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 ****************************************** 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 [log in to unmask] ********************************************