To:  Ernie Gregoire et al

Its probably not the bears eating your bacon but the birds.  Here in
Pennsylvania the main culprits are titmice.  At this time, its lasts
about two weeks.

With regard to electric fences, when it is dry and the fence is simple
with only a few hot wires, it is difficult to get contact from the wire,
through the bear, and into the ground. Multiple wires, alternating hot
and grounded, greatly improves your fence.

You seldom know if your fence is effective -- only when it isn't.

Burns