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ako1974

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
I saw a couple old threads here asking if bears eat figs, and I'm sure they would if they're hungry. Had one on my property yesterday evening. The bear didn't seem overly interested in eating or finding food, he/she seemed to be wandering or maybe searching for cubs or something. Anyway, I can't begin to think it didn't smell my beehives - they're producing some nice honey right now inside an electric fence baited with gross, moldy bacon - maybe just making a mental note for an autumn smorgasbord? Hope not. But I'm guessing no one has had trouble with bears and fruit trees of any sort? Probably more deer, birds, squirrels? My figs are just starting to fruit now - no brebas...
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Arne
Zone 6a - NJ
Hoosierguy86

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
I can picture a bear walking through your yard with its shopping list.
Figs. Check
Bacon. Check.
Honey. Check

Bacon wrapped figs drizzled in honey!
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Scott N. Indiana 5b/6a
drphil69

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ako1974
I saw a couple old threads here asking if bears eat figs, and I'm sure they would if they're hungry. Had one on my property yesterday evening. The bear didn't seem overly interested in eating or finding food, he/she seemed to be wandering or maybe searching for cubs or something. Anyway, I can't begin to think it didn't smell my beehives - they're producing some nice honey right now inside an electric fence baited with gross, moldy bacon - maybe just making a mental note for an autumn smorgasbord? Hope not. But I'm guessing no one has had trouble with bears and fruit trees of any sort? Probably more deer, birds, squirrels? My figs are just starting to fruit now - no brebas...


is the bacon to attract bees? Or bears?
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Phil - Zone 7A - Newark, DE Newbie fig lover just trying to learn.
Womack

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
A bear will definitely be attracted to ripe figs and if they go after them would do major damage to the limbs. They are not gentle
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Womack
Northwest Georgia 7b
Wish list: Col de Dame Gris, Black Tuscan, Socorro Black
ako1974

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Sounds stupid, but the bacon is used to bait the bears. Since a bear will pretty much push through an electric fence with no problem (or at least the kind I'm using), the bacon encourages them to get their mouths and snouts on the wire so the shock is delivered somewhere tender. It's meant to "train" them to stay away and I guess it's pretty effective.
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Arne
Zone 6a - NJ
mgginva

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
I live in an area with a very high concentration of bears. They can be a problem. Electric fencing, dogs and rubber buck shot are the most popular remedies. Most folks only loose the bird feeders that they've left out over night. I have stopped putting bird feeders out in the spring because the bears will do whatever it takes to get to the bird seed.

As bears wake up during a time when there is very little for them to eat they can become very bold. This year we have a huge one (450 to 500 pounds according to the Game Warden) roaming the area and he's already killed at least two fawns. A bear (perhaps this one or the sow spotted 2 days ago) did come by and knock over some of my figs in 15 gallon pots. There was very little damage done, but if the trees had had ripe figs on them it would have been a different story. 15 years ago I had several orchards on my farm and one night a bear climbed the fence and got into my heirloom apple orchard. He broke trees bending them to get to fruit he couldn't reach and was very rough on the trees he didn't break. He also bit one of my Australian Shepherds and she was very lucky to escape with just a bloody hind end (she got 21 stitches).

As a general rule bears are afraid of people and are rarely even seen. I go out every night at 2 or 3 to let the dog pee and to check on my plants. When I know there's been a bear roaming the area I do take steps to protect myself - just in case. The game warden recommends either rubber buck shot or #9 birdshot but I figure if he's agressive enough that I need to shoot at him I'm going to just go back inside. Bear attacks are very rare, but I'd rather not add one to my list of experiences.

As an agricultural pest bears aren't very important as things like crows and squirrels can do more and more consistent damage, but bears are much more scary so we tend to exaggerate everything they do. That being said I would not want a bear to learn what ripe figs are and learn where to find them as they are hard to stop once they decide they want to do something like eat your figs.
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Michael in Virginia (zone 7a) Wish list:   Perretta, 
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