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Bearsmart : chickens and bears

Description

Fact sheet outlining preventative mitigation for conflict between chickens and bears.

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Bearsmart : electric fences and bears

Description

Provides quick facts on usage of electric fences to protect properties and alleviate public safety concerns.

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Alberta BearSmart and Alberta’s fire lookouts

Description

One hundred and twenty-seven wildfire lookout sites are located throughout Alberta’s boreal forest and along the Rocky Mountains. Each site is staffed by a lookout observer whose job is to watch... More ≫

Description

One hundred and twenty-seven wildfire lookout sites are located throughout Alberta’s boreal forest and along the Rocky Mountains. Each site is staffed by a lookout observer whose job is to watch for wildfire all day, each day, generally from April to October. To help prevent conflict with bears, Wildfire staff with Agriculture and Forestry have adopted a number of Alberta BearSmart recommendations for many of their sites, key amongst them is the installation of electric fencing.

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Protecting livestock from predation with electric fences

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Electric fences are an important tool for protecting livestock in Alberta. Such fences have been used in the province to protect livestock from predators for more than two decades. Predators such... More ≫

Description

Electric fences are an important tool for protecting livestock in Alberta. Such fences have been used in the province to protect livestock from predators for more than two decades. Predators such as coyotes, wolves, bears and domestic dogs are shocked when they try to penetrate an electric fence. For the most part, electric fences have been used to protect pastured sheep; however, these fences do have other applications. They can be used around birthing yards to protect newborn calves or lambs, or they can serve to protect poultry and farmed deer.

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Fencing with electricity

Description

Includes definition, components and types of electric fences. It also includes information about gateways, lighting protection, electrifying existing fences, wire connectors, fence safety and... More ≫

Description

Includes definition, components and types of electric fences. It also includes information about gateways, lighting protection, electrifying existing fences, wire connectors, fence safety and maintenance, and troubleshooting electric fences.

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Using electric fences to protect stored hay from elk and deer

Description

Alberta landholders in the natural range of elk have occasionally suffered substantial losses of stored hay during winter. Depredation of hay and greenfeed bales by elk is worst when snowfall... More ≫

Description

Alberta landholders in the natural range of elk have occasionally suffered substantial losses of stored hay during winter. Depredation of hay and greenfeed bales by elk is worst when snowfall occurs early and the snow is deep. Fencing hay yards with 2.1 m high mesh wire has been an effective, but expensive, way to keep elk away from stored hay. A more economical way to prevent elk and deer damage employing electrified fencing is being used by farmers in British Columbia. To test the effectiveness of this kind of fencing in Alberta, an electric fence was built around a one acre hay yard near Niton Junction. Elk had been responsible for serious hay depredation at the farm in the previous winter. Elk were unable to penetrate the electric fence. Not only was the fence effective, but the electric fence cost much less to build than a comparable fence using barrier mesh. The material cost for building an electric fence is about half the cost of a mesh fence.

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An evaluation of non-lethal control techniques for problem black bears in beeyards

Description

In past years, black bear have caused considerable damage in beeyards in the Peace River region of Alberta. Bear damage in beeyards has varied between $50,000 and $200,000 per year. Since 1973,... More ≫

Description

In past years, black bear have caused considerable damage in beeyards in the Peace River region of Alberta. Bear damage in beeyards has varied between $50,000 and $200,000 per year. Since 1973, Alberta Agriculture had paid a subsidy to beekeepers for constructing electric fences around beeyards. This fencing program has greatly reduced bear damage. However, our data indicate that black bears penetrated electric fences during 19 percent of the bear visits. To alleviate damage these offending individuals were foot snared and shot or translocated. Approximately 600 bears have been captured at beeyards by government personnel since 1972. In addition several hundred bears have been removed by beekeepers during the same period.

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Evaluation of black bear damage to apiaries in the Peace River area : 1973

Description

Serious damage to apiaries by black bears continued during 1973. A damage survey and bear control program v^as established to provide comprehensive data on the extent and distribution of damage... More ≫

Description

Serious damage to apiaries by black bears continued during 1973. A damage survey and bear control program v^as established to provide comprehensive data on the extent and distribution of damage and to remove individual problem bears. Three hundred and thirty-seven damage complaints were investigated. Estimates of loss are 150,000 dollars for the. May to August summer period and about 200,000 dollars for the entire season. Loss per bear attack during the summer months was 289 dollars. One hundred and eighty-two bears were removed by leg-snaring, culvert-trapping and shooting. In addition approximately 200 bears were removed by beekeepers. Only two of 20 experimental electric fences were penetrated by bears throughout the summer.

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