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Increase in Backyard Chickens Leads to More Bears Being ShotFour have been shot by farmers defending their coopsRelated Content
ANCHORAGE - The number of bears killed in defense of life or property has risen to 16 this summer in the Anchorage bowl. Some bears were shot for getting into garbage or getting too close to people. But a surprising number of bears have been killed for coming too close to backyard chickens. The number of people keeping chickens at home has risen dramatically since the Anchorage Assembly lifted a ban on backyard birds last year. Most people say they enjoy the fresh eggs and knowing what their chickens are eating. But while there are definitely pleasures associated with the birds, there are also problems. And a big one is attracting bears. “I don't think a day goes by without somebody I know saying, ‘I got chickens,’” says Fish and Game biologist Jessy Coltrane. But Coltrane says urban chicken farmers have made her job harder. Just this summer four bears have been shot legally by homeowners defending their coops. “Most people that I've talked to who have killed bears who have gotten into their chickens are very remorseful about it and they want to know what to do to solve the problem,” says Cotrane. “So what I'd really like to see is people being proactive and solving the problem before they have one.” Coltrane’s idea of solving the problem is with electric fencing, and not just any electric fence. Coltrane recommends at least four and preferably five electrified lines to keep bears out and chickens in. “If you take the correct precautions with the correct type of electric fencing and maintain that electric fencing then you shouldn't have to kill bears getting near chickens.” Coltrane says it is legal in defense of life and property to shoot bears bothering chickens since they are technically considered “property.” But she points out homeowners have an obligation to try every non-lethal means first. She says a good electric fence is the best non-lethal method she knows. |
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Anonymous said on Wednesday, Aug 22 at 12:02 AM
Seems to me the whole thing is cleaning up some nuisance bears, and we need to. Yes, electrify and be a responsible landowner, but also, yes, clean some bears out by any means necessary.
99675255Tom said on Monday, Aug 20 at 10:24 PM
Yeah right bear and humans can not live in the same area, bull! Worried about your kids teach them how to be around a bear. Scare the bear out of the area. They are there because humans offer them scobbie snacks like chickens garbage and lil children. Bears, esp black bears have never and will never eat a child, kill one maybe but never eat them. Humans are the problem not the bears.
99586795Bob said on Monday, Aug 20 at 8:20 PM
jbird said it right! Alaska has plenty of bears and too many that want to come to town for their easy meals. Culling city bears makes perfect sense and may save someone from being mauled. If you want to watch bears, there are lots of places that can easily be done outside of the city. Fish and Game works hard to keep the bear population within reasonable levels in most areas of the State but seem to want to over-protect them in town.
99582846NUMNUMNUM said on Monday, Aug 20 at 12:59 PM
My sister inlaw eats 18 eggs a day.............. It would be nice to supplement that with bear meat.....
99560396tom said on Monday, Aug 20 at 11:05 AM
use a 20 guage shot gun and bird shot, hit the bear in a non vital place they will get the message that it is not OK to ber around the chicken coup!
99552675jbird said on Monday, Aug 20 at 9:55 AM
I think culling a few bears in the bowl is a good idea before some kid gets eaten. There is plenty of area in Alaska for bears, our backyards the right area.
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