[WaltGraham]

We have a black bear in the neighborhood that has developed a taste for my neighbor's chickens. He tore the back door off of the chicken house last night and helped himself to a couple.

Aforementioned neighbor is going out of town for the weekend and leaving his wife home alone. Most of the rest of the half dozen or so families in my circle are going to be gone as well.

This leaves me as on call chicken defender if Mr. Bear comes calling. I don't particularly want to kill it, I'm just looking for a means of deterrence.

Any input appreciated.

 

[Charlie Petty]

Call the bunny cops...

 

[spwenger]

Bear Spray...

...so long as you're backed up with an adequate firearm?

I don't know if any sort of pepper fogger you might be able to get your hands on would be of adequate strength for bear.

 

[WaltGraham]

Well, I considered just stoking the 870 with some # 8's and peppering his arse, but that leaves me with an ineffective stopper in the event things go south.

I don't have much experience with bears but CP gave me a good idea. One of my former roomies is a retired bunny cop. I may give him a call.

I wonder what would be involved in swapping some rock salt for the pellets in a couple of shot shells...

 

[SpecialEd]

My parents down in Monroe have a regular visiting bear but he mostly rummages through trash and tears down the bird feeders.

 

[TommyGunn]

"Nuke it from orbit; it's the only way to be sure."

Don't they make irritant sprays against bears?
It might be worth a try -- uh, backed up with a suitably powerful gun. There's no reason to play Mr. Nice Guy if the bear gets p'o'd and thinks you're the food.

 

[Charlie Petty]

I still think my idea is best... but #8s followed by many rounds of 00 would be second choice.

 

[WaltGraham]

Don't they make irritant sprays against bears?

Don't plan to get that close, I lack the catlike speed of my younger years.

But props on the quote from one of my favorite movies...

 

[WaltGraham]

I still think my idea is best... but #8s followed by many rounds of 00 would be second choice.

And former LEO\FMO Steve Hunter Buck precisely concurs and says 9 times out of 10 the critter will haul arse after being peppered.

9 times out of 10...

 

[bearcat6]

A guy up here shot a black bear that was in his trash with a pellet gun. Killed the bruin, there was never any word where it was hit. The last I heard they were going to prosecute the guy. I doubt that he thought he would kill it.

 

[stand watie]

Charie Petty,

as usual, you posted the CORRECT TACTIC = give the gentleman both ears & the tail!!!!!

yours, sw

 

[Skeptic49]

Be careful. Very careful. The bunny huggers have put so many restrictions you might end up with a felony rap.

Geoff
Who notes the eco-disaster around the parks of NE Ohio's Emerald Necklace as out of control deer populations went looking for food.

 

[William R. Moore]

A guy up here shot a black bear that was in his trash with a pellet gun. Killed the bruin, there was never any word where it was hit.

When someone finds out, please post. We ALL need to write that spot down!

 

[IrishCop]

When someone finds out, please post. We ALL need to write that spot down!

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

And on a more serious note...Walt, any idea of the sex of the bruin? Any possibility of cubs around? That might change things considerable.

 

[WaltGraham]

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

And on a more serious note...Walt, any idea of the sex of the bruin? Any possibility of cubs around? That might change things considerable.

No idea on the sex of the beast and no cubs were observed. I'm kind of working with second hand intel here.

 

[ExSarge]

Guy and his kid shot one that was walking down the middle of a street in a development up here. He said he "thought the gun was loaded with rubber buckshot". Last I heard was that the game commission was going to prosecute them. Bear wasn't bothering them or anything but considering that they were new cityfolk who had just moved into the area, I can understand their stupidity. I've had them walk through my back yard and up and down my driveway many, many times over the thirty years I lived here.

 

[stand watie]

to all,

just a mild warning: When visiting or living in "bear country" be cautious about "available food" that may attract bears. - MANY "suburban" bears have evidently lost their fear of humans!

according to one "news forum" that i belong to, there have been TWO cases of "blackies" entering HOUSES in the last week in western MD.

in one of the cases a fellow out in the country from ACCIDENT, MD had "propped the door open while unloading groceries" & on one of several "trips" into the house he found a large bear in the KITCHEN.

in the other case, a person identified as a "school custodian" arrived home at about 5 PM & found the front door "broken open". the homeowner called 911 & the deputies, upon arrival, found "evidence" that the "burglar" was a large bear.

i would think that gives new meaning to: GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER!

yours, sw

 

[Skeptic49]

Well, I've see black bear in the park just south of here. Kinda makes you wanna replace you lower windows with glass block and you doors with steel security doors.

Geoff
Who notes the doors here won't stop bear, but the .308 will, maybe it's time for the rifle rack over the fireplace again...of course this is a modern house without a fireplace.

 

[Kevin Gibson]

I’ve had some experience with black bears, even been in an up-close and personal fight with one. Fortunately black bears are very skittish, your presence is typically enough to scare them away. Next, just fire a shot in the hopes that the noise will scare him, often will. Then there’s the “shreek patron” which are usually available in most states. These were invented for waterfowl hunting to scare flocks down into gun range, but they turned out to be fantastic for bears. It’s kinda like a bottle rocket in a 12ga shell, it flies a certain distance and the blows up making a flash and a loud bang. Shoot in the direction of, but not at the bear and it will scare the living crap out of him and he’ll leave.

But eventually you need to deal with the issue that’s bringing the bear there. There needs to be some deterrence for the bear, and a guy responding with a shotgun is a really bad way to deal with a bear. As soon as he thinks you’re no longer there with the shotgun, he’ll come back. Eventually you and everyone else has to sleep. As a former bodyguard, I can tell you the mantra by in securing both my home and the homes of my clients is most certainly applicable here…3D’s and 1R

Deter
Detect
Delay
Respond

If you do those four, you can probably seriously discourage the bear for good. A large dog that barks aggressively is 99% of the time more than enough for the bear to seek out an easier meal. The right dog can be 3D’s and 1R all by itself. But as it is now, it sounds like the bunnies ARE the easy meal. Gots to make them much less easy.