At 02:18 PM 2/17/1999 -0700, you wrote:
 
Bears are a problem in MT.  The MT Fish and Wildlife Dept has worked with
our beekeepers to provide fences that protect bees and bears (a bear who
destroys hives is likely to be removed).  Our agency has put out a brochure
with guidelines.
 
Because our climate tends to be dry, a key recommendation is to place wire
mat (usually what we call a woven wire fence) in front of the fences.  Even
with a weed whacker electric fence charger, a bear on dry ground may not
get much of a shock when the soil and vegetation are dry.  But, lay a metal
mesh fence on the ground and attach it to a grounding stack.  Now when the
bear approaches the fence, he is standing on a well-grounded surface.  The
resultant shock tends to discourage most bears.
 
Cheers
 
>On Wed, 17 Feb 1999, Pyramid wrote:
>I also use toothpicks to
>> attach bacon to the nose high (the bear's nose) hot wire.  The bacon
>> must be replaced frequently as the birds (titmice) eat it.
>
>In Alberta one of the guys has had success with putting empty
>(unwashed) sardine cans on the wire.
>
>
>Best regards,
>
>Donald Aitken
>Edmonton Alberta Canada
>
>
Jerry J. Bromenshenk
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http://www.umt.edu/biology/bees