Can a bear get through Hardware cloth?

[britinpa]

Just reading this thread. We are just finishing up with the hardware cloth around coop. We have black bears around here. I did ask in a different thread about leaving windows open in coop on warm night, but if a bear can tear through the cloth, is it a good idea?? It seems the electric wire is the best option - we don't have electric out to the coop.

 

[Folly's place]

Time to add electricity so you can have good electric fencing! The solar chargers aren't as strong, so ask for advice there. Premier1supplies.com is a good resource, and check with the folks with bear experience. High voltage is the key, and baiting the fence, and setting it all up properly.
Mary

 

[reddogmaster2]

12 gauge 00
.357 Mag
.44 Mag
45-70 Govt

All are good Bear stoppers if humans are in imminent danger.

Big barking dogs, electric fences and not leaving an easy meal are good detterants.

Black Bears don't want any trouble. Browns/Grizzleys are a different story and should be avoided at all costs.

Good luck and kindly keep us posted on your results!

 

[aart]

It seems the electric wire is the best option

It's really the only option, if you actually want to keep bears away.

 

[Folly's place]

I'd much rather discourage any bears from eating at my house or outbuildings, and hope to never see if a charging bear will be stopped by any weapon in my hands!
Agree that black bears are much lower risk as far as direct attacks are concerned, and have never lived in brown bear country.
Mary

 

[SheaLoner]

We had a bear come through about a month ago. It tried the 1/2" hardware cloth but decided it was too much work to get to them and instead took and ate 3 bags of food. So in other words yes a bear can. The trick is to make it have to work a bit for its food so something easier might draw its attention. We did go through and put up a 1 joule electric fence afterwards though. It hasnt been back yet.

 

[Kdlevesque]

Oh my gosh! I was looking at the picture and didn’t even notice that there was a bear hanging out in the tree!

 

[HotNoob]

personally didn't want to risk it; i've got 2" welded wire, and two strings of electric fencing.
1.2 joules was the closest and cheapest i could find to what i wanted.

manitoba gov published a paper that says you only need 0.7 joules to keep bears away and any extra doesn't make a difference asides from being more dangerous.

i've touched it 3 times now, it's not that bad...
chickens have touched it twice so far ( it's only on the outside ).
1st time was enough to stop the whole flock from pecking at it, 2nd time was a loose wire.

went with the yellow poly wire, because it's visible and can be easily distinguished from the welded wire.

 

[Folly's place]

Our horse/ cattle fence charger puts out 7 to 9.9 volts (NOT JOULES!), depending on weed contacts, and you only want to hit it once! I don't want a wimpy 'zap', I want it to be impressive!
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Did these folks mention the voltage needed? We have a big charger, because we have over a mile of hot tape or wire to run, and weed contact issues too.
Mary