|
|
|
|
Bears at Your Crops or Livestock Pens
| |
While
some bears in western states may prey on livestock, there have been no reports
of livestock depredation by the Louisiana black bear in recent history. Bears
will enter livestock enclosures to feed on livestock food and several complaints
have been received in Louisiana where bears were in hog or goat pens, eating
feed and excluding the livestock from the feeders.
As the bear population
expands into new areas, however, owners of crops and livestock in or close to
occupied bear habitat should employ preventative measures to exclude or minimize
the potential for bear damage. Crops and livestock should be inspected
frequently so that any damage can be discovered quickly, and preventive control
measures can be implemented.
Gardens, small fields and pastures should be
protected with bear-resistant fences if bear damage is anticipated. Farmers
should harvest crops as quickly as possible and consider planting crops that are
not attractive to bears.
There are several alternatives to control bear damage to crops and livestock.
Intensive herding practices can lessen the chance that bears will prey on
livestock. Carcasses of dead animals should be hauled to an approved landfill or
destroyed by deep burial or incineration to prevent bears from scavenging near
susceptible livestock.
Fields or pastures susceptible to bear damage can employ gas exploders,
noise-making pyrotechnics, strobe lights, electronic sirens and noise
generators, or scarecrows to temporarily repel bears. Long-term and repetitious
use of these devices, however, may render them ineffective.
Livestock guardian
dogs (LGD’s) such as Anatolian Shepherds or Great Pyrenees are becoming more
popular with goat, sheep, and chicken farmers, mostly as a deterrent to fox,
coyote, and feral dog depredation. But the LGD’s should also be effective in
dissuading bears from investigating the livestock area.
If damage
occurs, USDA Wildlife Services or the state wildlife agency should be contacted
for further control strategies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|