Farms, Ranches, and Orchards

Bears often approach farms, ranches, and orchards to find food, especially when natural food sources are scarce. Thankfully, there are several effective strategies to protect your property.

Because every agricultural setting is unique, there is no “one size fits all” approach for addressing bear conflict risks. In some cases, one tool, such as a fence, can protect livestock or crops. In other circumstances, a successful approach may require combining good husbandry practices with electric fences, guard animals, scare devices, or other bear deterrents. Because predators are adaptable and able to learn quickly, it’s important to be flexible and use whatever combination actually solves the problem in your area.

Why Bears Are Attracted to Farms and Ranches

Bear “attractants” are things that draw a bear to an area. Bears want to investigate any interesting smells in case they prove to be a meal. When attractants are made inaccessible to bears, they often keep moving in their search for food.

On farms, ranches, and at orchards attractants can include:

  • Livestock, big and small, especially young livestock

  • Livestock feed

  • Livestock carcasses and boneyards

  • Calving or lambing areas

  • Crops

  • Fruit trees and bushes, including picked or fallen fruit

  • Garbage, recycling, and compost

Refer to our Bear Attractants Guide to see what other things can draw bears to an area.

Securing Attractants and Deterring Bears

To keep bears moving and prevent them from damaging property, it’s essential to make attractants inaccessible to bears. For things like garbage, birdfeeders, or pet food, that means storing them in a building or bear-resistant container or enclosure. But attractants like livestock and fruit trees can’t be stored away; when possible, they need to be surrounded by electric fencing. Once attractants are secured, additional deterrents can be put in place to further discourage bears from sticking around.

We offer an overview of some conflict-prevention tools and tactics in the dropdowns below, but check with your local wildlife management agency and local wildlife nonprofits for more information relevant to your area. They may also be able to connect you with resources and funding.

If damage has occurred, contact your state or provincial wildlife agency for further control strategies or to see if a compensation program is in place to cover financial losses.

  • Containers

    Bear-resistant containers, which include garbage cans, coolers, and storage boxes, are made of durable materials and have locking mechanisms that keep bears out. These containers can be useful not just for storing food and garbage, but also for storing livestock feed, gleaned fruit, and other attractants.

    There are a variety of containers available for purchase, which you can learn about on our Bear-Resistant Products page. You can also create your own bear-resistant container, although products certified as bear-resistant by an independent group are most reliable.

    To be bear-resistant, the materials used, including for hinges and latches, need to be able to hold up to a bear’s strength (if it can be dismantled using a crowbar, then it is likely not bear-resistant); there should not be any openings where a bear could use its claws to pry open the container; the container should be made from corrosion-resistant materials to ensure a long product life; and if the container is not stored indoors, it should be anchored to a solid, stationary base.

    Enclosures

    As an alternative to bear-resistant containers, use a bear-resistant enclosure. Hard-sided, locked buildings work well. If you’re looking to build something specific, or want to determine if an enclosure is bear-resistant, keep these design elements in mind:

    • Enclosures should be constructed of durable, long-lasting materials, like metal or cement blocks, that bears can’t bite or claw their way through. Bears will search for gaps in a structure and use their claws to try to rip a larger hole.

    • Enclosures need to be closed on all sides—they need to have a door and a top. If an enclosure does not have a top, electrified wire should be added around the enclosure.

    • Ensure bears cannot dig under, squeeze under, or tip over enclosures (e.g., bolt enclosures to a concrete pad).

    • For doors or gates, ensure there is a latch or lock mechanism that cannot be opened by a bear (e.g., reached by a bear’s claws).

    There are some certified bear-resistant enclosures available for purchase. Learn more on our Bear-Resistant Products page.

    Electric fencing can also be used to enclose many bear attractants or added to sheds or buildings that a bear may be able to get into. Read more below.

  • Livestock die from a multitude of causes and, when left in a field or pasture, they become attractants for bears and other predators. Removing carcasses from the field decreases the risk of bears coming into contact with livestock.

    Quickly remove any carcasses. If a carcass cannot be removed right away, move it to an open area with good visibility away from buildings and livestock.

    Bears are avid diggers and can unearth buried carcasses. Add electric fencing around boneyards or composting areas.

    Some communities offer free carcass pick up and composting programs. Contact your local wildlife agency to learn about programs in your area.

    Learn more in this 20-minute short film on carcass composting.

  • Scare devices are audible or visual deterrents that can scare bears away from an attractant. These devices mimic human presence and pose an unknown risk in the eyes of a bear, encouraging them to move along.

