Hi Dave,
Here in MN we have large areas of the state where it is a battle to
keep the bears out of the apiary.  Problems vary some from year to
year but in general there is more damage over a wider area every
year.  The DNR here seems to have an inflated idea of how many bears
there should be in an area and at the same time seems to have no real
idea of how many of there are.  The net result is problems for
beekeepers and other citizens.  Good electric fences will take care
of the problem most of the time but they are expensive and require
maintainance such as cutting all grass and weeds under the fence to
keep it from shorting out.  The 30 mile solar fencers work well but
tend to walk off in some areas.
We have a bear problem in many rural areas that goes well beyond
beekeepers.  Bears have been reported to have entered peoples homes
and gone through the cupboards looking for food.  They have been seen
foraging  in garbage cans and dumpsters in towns in the daytime.
Many of these animals have lost most of their fear of humans and one
wonders how long before a young child gets killed and eaten.  They
also cause problems at times for farmers as they can make a real mess
in a corn or other grain field gathering the plants into a heap to
eat the grain.
In Minnesota there is no compensation for bear depredation but in the
past the DNR has had a cost-share program to help in construction of
electric fences.  I don't know if that program is still in place.  We
also have a law on the books that any wild animal damaging property
can be killed by the owner of the property.  Such animals are to be
reported to the DNR but often are not.  We had a real problem in the
northwest part of MN this year as  a late frost and hot dry spell in
June destroyed the wild berry and acorn crops and the bears were very
hungry.  Many were killed in beeyards with some beekeepers carrying
guns while they harvested because they were have bears in the yard
during the day.  At times 3 or 4 adult bears in the same yard.
In short, bears are a real problem in much of Minnesota for
beekeepers.  Good electric fences keep them out 95% or more of the
time but are expensive to build and operate.  Most of the damage
occurs each year in areas that have not had a problem with bears
before and the damage levels decrease once they have the yards
fenced.  In Thief River Falls this summer there were no fencers left
in town because the beekeepers bought them all in an effort to
prevent bear damage.  The MN DNR reports that beekeepers account for
only about 7% to 10% of bear complaints they get.
 
hope this helps and good luck
If you need information on fences some of our beekeepers know how to
construct and operate a good fence.
blane
 
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Blane White
State Apiary Inspector
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Division of Plant Protection
90 W Plato Blvd
St Paul, MN 55107
http://www.mda.state.mn.us
 
 
ph 612-296-0591
fax 612-296-7386
 
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