Bear Problems

Are bears really a problem for bees?

In short, yes. Depending on your area you will have different pests showing interest in your bees. Here in Wisconsin, one of our most gnarly pests is the black bear. Bears can do devastating damage to your apiary in a matter of minutes. We've had our fair share of bear experiences, and we want to make sure our friends in the Northwoods can stay equipped to protect their investment from bears! Read below to find some of our best personal tips and resources for bear damage and protection.

I've had bear damage. What now?

If you have had bear damage, please call the USDA State Wildlife Office at (608) 837-2727, and they will connect you with the closest USDA Wildlife Specialist. Although they may not be able to help you, it is important to report these incidents to make sure WI beekeepers have an impact with the Wisconsin DNR Bear Advisory Committee, preventing more of these incidents in the future.

For more info on these resources, visit the WHPA Bear Advisory Committee page

If the bears have only tipped over your boxes and not completely destroyed your hive, you may be able to set the hive back up and hopefully the bees will survive. After ensuring your bees are protected by an electric fence, check back in on them in 1-2 weeks and make sure the queen survived and has begun laying eggs again. If your queen was squashed, you may need to purchase a replacement queen, or see if the bees are raising their own.

If your hive has been completely destroyed and you have already reported the incident, there will not be much to do but salvage any equipment you can, and try to source new bees and equipment. We also recommend finding some beekeeping friends to vent and perhaps get a hug.

Bear Damage Prevention

Unfortunately, no method is 100% bear-proof. Even after 30 years, we still have bear problems, but we can share some of our best tips and tricks.

  1. Electric Fences are our favorite method for bear prevention. Many farm supply stores carry electric fencing. We recommend the highest power output you can find. Plug-in models tend to be more reliable than solar models, but we have used both in our operation. We currently use the Parmak Super Energizer 5.
  2. For best results, you want to set your fence up before you have bees inside of it. We recommend baiting the fence before you get your bees, to train the bears to stay away. To bait your fence, simply put a piece of bacon or some peanut butter on a wire, and let the bears do the rest. With any luck, any bears in your area will get a taste of your fence and be less interested once the bees are inside.
  3. To learn more, check out the WI BearWise Bulletin with Electric Fencing Info