Questions for a Newspaper Article about Bears & Chickens

[felicitybarr]

To all BYC members: I'm a reporter for The New York Times; I'm doing an article on the rise in bear-chicken conflicts in places like NW Montana. Two questions: Are there reliable statistics on the increase in chicken sales/backyard chickens either nationally or by region? Two: For those of you who have had bear encounters, was the bear euthanized as a result of its invasion of your chicken coop? With thanks for any help.



Felicity Barringer

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

We have had bears in the area, some have invaded coops, bird feeders and rabbit hutches. The Dept of Natural Resources captures them and relocates them to less populated areas.

 

[felicitybarr]

Thanks much for the reply. Did you do anything to prevent future bear visits? Have you looked into putting up an electric fence?