[123989]

My brother captured this image on his trail cam at the edge of his yard. It was about 250 yards from my hives.

 

[massbee]

Yikes! Do you have a bear fence?

 

[123989]

Yikes! Do you have a bear fence?

Nope,he is the first one ever sighted here, at least in the last 25 years.

 

[JWPalmer]

Hmm, might I suggest a quick trip to Tractor Supply?

 

[calkal]

Hmm, might I suggest a quick trip to Tractor Supply?

We have them bears around every corner here in the Chequemegon National Forest.

 

[Fivej]

He's a big guy and will be back. Prepare defences now. J

 

[Murdock]

Bear Fence or Cleanup and replace hives ... which is the best for you. I've cleaned up one myself and I closed that out yard. It cost me 2 queens and hives plus a honey crop.

 

[123989]

Well as I said we really have no bears here this one was attempting to pass through. Right after this was taken a big bear was killed on the highway about 2 miles from the house. I am assuming it was the same bear. I will probably still put up a fence later in the year. Better safe than sorry.

 

[username00101]

My brother captured this image on his trail cam at the edge of his yard. It was about 250 yards from my hives. View attachment 61740

Oh don't worry, that bear will be back.

 

[username00101]

Well as I said we really have no bears here this one was attempting to pass through. Right after this was taken a big bear was killed on the highway about 2 miles from the house. I am assuming it was the same bear. I will probably still put up a fence later in the year. Better safe than sorry.

that could be the same bear. Some people drive like complete unaware idiots. I've seen people hit deer going 20 miles per hour, in full view. During broad daylight.

The reaction that drivers take when they encounter an obstacle varies from speed up (I'm not kidding), to swerve into oncoming traffic, to just maintain current speed, hit, and run.

 

[JWPalmer]

You forgot one. Speed up, hit, stop, drag carcass into back of truck, run. Country boy has gotta eat.

 

[RAST]

All these years of keeping bees and I finally had to put up a bear fence this past spring. Re deer @ 20mph, I was almost at a complete stop at a stop sign and she blasted out of the woods at a full run 10 yards away and barely missed my truck .

 

[123989]

Oh don't worry, that bear will be back.

See above post, bear was killed.

 

[Tigger19687]

See above post, bear was killed.

So you Think it was same bear.
I would think if you saw one there will be another at some point. Or they could be working together..sneaky bears lol

 

[JWPalmer]

Or they could be working together..sneaky bears lol

To quote Winnie the Pooh, (with a dab of literary license) “They might or they might not, you never can tell with bears.”

 

[Jtrahan2371]

An electric fence will not stop a bear. I live in northern NJ and we have bears everywhere. To effectively stop a bear from entering your bee yard you need to train them. Once you put your electric fence up, you need to bait the fence. I place those large paper clips on the wire and hang small pieces of bacon in between the clips. The bear will smell the bacon and attempt to eat it. The voltage from the fence shocking them in the mouth is very painful. The bear then sees your bee yard as a very painful place. It is important to keep your fence baited. Bears do not hibernate all winter long and if they get a warm day will come out for a tasty treat. The only time I had a bear in my yard was when I forgot to put my fence on. As a result, I lost four hives and one bear.

 

[LarryBud]

Few people realize that NJ has the highest population per square mile of black bear of the lower 48 states. Every county (including those right across NY harbor) has had human bear interactions. The bear will be coming out of hibernation as the weather warms up, hungry and focused of getting food-hives are food.

 

[username00101]

Bears are a problem.

Baiting seems like a good idea.

Sadly, when ever I try to bait is exactly when the bear is not taking the bait.

Any suggestions on a bait that lasts for more than a month?

 

[COAL REAPER]

bears in NJ? with all those hunts you guys do?!? makes yah wonder...
all seriousness aside, get a strong enough fencer. they recommend 0.9 joules minimum. mine is a 1.0 joule and it knocks me to the ground if i forget to unplug it. i still havent built a gate and dont know if i ever will to avoid crawling under the fence. the fun one is when i forget to unplug and i am able to crawl under without getting tagged. i cant reach the plug once i am inside...

 

[William Bagwell]

Any suggestions on a bait that lasts for more than a month?

No idea how effective it will be. Have mine baited with bird seed in foil packets every four of five feet. A young, lone bear was tearing up bird feeders up and down the highway behind us last summer as I was building my fence. Coworker who lives there knew someone who caught it on camera. Decided since it was attracted to bird seed that would make the best bait. Much cheaper than bacon and will be easy to replace once it gets moldy. Hopefully any other bear passing through will at least give it a good sniff and and a taste test. My worry is a bear that already knows about both electric fences and the bees inside. May regret not using barbed wire! Was talked out of it here even though others use it.

Seven smooth strands, all hot. Will add an eighth bottom ground strand once we move the swimming pool full of cattails (no I'm not joking) May even come up with a way to switch the very bottom strand between hot and ground. Seriously doubt I will be able to keep the weeds and grass off during the summer.

And yes, that used to be a green house. Really just a walk in cold frame since it never had heat.