    They can be useful to keep bears away from livestock pens, calving and lambing pastures, chicken coops, outbuildings, fruit trees, and more.

    Scare devices are best used short-term as you work to find a long-term solution to secure or remove attractants. After a while, a bear will learn that the device poses no actual risk, and they’ll ignore it. Devices that have more randomizations built in and are less predictable can be effective for longer periods of time, but again, are not permanent solutions.

    Here are a few types of scare devices that can deter bears:

  • Electric Fencing

    Electric fencing is one of the most effective ways to secure bear attractants that cannot be removed or otherwise contained. It can be easily adapted to a number of situations, like enclosing entire crop fields, orchards, livestock night pens, beehives, gardens, chicken coops, or protecting outbuildings that a bear is interested in. Depending on what is being protected, fences can be installed permanently or temporarily.

    It’s important to make sure your fence is designed with bears in mind. Bears shouldn’t be able to climb over, go through, or squeeze under it. And it needs to provide a big enough shock to deter a bear.

    It’s also critical to keep the fence in good working condition. Bears will figure out how to get around electric fencing that isn’t maintained.

    Head to our Electric Fencing page to learn more about using this tool.

    Electric Mats

    Electric mats, sometimes called “unwelcome mats,” can be placed in front of doors, windows, stairs, and other access points into houses, sheds, and outbuildings. Electrified unwelcome mats give a bear a shock when they step on it. It does not harm the bear (or other animals) but creates a negative experience so the bear won’t come back. It’s also safe to have around people; if you step on a mat with shoes, you won’t even know it’s on.

    You can build your own mat (find instructions like these with a quick internet search), or buy a mat from companies like Bear-ier Solutions or Bear Busters.

    As a similar idea for larger areas enclosed with an electric fence, you can add electrified drive-over mats or electrified cattle grates to avoid having to open and close gates.

  • Livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) stay with the group of animals they protect as full-time members of the flock or herd. The presence of LGDs is usually enough to ward off some predators, though the dogs may also attack or fight with predators to protect livestock.

    Some best practices for LGDs include:

    • Having a minimum of two dogs to protect from large predators like bears. More livestock will require more dogs.

    • Providing proper health care (e.g., vaccines, adequate food and water, etc.).

    • Providing proper training to ensure dogs stick with livestock and behave appropriately.

    • Getting dogs from a reputable breeder to lower the chances of health or behavioral issues.

    • Understanding that certain dogs may perform better in places where they are more likely to encounter people, other dogs, or vehicle traffic. As such, dogs must be selected at the individual level for specific needs.

    Texas A&M offers an abundance of information about LGDs, including this short guide.

  • Range riders prevent livestock depredations by actively managing and herding livestock as well as monitoring the health of the herd and threats on the surrounding landscape. By keeping livestock bunched together, the herd is provided safety in numbers and predators are less likely to pose a threat. Range riders also quickly find and treat sick animals, which are easy prey for bears, or move livestock away from areas with increased depredation risks.

    To learn more about range riding, check out the Western Landowners Alliance’s Range Riding Producer Tool Kit.

In addition to the information above, consider implementing some of the following practices if possible:

  • Locate attractants like crops, calving areas, boneyards, and feed storage areas away from forest edges and bear travel routes, like creek bottoms. Creating open “buffer” zones (100 meters is recommended) between attractants and the places bears are most likely to frequent decreases the likelihood that bears will approach those attractants.

  • Keep livestock feed and other attractants away from livestock pens.

  • If you have bum livestock, place them with at least one adult animal. The presence of an adult can often deter predators that might otherwise go after a lone, young animal.

  • Clean up grain spills. When transferring grain, put tarps under machinery for easier clean up.

Avoiding Bear Encounters

Take steps to prevent bear encounters at your farm, ranch, or orchard:

  • Stay alert and be aware of what’s around you.

  • Make noise as you work and work in groups, if possible. Make extra noise before entering orchards, crops, brush, or other areas with low visibility.

  • Keep a lookout for bear sign including tracks or scat.

  • Pay attention to foul odors or scavenger birds that indicate a carcass, which can attract bears. Use extra caution when approaching carcasses.

  • Use extra caution when outside at dusk, dawn, or at night when bears are more active.

Consider developing a network with your neighbors to help keep each other informed about bears in your area.

Make sure you and employees know what to do in a bear encounter. Learn more on our Encounters page. Carry bear spray and know how to use it.

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