Uh Oh..we got a bear!

[Mrs MIA]

YUM!!!!!!!

 

[nautical_bouy]

I think you will find the PA GC helpful,, most know when you have livestock you have more rights. They will most likely offer to trap and move it, but why give up a perfect rug.

 

[SterlingAcres]

Dang... I hope that corn keeps it occupied until late fall! I'd be bringing the chickens into your garage.

I hope Charlie gets him

Good luck!

 

[hinkjc]

Yeah, I am hoping the corn keeps him happy until hunting season. We planted 3 plots this year and he is working on the first 2. The one is even inside a fence and he just about knocked the fence down from probably jumping it or leaning on it to get to the corn. The 3rd plot will come in late and hoping he heads there when the first two are gone.

All grain is kept inside the coops..nothing laying around so he shouldn't have any reason to come down unless he's a stupid bear. There's also a great bunch of wild berry briars just up inside the gamelands behind our house, so I hope he's enjoying those too. We picked most of ours clean around the house for the chickens. I will be keeping a close eye out until rifle season.

Jody

 

[Cindy in PA]

It's my understanding that you can only legally shoot a bear if you make your living from your animals. Dear son would know if he was here. It sure is scary! We had a bear walk through our backyard last June, first one we've ever seen hear in 24 years & it was after a development went in behind us. My Dad had one this year in his yard 15 miles down the road in a real suburban area. The bear we saw checked out our bird feeders (they were empty) and never looked at the coop as he went past into the woods. There sure have been more sightings down here as they move from the Blue Mountains looking for territory. The GC usually just says leave them alone & they'll go away. Good luck & be careful! They are extending the bear season down this way this year. DS is psyched!

 

[CrazyAcres]

We've lived in Western PA for 6 years and we've had several bears come thru- yes they WILL mess with your chicken coops if they are hungry or curious enough.

My best suggestion is bring your feeders in at night and spray either bleach or ammonia around your coops, it messes up their sense of smell-and we've found this usually makes them pass up the coops.

We've (knock on wood) never lost a chicken directly to a bear, but we have had coops/runs destroyed. I did however lose 2 hens 10-12 days after a bear attack- two separate times- I dont know if it's coincidence or if they just never recovered from stress or what-they weren't physically harmed, so I dont know.

My mother in law lost her flock of 12 to a bear over the course of several days- he was killing them for sport at one point- it was so sad. He was really scary- wasn't afraid of anything. There was something wrong with this bear, we had seen him over the winter out in January in 10 degree weather eating out of a birdfeeder. The GC wasn't very helpful at all honestly-they gave us lots of trouble and told us we could only shoot the bear if he was physically attacking us-not even threatening. My Mother In Law finally threw a fit that she had young grandchildren constantly over her house and was tired of living in fear- they finally came out and set up a trap-they never caught him but I have a feeling that someone else "took care of the situation" because he's gone.

People stopped hunting bear here because they were going extinct-and now you hear constant stories of these bears destroying property all over the place.

 

[keystonepaul]

Good luck Jody. I have the hounds (3 of them) housed (securely) very near the hen house. So I have plenty of warning when the bears come through. Sunshine's bark is pretty distinct when he's (yeah he- let a 5 year old name a dog and that's what happens) smelling a bear- so I usually know there's one about, but with the dogs barking they usually stear clear- so far. Buff Orps are in the hen house now and getting big and beautiful!! Good luck with the bear!! Keystonepaul

 

[thewarriorchild]

"Also, hang soap bars from your trees, Ivory is the best,"
What does that do?? I can see it now...bubbles all over the yard when it rains!!

I am losing birds to a bear, I hope you do not mind me jumping in. It took a duck yesterday evening, a Tom turkey last night, and almost right in front of me while I had purposely been going in and out often this afternoon a chicken!! I opened the door and it was running off with my bird!! They were inside the coop/3 foot chain link fence with contractors fencing over it. I believe he took another turkey while I was away and maybe a chicken that had been living in the front yard!! I had just chased him away about an hour or so before to! One day I let the birds out at like 11 (after being stuck in the Orlando airport for a night it ook me a while to get back to reg. time) and came back to the coop at like 2-3 to find ALL the hay disturbed, after backing away quickly and peeking in a window praying nothing was going to jump at me I saw a huge ditch in the hay like it had curled up to take a nap! I am not sure if it took other birds. I would not be surprised. I am a bit concerned that the bear is so bold! The night it took the Tom the lights were left on! It dislocated the pipe on the top of the cage this afternoon also!! I am afraid I am going to open the coop one morning and be greeted by him because he broke in!! THey are all bear huggers up here.. or so it seems. We need another bear hunt!! I liv ein a basement apt and I am afraid if it wants my cats/dogs/rabbits it will just break in! I am afraid to leave my window open!!
Anyone got some ideas??
These stupid laws about shooting bears are crazy!!!

 

[Mrs MIA]

I don't know about NJ, but here we are allowed to shoot if we are protecting life or property... in this case, both. Need to start by contacting your local fish and game and see what they can do about it.

 

[thewarriorchild]

They are crazy obsessed bear huggers here

We have a hard time getting a legal bear hunt!!