Apple treees and electric fence
 

I'm wondering if an electric fence would keep a bear away from apple trees. I'm thinking of one maybe 3-4 feet high that the deer could jump over but a bear could not get over. I've got a fencer that works off a battery. Any ideas??????????????

RE: Apple treees and electric fence
 

a friend of mine has Bee's and he uses a fence to keep the bears out. so I would think it would work for the trees.

one thing ,the deer will try to go under or in between the wires, when they do, they will tear it down for ya. same with the bears.

you will have to put it up 2 or 3 times befor they get the idea.if you use hog wire the deer will jump it automaticly and the bear will have to climb and they want tear that wire down.just some idea's you will need to look at.

RE: Apple treees and electric fence
 

I have two they work great I also have bees the bears destroyed every thing .Put the fence up and then hang bacon on the top wire this will solve your bear problems.

RE: Apple treees and electric fence
 

Use the 12 1/2 guage high tensile electric fence wire and they won't break it.

RE: Apple treees and electric fence
 

Pretty common problem around here, so I will confirm the other posts recommending electric fencing, with minor changes based on my experience of over 230 such fences, specifically for bear exclusion.
When one of the local apiaries calls me with a bear issue, I take fiberglass 5/8" posts, 3/4" smooth steel rod & 5 lb. sledge (to make "pilot holes" for fence posts), and enough smooth wire to wrap the hives, with 4' of working room all the way around. You could substitute old "tomato stakes" from the garden, etc., but these are easy to work with & the client is paying for them.
For bears only (different if skunks are also in your hives): Run your posts at 8'-10' intervals, depending on how taut your wire can be kept. Hang a single strand, 1'- 1 1/2' above the ground. Lower is better, as the deer & fawns can hop or step over easily, but you don't want to short-out on the weeds & grass (shortens battery life). Tie on surveyer's ribbon or similar, at no more than 4' intervals, until the deer learn that the fence exists (one to two weeks). Although most folks hang bacon, I eat mine.... When cooking bacon, take strips of rag an inch or so wide, about 8" long. Old wash cloths are great due to their absorbancy. Soak-up the bacon grease with these, and save them for your fence.
Tie-on your scented rags, one between each set of posts. Wrap & tie, so the length of the "tails" is kept to a minimum. You would ideally like the bear to mouth the wire with the rag, rather than just pull the tails (or bacon strips) off your fence. Long tails or loose bacon are why many people think a bear needs "a couple times" to get the idea. One good exposure, and the lesson is learned.
Set up your game/trail camera, and enjoy!

RE: Apple treees and electric fence
 

I used one in alaska to keep the grezz off my moose meat it worked ,anything out side the fence was gone. The air carter had a few of them and gave them to us to use.who would of thought.