 Bears
should prevent no one from being out in the wilderness. What concerns
some most, however, is camping. No one wants to be sound asleep
in a tent when a curious bear pokes around camp. Electric fencing,
now lighter and more economical than ever, can dissuade curious
bears from approaching your camp, thus allowing you to sleep safely...
and soundly.
But does everyone using the backcountry need a fence? According
to Tom S. Smith (Ph.D. Research Ecologist - Bears, USGS - Alaska
Science Center), electric fencing should be used primarily for
the following situations:
- long-term field camps (such as used by state and federal
agencies to conduct management and research functions),
- for hunting camps where game meat and trophies (e.g., hides,
horns, etc.) may be stored,
- in locations where bear numbers are known to be high, and
- where problem bears have been known to frequent.
One might also justify fencing if its deployment is the only
way persons fearful of camping in bear country will go. The bottom
line is that the use of electric fencing is up to the user but
no bear experts will suggest it should be used by everyone.
The Get Bear Smart Society also recommends using a portable electric
fence in remote areas of black bear country as well as areas that
grizzlies frequent.
Read more about Smith's
recommendations.
Watch a video about testing
electric fences for effectiveness.
There are several companies who supply portable electric fences.
These days, fences are inexpensive and ultra-light and suitable
for backpacks - many are under 4 lbs with batteries. They can
run from solar power or 2 D-cell batteries that can supply power
to the energizer continuously for approximately five weeks.
UDAP Bear Shock Electric Fence www.udap.com
Margo Supplies www.margosupplies.com
The Living with Wildlife Foundation has prepared an excellent
Electric Fencing Guide which contains information about electric
fencing designs that can be used to help deter predators, including
bears, mountain lions and wolves. Click
to download. See Section: Portable Electric Fencing. This
guide also includes lots of useful information on electrifying
trash containers and building an electrified unwelcome mat.
|
