Jerry wrote:

>I have  the 
>luxury of keeping our research hives on elevated stands - which also  
>completely eliminates skunk problems - they don't climb nor jump well.  As  long as 
>the stand is taller than the skunk, never have a problem.   Barricades, 
>pepper, tack strips - none  of these work reliably, and our  main yard is by 
>the river.  We've lots of skunks.

I use a mesh electric fence, the kind usually advertised as a portable pasture fence for sheep (typically eight strands and 3 ft / 1 m tall), and a solar charger.  Besides keeping the bears out, it also keeps the skunks out.  I have a large population here (sometimes the smell wafts thru the house on a summer night and is overpowering), and have live-trapped many, when I was keeping chickens.  The large spoor around the perimeter of the fence I assume is bear, the smaller spoor I assume is skunk.  They dig up the grubs all over the yard, right up to the fence, but I have never seen any signs of scratching or other damage on my hives, as long as the fence is up and working.

Bill

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