Bears
Bears
Most of us have been told from the time of childhood that bears love honey. While this may be true, they perhaps love the brood of honey bees even more.
Bears (Runtime 1:16)
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Downloads and transcripts
Transcripts
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Damage
Because of increasing urbanization in the United States, the threat of bear damage to apiaries has also been increasing. When bears are hungry, they will travel long distances looking for food. Once they discover a honey bee colony, they’ll most likely be back until they are stopped or the colony is consumed.
People in suburban areas may see evidence of bear activity in smashed bird feeders and damaged garbage cans, so it shouldn't be hard to imagine a bear finding its way to a backyard bee hive anywhere in bear territory. Visits are most likely in early spring when adult bears come out of hibernation and in fall before they enter their hibernation dens.
PennStateExtension+OLC-1006+2017+type@asset+block/S7bear-damage.jpg" alt="Hives destroyed by a bear laying all over the ground in pieces" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; vertical-align: middle; max-width: 100%; line-height: 1.4em; height: auto;">
An apiary after a visit from a bear.
Several states have insurance programs specifically for bee hives damaged by bears and can reimburse beekeepers for some expenses if they meet the insurance-coverage requirements. Check with your state’s department of natural resources or game commission to learn more.
Deterring Bears
Game Commission
If you live in a suburban area and a bear finds your beehive, your yard may not be large enough to relocate the hive in a way that prevents a return visit from the bear. In cases such as this, your only recourse may be to call a representative of your state game commission, who can make informed decisions about bear trapping and relocation.
Deterrents
Bear deterrents that have been known to work include:
- Loud noises
- Bright lights
- Dogs
- Electric bear fences
Design a Bear Fence
In late summer, as bears prepare to hibernate, they start consuming more food to store up to 100 pounds of fat that will get them through the winter. Bears will consume 10,000–12,000 calories each day and may look for some of those calories in sweet treats like honey.
Bears can easily tear down fences that are not sturdy. A simple and strong electric fence is the most effective and efficient method of keeping out bears.
PennStateExtension+OLC-1006+2017+type@asset+block/S7bear-fence.jpg" alt="A bear fence system with electric fencing." style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; vertical-align: middle; max-width: 100%; line-height: 1.4em; height: auto;">
A solar powered electric fence can be an effective deterrent to bears if built and maintained properly.
What You'll Need
- Post-hole digger
- 4 wooden corner posts
- 4 bags of quick-setting cement
- Shovel
- 4 metal fence posts
- Fence-post driver
- Plastic insulators
- Barbed wire
- Fence charger with battery or solar charger
- Wooden Box
Instructions
- Use the post-hole digger to dig holes at least 12 inches deep at the corners of your fence site. Set the wooden corner posts in the holes, level the posts, and mix in the quick-setting concrete and water according to package instructions. Tamp down the concrete with a shovel and let the posts sit for several hours or overnight.
- Drive metal posts into the ground with the fence-post driver at 8-foot intervals between corner posts. Be sure to drive the metal posts 12-18 inches deep. Attach plastic insulators to each post at 8, 18, 30, and 42 inches from the ground.
- String the barbed wire across the metal posts on the plastic insulators. Do not allow the wire to touch the metal posts.
- Using the directions included with the charger, connect your fence charger to the barbed wire on the posts.
- Use the wooden box to cover the fence charger and protect it from rain, wind, snow, and any falling debris.
Lesson List
- 7.2 Diseases Duration:
- Stress Diseases Duration:
- Nosema Duration:
- 7.3 Pests Duration:
- Small Hive Beetles Duration:
- Wax Moths Duration:
- Ants, Mice, & Small Mammals Duration:
- Bears Duration:
- 7.4 Colony Collapse Disorder Duration:
- CCD as a Syndrome Duration:
- 7.5 Integrated Pest Management Duration:
- Pyramid of IPM Tactics Duration:
- 7.6 Check Your Learning Duration:
Teachers Info
Bee doctor
- Website: http://www.example.com
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