An upcoming event in Fernie will share ideas on protecting your chickens, bees, livestock and fruit from bears, including grizzly bears.
On April 10 at the Fernie Seniors Centre, 562, 3rd Ave. from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Gillian Sanders, founder and coordinator of Grizzly Bear Coexistence Solutions will be providing information on installing an effective bear fence and more about the electric fencing cost share program.
Sanders says she can keep a bear out of just about anything.
Sanders has raised bees, chickens, and small livestock in the area of North Kootenay Lake for decades without bear conflicts. Through GBCS she has helped to install more than 500 electric fences for bears throughout the Kootenays.
“A properly designed and maintained electric fence is incredibly effective to deter even the most determined grizzly bear, as we have demonstrated through our work.”
However, Sanders makes the point that all electric fences are not created equal. “Electric fencing needs to be designed in mind with the animal(s) that you are trying to keep in or out of the fenced area. For example, I would never expect my 2-strands of horse fencing to keep out a bear.”
The Elk Valley has annual issues with grizzly bears getting into all kinds of agricultural attractants, such as chicken coops, honey bee hives, fruit trees, crops, and small livestock – all of which can be effectively protected with a good electric fence. There is a new cost share program available for residents to help them offset the cost of materials, and support is available to help with designs to ensure that fences will be success to deter bears and to keep livestock and crops safe. This work allows bears to travel through the valley without causing livestock depredation or property damage, and enables safe coexistence between bears and people.
“The biggest benefit to a well-designed electric fence for bears”, says Gillian “is that you can sleep at night, knowing that your animals and crops are safe, even when bears are active right in your area”.