Bear Fence Research Info.

[kamerrill]

Interesting test results from the USFS and NOLS regarding electric bear deterrents.

http://www.nols.edu/resources/research/pdfs/lfence.pdf

[Jeffzhear]

Good article. There have been many that have argued that electric fences don't work. While I don't have personal proof that they deter bears, I can say that I don't have any bears messing with my apiary sites (knock on wood) So, to me, they work.

[Dan Williamson]

Can someone give me a rough Idea of what it would cost to fence in an area say 20'x30'? I don't live in a bear area I'm just curious what fences run and what it would cost to fence in say 20-25 hives.

[mistergil]

I'm looking into it myself right now. A solar charger rated for a 3 mile fence goes for around 120$, this from Southern States our equivalent of Agway. The wire, insulators and ground are not that much, less than 20$; and I'm looking at no more that 100ft here. The whole deal for no more than 150$.

[Ardilla]

$150 is probably on the cheap side. My solar charger was that much. While the plug in chargers are much cheaper, you have to get power to them. That can be a bit tricky in more remote locations.

You will likely also have to add ground rods, gate handles or tensioners, fence posts, small amount of insulated wire in addition to the fence wire/tape, and misc connectors. I cut up downed pine trees for fence posts and scavanged the ground rods. Total cost was on the order of $250.

[MountainCamp]

I know that electric fences work and have the proof day and day. We have a heavy bear population and see them on a regualr basis during the active season.

I have had bears sitting and just watching the hives.

[Jeffzhear]

I put a 10 mile solar fencer on the last yard, it was about $150. I felt the 3 mile wasn't rated high enough. $80 bucks for the 20 posts, and I think about $15 for the aluminum wire and maybe $10 bucks for the insulators.

So for about $255 you are good to go with a really good solar fencer. Oh, I also put a used snow fence on the inside of the posts to keep the skunks out. I had scrounged about a 100 feet of free snow fence from somewhere, and so I put it to work.