Heck, I don't feel comfortable outside without my husband around. How can I discourage this (and any) bear from visiting my backyard?

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Shoot it.

 

[RowanTheRed]

A friend of mine found their SUV mauled the other morning when leaving to come to work. By mauled, I mean MAULED! I told her it was either a bear , mountain lion or bigfoot! If we lived in Africa I'd have added a rhino to that list. Seems whatever it was, was after a cat that had run up under the hood for protection.

 

[Howard E]

The near universal solution folks are using to solve their bear problem is an electric fence.

It will also help with the other predators as well.

 

[Howard E]

 

[ThreePumpkins]

A friend of mine found their SUV mauled the other morning when leaving to come to work. By mauled, I mean MAULED! I told her it was either a bear , mountain lion or bigfoot! If we lived in Africa I'd have added a rhino to that list. Seems whatever it was, was after a cat that had run up under the hood for protection.
View attachment 1447923

Oh my goodness!!

 

[ThreePumpkins]

Thank you for this!

 

[mountain chicken]

A friend of mine found their SUV mauled the other morning when leaving to come to work. By mauled, I mean MAULED! I told her it was either a bear , mountain lion or bigfoot! If we lived in Africa I'd have added a rhino to that list. Seems whatever it was, was after a cat that had run up under the hood for protection.
View attachment 1447923

that's no mt lion

first time I seen bear tear apart outside the car
every time a bear encountered a car it torn to shreds from the inside looking for that left over McDonald bag

forget barbed wire waist time and money their are 2 known
methods that work ,

the first choice :

the elect fence once I came to understand on how effective and how it worked I liked it more and more ,seeing how it works on keeping animals out I became a fan .

the second method :

is 2x8 plywood boards with a grid of nails surrounding the wood line of property . this is guaranteed to stop bear ,mt lion,big foot, intruding people you name it . you and your family just need to remember where it was placed.

I have 5 acres I use both elect fence and gridded boards of nails
the elect fence seems to be doing it's job but the gridded boards work well , hunters can't read no trespass but they can see elect fence and always find there way around it . well gridded boards under leaves are unstoppable ,

those unwanted trespassing hunters learn fast their not welcome . but these boards also work on bears mt lion just about any animal

 

[aart]

There has been a lot of bear activity in our area this spring and this is the second time in the last month I have seen this particular bear

Might want to report this to the local wildlife authorities, I would assume that with many bears around as in PA some are ID'd as 'nuisance' and they may have a plan or at least be tracking them.