Agricultural Areas

By keeping well mown "buffer zones" around beehives, crops, and livestock holding areas, farmers can reduce natural cover for bears. Without cover, bears are typically discouraged from approaching a farm. When this is not feasible, electric fencing, even used temporarily, can be highly effective.

The use of guarding animals to protect livestock from predators is gaining in popularity around the country and has proven highly effective. For protection of livestock against black bears in particular, guard dogs appear to be most effective.

Unwanted trespassing and crop damage by bears can be prevented through negative conditioning. This method works by making an experience disagreeable enough to the bear that he or she is discouraged from repeating the undesirable behavior. Bear biologists and other trained agents use assertive behavior, chemical irritants, pyrotechnic scare devices, and rubber buckshot and bean bag rounds to teach a bear to stay away from human habitat. The typical deterrent kit includes many items commonly available, such as high-volume water guns, air horns, emergency whistles, and automatic umbrellas. Products are available that use motion detectors to sense a bear's presence and shoot water or sound alarms to scare the bear away.

Many provincial and state wildlife agencies in bear territory have some form of bear response plan, including the deployment of agency staff members trained in negative conditioning techniques. While many these techniques are easy to employ, it is illegal in most states for the general public to "harass" bears. The process should be left to your state wildlife agency so that the bear has the best chance possible of being trained to stay away from human habitat. Ask them to use non-lethal alternatives.

Trees and Gardens

Fruit trees and vegetable gardens can also attract bears. Trees can only be protected individually if the limbs, leaves, and fruit do not hang below a height of seven or eight feet. If this ground clearance is available, an individual tree can be protected with fencing or other techniques that keep bears from climbing the tree.

For low-hanging trees, tree groves, and vegetable gardens the best solution is sturdy high-tensile woven wire fencing at least six to seven feet high. The fence posts must be sturdily mounted and the fencing wire must be heavy enough to withstand the weight of a climbing bear. Ideally the fence should be angled out at the top foot to keep bears from scaling the fence.

Another fencing option is the installation of an electric fence. Because bears can learn how to get around them, electric fences are more of a "behavioral barrier" than an absolute barrier, which means that if they're not properly maintained, bears will learn how to get through them.

Compost used for vegetable gardens may also prove irresistible for bears, because compost generally starts out as food waste. The odor from decomposing food waste is particularly strong and of great interest to a bear. Compost containers must be bear-proof and should be stored far from the house.

Protecting Livestock against Predators - Guard Animals

The best way to protect livestock from predators is to take a preventative approach, like using guard animals, such as dogs, llamas and donkeys. Some common uses can be to protect stock, home, land, and owners against wolves, feral dogs, mountain lions, and even bears. Coyotes, wolves and wild and domestic dogs are likely the main cause of livestock deaths. Grizzly and black bears may also predate on livestock, but are more often caught taking advantage of a domestic kill as a food source.

Managing for predators takes a variety of control methods. There is no one technique that will solve every producer’s problems. Those who are successful, use an integrated approach, combining good husbandry practices with electric fences, guard animals, good herders, or mechanical scare devices. They also must be flexible enough to use whatever combination of methods solve the problem, since predators always have and always will be a part of the livestock producers’ world.

• There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of guard animal. Do your homework to ensure that the type of guard animal you choose is suitable to work with your livestock and in your particular situation. Some livestock guardian dogs (LGD), for example, may not make good pets. If the LGD is to be used in an area where neighbors are close, the owner must be aware that LGD have a natural barking behavior to warn off predators. Because LGD's are nocturnal, as are most predators, they will bark often through the night. This is an important part of their job.
  
  
• Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGD) may be the best suited guardian animal to protect livestock against bears. Llamas and donkeys are better suited to protect livestock against canids - dogs, coyotes, foxes and wolves.
  
  
• Each guard animal will be different and some individuals, whether a donkey, llama or dog, may be a wonderful pet, but may not be suited for guardian duty .Your guardian animal must have the proper instincts.
  
  
• Proper training and handling of your guardian animal is critical to its effectiveness.
  
  
• Be prepared to allow some time for the guard animal to bond with your livestock and settle into its role as a guardian. It will also take time for the livestock to accept the guardian animal.
  
  
• Work with a reliable breeder that will allow you the right to exchange an unsuitable animal.