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Post by farmrbrown on Dec 21, 2022 22:45:48 GMT
www.themeateater.com/conservation/wildlife-management/photos-hunter-harvests-record-breaking-black-bearI was just googling what the state record was and found this. We've got a big one in the hills behind us that 2 different people estimated at 600 lbs and being locals, I would believe them because we've got plenty around here. 2 weeks ago I had my trash "bear box" opened for the first time, the cans pulled out and dumped in the creek, lol. No doubt the big boy on the block is the culprit. (All I had to do was secure the lid on the box though, I just never did before because none of them could ever get it open)
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Post by Ozarks Tom on Jan 1, 2023 19:24:25 GMT
I don't know how I could have missed telling about the time I killed a 500 pound bear with a club.
There were 12 of us in the club.
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Post by farmrbrown on Jan 2, 2023 22:45:00 GMT
Unfortunately, Mr. Bear came back last night. Although I'd put a latch on the lid and checked to see if my 8 inch spikes were still anchoring it to the ground he managed to tip the whole thing over and break thru the hog wire lid. The latch and lid were stil closed when I went down to clean up the mess today.  Garbage service comes every Tuesday.......tomorrow. Big AND smart, gotta love that, lol. I was gonna buy 4 metal fence posts, the kind you pound in the ground a few feet deep anyway if I had any more problems. They're on the front porch now and I'll stake it down tomorrow and add a roll of chain link fencing I have left over in the back yard, sides and top, over the chicken and hog wire already on it. Ohhhhh but that's not the end of this story.....stay tuned because I have a special treat and a surprise party planned in his honor for NEXT Monday.  |
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Post by farmrbrown on Jan 2, 2023 23:08:43 GMT
And not to sound ungrateful for any helpful suggestions but I know most of them already and if I thought they would work in this particular case I would have done them. One of the first really good ones I still use at my other house - 55 gallon drums with a 3 point secured lid. They can roll them all over the yard but can't get in, lol. That's just not practical for this problem. All I need is a car to hit one in the middle of the road and a lawsuit to follow.  I COULD build a steel container if I was a good welder and had a grand or two just laying around to spend but I've built these before for other people and I guess 600 lbs is about the limit. Thankfully they rarely get over 400 around here. The chain link will stop the entry ...... and the surprise party should encourage him to dine elsewhere from now on.  |
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Post by paisley2 on Jan 3, 2023 17:56:42 GMT
farmrbrown, I prefer moose verse bears! Both can kill but they won't eat me!
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Post by wildhorseluvr on Jan 3, 2023 19:43:43 GMT
farmrbrown , I prefer moose verse bears! Both can kill but they won't eat me! Moose are also less likely to knock your front door in or climb through your window. |
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Post by paisley2 on Jan 4, 2023 0:36:29 GMT
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Post by Tim Horton on Jan 4, 2023 4:43:10 GMT
One useful deterrent usually used in a layered defense for bears are bear mats...
Used quite successfully by our neighbor the bee keeper...
This being a piece of plywood with a hundred or more 2" sheet rock screws in it, used with the points up...
Usually plywood pieces are about 2'x4'of half inch material.... Particle board will work also, but it doesn't last more than a couple year where plywood lasts longer... The neat thing about plywood is you can cut custom shapes to fit areas as needed....
You can also drill 3/4 inch holes as needed to anchor the ply wood down with a short length of 3/8 re bar as needed... People have reported mats flipped up or over by some savvy animals...
Good luck...
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Post by farmrbrown on Jan 4, 2023 22:25:38 GMT
I had a few ideas in mind for deterrence when I wrote the previous post BUT I've reconsidered them due to one thing - this is out on the main road about 1/8 of a mile from our house (down the road and across the creek).
While I DON'T mind if the bear gets a painful reminder to stay away I would NOT like to see a neighbor, visiting friend, child or pet inadvertently hurt in any way. I know people can read signs but even my smartest dog still doesn't know his ABC's, lol.
Not to mention it's pretty hard to get good reliable trash service way out here and I don't want to run them off either should they accidentally forget something before trying to empty my trash cans.
I do know that once it's clear there's no more reward for trying, he'll move on to greener pastures. No big deal just a little more work for me. In the meantime it has made the neighbors more aware to be cautious after dark.
Last night about 9pm. I heard a few gunshots and today my neighbor said it was him. A few coyotes were in his yard as he was going from his shed to his house - less than 10 feet, but enough to scare everybody , lol.
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