South Carolina

[Southern Bee Lady]

are bees bothered by bear spray? i'm thinking a booby trap with peper spray.

RobertH

That might be a good idea to explore. The only thing that I know works most of the time is an electric fence specially configured with 7-8000 volts (charger for a large predator or bull). As my DH said, as big as the bear was, a fence would not have stopped him if he wanted to go thru it. The one I have at home also is run around the bottom of my chicken coop and runs. It stops a lot of skunks (they leave an odor when they get into it

) and occasionally a dog. I am sure it has stopped some raccoons and coyotes. I just haven't seen any on the camera. If I need a security camera to watch something else, I end up pulling that one for a few days. I need to buy another one just for the chickens.
I have touched the fence several times. It will get your attention.

 

[Lroach711]

I live very close to Mary..we have a lot of bears. DH has a friend that was leasing land across from our house to hunt deer. Apparently all they ever saw were bears

We have several friends who always go hunting during our short bear season..but I think it'd be great for them to open up another week to get rid of some of the males. A friend of ours pulled into their driveway one night and had a bear staring right into her headlights. Another friend had one on her backporch one morning trying to open up their grill lol..I think I'd have a panic attack if I saw one. I'm sure it's only a matter of time though living where we do!

 

[dixiebeast]

That is not fair at all...Bears are beautiful creatures...I agree they should be left alone when they are not damaging property but I also will protect whats mine(and I find them tasty the few times I got to have some) A hundred years ago that would have been considered a threat to your livelyhood,now small farms are considered cute hobbies...I am lucky to live so far from town! Here we all watch each others backs,all my neighbors are animal lovers but will not hesitate to protect their and our properties.No one here would bat an eye at a quiet shooting.We have one who just got a bear on his game cam.His property backs up to the land across from us.That puts 9 acres between us.And DNR have been trying to trap a BIG cat...cougar size.Several people were saying they heard the woman like screams when the coyotes howl(some in our yard!) and then tracks were found 2 miles away.DNR are atleast worried about that.Our neighbors are out hunting them everynight on the land next to ours . Makes me feel better with the fact DH works out of town so its just me and the kids on the farm.My DD walked up on coyote kits behind the house on our trail back in summer.She backed out slow...thankfully mom wasnt around and our late great Boomer was...Then I always knew we were safe outside.The new mutt has a long ways to go!

As a matter of fact this past saturday night we woke up to the smell of skunk at 1am...normally no worry,we have one that comes through about once a month but with the Boomer it just passed through.He was never sprayed.Because Boomer is gone we jumped up,both went out half dressed with guns and lights...DH decided to fire a couple rounds at our target set up to use the noise for a scare and all I got was a text from one neighbor wondering if we got "it" so they could come see!! Those same neighbors would come running if they heard me shooting on a week night!!

I wish I lived closer,I could help with the rebuild...I want some bees but I am slightly allergic and the last time I was stung on my finger my entire arm swelled up...its worse every time...sometimes I wonder if I should get an epi pen just in case.DH thinks bees are a bad idea for me...I will get stung..

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I cried for about 10 minutes, I was so upset. I put so much work into my bees, it is heart breaking to lose them anyway much less to a bear. My DH brought his pick up by after work and we loaded everything in it. A lot of the frames (that go inside the hives) were broken. Most of the outside parts can be used again. He was so big, he just pushed the hives over and then pulled every thing apart. Sometimes they will bust the boxes up to get inside to eat the bees. They actually want the bees and brood more than the honey. [/FONT]The honey is just the dessert for their meal.

SC Dept. of Natural Resources will not issue a permit. As of 3 years ago, they will give you some rubber bullet to try to run the bear off. Which I think is hilarious. I know that would only make the bear mad. If you shoot a bear in SC outside of hunting season, you have to reimburse the state $1500 for the bear. You have to pay fines that can go up to several thousand dollars. If a beekeeper has bear fencing (electric fence) the DNR will try to trap a nusiance bear and transport it someplace else. If the area is suitable they may bring in someone with bear dogs and let the dogs run the bear out of the area and hopefully it will not return. I did not have bear fencing around these hives since it was a fairly safe area. I have fencing around most of my other hives. What I do not agree with is if I walk out in my back yard and a bear is destroying my beehives, I can not do anything to stop him. We had one in our county a couple of years ago that kill goats. Legally, you can not protect your property from bears. From what I have heard, If a bear is trying to harm you or your family, you can shoot it, but you will probably still be charged. You would have to convince a judge that you were in danger to keep from paying the fines. Not sure if you would have to still reimburse the state for the bear. This time of year the females are in their dens having babies. The males will roaming around. DNR did try to get an extra week to hunt bear during Dec. since it would only take out males. But the folks that love bears protested in Columbia so it did not get passed.
The DNR guys spoke at our bee club meeting and told some interesting stories about bears incidents in the upstate. We are soon going to have a lot more per square mile at the rate they are multiplying.

 

[CarolinaChickenKeeper]

Coyotes are a prob for us

 

[KrisH]

I just wont tell him about the d'anvers and ameracaunas that I want too...eeek I definately have a problem. (And I have about a million building projects to house all these babies...

)

Interesting that you mention the d'anvers, I am now interested in them too. What is it about the little birds, why ???? SO what color are you thinking about?

Kris

 

[Bunnyanchicken Lady]

I have started a group on Facebook This is a group designed specifically for East Coast Poultry Breeders with bird or eggs for sale. This can include
New Jersey, New York, Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia.

Topics of the forum is for sale poultry or eggs, birds wanted & equipment. Hope you can join!!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/237691836313553/

 

[Southern Bee Lady]

Could use a silkie mentor

When Kimberly, Nicole and I go to Newnan, I am going to be asking Kimberly and any breeders that will talk to me tons of questions of .

 

[Lroach711]

Gosh there are SO many colors I want...that's the problem. I love the mille fleur and mottled...but Boggy Bottom Bantams has like 30 color varieties. I think they had a lavender cuckoo that I thought was awesome! From what I've read about them the only thing that makes me nervous is that the roos are really protective and can be aggressive at times. If you haven't already check out www.boggybottombantams.com you should. They have a photo album with a ton of pics of all their colors. I just looked again and see even MORE colors I want...khaki quail, goldneck...yikes I'm in trouble!

Interesting that you mention the d'anvers, I am now interested in them too. What is it about the little birds, why ???? SO what color are you thinking about?

Kris

 

[KrisH]

Gosh there are SO many colors I want...that's the problem. I love the mille fleur and mottled...but Boggy Bottom Bantams has like 30 color varieties. I think they had a lavender cuckoo that I thought was awesome! From what I've read about them the only thing that makes me nervous is that the roos are really protective and can be aggressive at times. If you haven't already check out www.boggybottombantams.com you should. They have a photo album with a ton of pics of all their colors. I just looked again and see even MORE colors I want...khaki quail, goldneck...yikes I'm in trouble!

I have already emailed Aubrey (boggybottombantams.) I blame this on Amy. I saw her Goldneck booted bantam and fell in love with it, except I dont like feather feet. Amy suggested I look at the D'anvers, and thats the whole story. Amy is to blame.

Amy's new name or maybe I just found out her name it enabler

 

[Southern Bee Lady]

Quote: I do not swell or itch from a honey bee sting. I do from wasp and yellow jackets. I keep an epipen and a bottle of childrens liquid benedryl. Anyone can have an unexpected anaphalatic (sp?) shock reaction to bee stings even after years of getting stung. For me the liquid benedryl would be safer but I would use the epipen if I could not swallow the benedryl so I keep both. There are allergy shots available for bee stings.