Two black bears found the chicken coop

[MROO]

In Alaska people make nail boards and secure them to their doors and windows whenever they leave their homes. These are large sheets of plywood with huge nails pounded through and sticking out the other side.

I could makeshift something like that maybe. But can you believe I'm actually concerned about harming these hungry bears? I don't want them hurt.

Nail boards won't really hurt them - just let them know that, if they push the issue, it WILL hurt. Bears are really smart. They'll figure it out and, hopefully, go elsewhere for a meal that doesn't bite back. I doubt that the nail boards alone would be enough, but should definitely be part of (forgive the pun here, but I really am serious) a two-pronged approach. Pair the boards with some electricity, and you'll have a better shot at keeping Henry & his family safe until the bears find other resources.

 

[MROO]

The run is six feet tall but the overhead isn't enclosed with hardware cloth. That's the plan but it hasn't happened yet.

Amazingly, the dogs seem to have a secret arrangement with the bears. They never ever bark when the bears knock over the trashcans. And I'm sure they've seen them outside but nothing but silence.

I'm going to dump all of our aluminum cans in front of the chicken coop and barricade the front with leftover fencing and boards, anything to make sounds. I'll spray ammonia on all of it but not on the coop so the chickens aren't at risk.

No other options for tonight, aside from the garden hose which is prepped and ready to go with a powerful nozzle. Rocks aren't effective but would make me feel better than just standing there watching them pull apart the coop.

And yes, at least one bear was here during the day and pulled over a trashcan.

Get yourself a boat air horn. They're basically just a can of air with a REALLY loud horn on top. You "shoot" it like an oversized aerosol can. Just warn your neighbors that you'll be setting it off when you see a bear. Who knows, they might be grateful!

 

[MROO]

How about petitioning your local officials to pick an appropriate spot and set up a feeding station for them? There's no question that they have to eat so it seems like ensuring that they eat something appropriate in an appropriate spot could prevent all manner of awful alternatives for the general human population.

That's a GREAT idea! Don't limit your request to local officials, though. They likely have their hands full dealing with the human crisis. Federal and State agencies that deal directly with wildlife and wildlife legislation are a likely source for help, and will have staff trained in how to do it safely. Your Department of Natural Resources/ Wildlife Management/ or whatever animal agencies are in your area would be good places to contact, as would major hunting advocates. It's in their best interests to keep the bear population healthy, too - and a lot of them have funds set aside for conservation efforts just like this!

 

[Animalfisherwoman]

Chip Hailstone (on Alaska's Life Below Zero) keeps out bears with a "pee fence" around the perimeter. It's what it sounds like. He uses his own.

 

[MROO]

Chip Hailstone (on Alaska's Life Below Zero) keeps out bears with a "pee fence" around the perimeter. It's what it sounds like. He uses his own.

Eeeew, but I'll bet it works!

 

[EggWalrus]

Eeeew, but I'll bet it works!

I guess it would depend on what you've been drinking!

 

[Animalfisherwoman]

It's in their best interests to keep the bear population healthy, too - and a lot of them have funds set aside for conservation efforts just like this!

In Tahoe, California F&G typically won't just trap "problem bears," it's usually trap and euth. They might, however, be open to relocating bears that haven't become depredation problems to further up Shasta (which has the best bear hunting in the state).

 

[ThracianHorse]

As someone else suggested, skip the other nonsense and go right for hot-wire. Once bears learn where a free meal is, they will be back. No amount of noise, scent-deterrents (The ammonia thing is a myth. Only thing dousing the garbage cans with it will teach them is the ammonia smell maybe means food.), or dogs will prevent a truly determined bear. Worse, in letting this situation persist, you're likely letting a mama bear teach her cubs what is acceptable behavior. Get the hotwire up before they learn where the food is, kill your birds, and you start breeding a generation of bears that knows where the easy, human-provided grub can be found.

Problem bears for me have coincided rather nicely with hunting season for them. I make black-bear tacos that are known to cause fights for invitations to dinner. If push comes to shove, it is an option. Buying a tag is within the realm of possibilities.

Feeding stations are perhaps the worst idea I've ever heard for bears. Any artificial feed is bad for them, and it only teaches them food comes from people. It also concentrates bears artificially in a given area. A big boar bear will eat a small sow bear or cubs given the opportunity. How'd you like to be the person living next to a feeding station with a chicken run? Considering Californias bear population is booming, there really isn't a need to feed them. Bears are anything but stupid, and they are great opportunists. They will fare just fine after the fire without help from anyone, just like after the 2008 Redding Fire-Blitz.

 

[Animalfisherwoman]

Problem bears for me have coincided rather nicely with hunting season for them. I make black-bear tacos that are known to cause fights for invitations to dinner. If push comes to shove, it is an option. Buying a tag is within the realm of possibilities.

Most bear taken in California is harvested for meat, which is reportedly GREAT as you said. That's the first solution I thought of...buy a bear tag. But from what it sounds like, OP is in city limits, and dunno if OP can exercise that option there.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

Bad news, folks.

Three bears pulled apart my neighbor's chicken coop last night and killed some of her chickens. A few managed to survive.

We're seeing a lot of wildlife activity since the fire, more than we've seen here before. Someone's horse was killed by a bear or cougar nearby where I've done all my Carr Fire pet rescue work.

I haven't electrified the coop yet. My husband's losing his job soon and we're pretty stressed about that and other things we need to get done. But those poor chickens. They're alive right now. I need to make this happen. I'm so worried for them.

But I'm especially sad for the bears. Things aren't looking good for them. Someone's going to kill them if keep seeking out food near people's homes and killing livestock.