Prevent Damage to Beehives with an Energized Fence - files
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Prevent Damage to Beehives with an
Energized Fence
A beekeeper's guide to developing a cost-effective,
energized fence to protect beehives from black bears.
~E
electrical grounding system, 3. • Energizers may be attached to
proper wire and post spacing. and the outside of a hive or hidden
each year, the Minne-
4, monitor ing of fence status with in a false h ive. Some D-cell
sota Departme nt of
a vo lt met er. chargers may be hung direct ly
Natural Resou rces
from the fence wire.
(D NR) receives complaints
1. Energizer
from beekeepers whose bee-
• A high vo ltage , low impedance • Batteries must be insulated
hives have been damaged by
energizer delivers a short from the ground.
black bear!.. Kill ing bears that
(.0003 secon d ), painful, but
cause damage does not pro- • The fence must always be
safe shock to bears. The short
tect the beekeeper from energized. The energizer and
pulse will not set fire to grass
financial loss nor does it grounding system should be
contacting the wires, nor will it
prevent subsequent losses installed and operational prior
injure humans or animal s.
from other bears. By contrast, to installing posts and wire. All
energized fence designs have fe nce wi r es should be ener·
been tested and proven effec- g i zed.
tive in preventing bear damage
to beehives. Energized fences • Coated underground cable
should be considered for may be buried as a lead out
protection of all beehives in wire from the energizer t o the
areas that have the potential fence and from the energizer
for bear damage. to the ground rods.
• Remember, the shocking
power of the fence deters the
Fence Design bear. The posts and wires are
A basic fence design is the delivery system: it is not a
shown in the illustration on physical barrier, and will not
page 3. The four critical com- • Energizers may be powered by be effective unless It is con-
ponents to an effective ener· a 6 or 12·volt battery, D-cell stantlyenergized.
alkaline batteries, or II O·volt
gized fence are: I. a high
AC current. 2. Grounding
voltage. low impedance ener-
gizer capable of delivering a • Use a minimum of three 6 foot
• Deep cycle marine or gell cell
minimum of 4,000 volts under ground rods. Additional or
batteries are recommended
all conditions, 2. an adequate longer ground rods may be
for 12-volt energizers.
necessary on sandy soils or treated wood or 7 to B-foot Maintenance
during dry conditions. Ground long, 1 1/ 4-inch diameter Monitor voltage weekly.
rods should be driven into the fiberglass rod. Place the wide Charge or change batteries as
ground so that approximately end of the wooden post Into required. usually every 3 to 4
3 inches remain above the the ground. Angle corner pOSts weeks. Some energizers may
surface to attach the cable slightly away from the corner. be equipped with solar panels
from the energizer. In light or sandy Sail, longer to recharge the battery. Veg-
corner posts or an anchor post etation must not contact the
• Ground rods should be galva- may be necessary. You will fence. Mowing, weed whip-
nized steel ; avoid copper. need about 4 feet of post ping. herbicides or soil ster-
above the ground. ilants may be used to control
• Ground rods should be placed vegetation on an 18-inch wide
10 feet apart. • Use high density plastic or strip under the fence. Apply
porcelain insulators with herbicides according to label
3. Wire and Posts wooden corner posts. Avoid instructions.
• Fiberglass, plastic, or wooden wraparound and tube insula- Fences around beeyards
posts with insulators are
tors. that have hives only in the
recommended. Steel posts with
summer should be taken down
insulators may leak voltage
4. Voltmeter dUTIng winter months to
and should not be used . • A voltmeter is critical for reduce wear. Corner posts may
monitoring voltage and for be left in the ground over
• Seventeen gauge, smooth steel
trouble shooting. Voltmeters winter. Ear tags used by cattle
wire, poly wire or light gauge
are available from energized farmers to control face flies
steel cable may be used. Many
fence manufaclUrers. may be placed in the energizer
growers prefer steel cable. Poly
to reduce ant nest building.
wire is not as durable as steel
With proper care, fences
wire or cable. Do not use
barbed wire.
Other Considerations should last 10 or more years.
Baiting the wire is not gener- For further details, trouble·
• Wire tension is adjusted by ally recommended. Baiting may shooting information. or if you
hand-pull i ng to tighten , and serve as an attractant where bears have questions contact your
held with knots on the end. have not been a problem. local DNR wildlife manager.
Spring-type gate handles also Spring loaded gate handles
serve to maintain tension. Use may serve as the entrance to the
small tension springs with beeyard. The width of the gate Safety
light gauge steel cable. may be customized to each Safety is a primary concern
operator's needs. Some operators when using energized fenCing
• Place in-line posts 10 feet may prefer more than one gate. As systems. The beekeeper is
apart. It is important to main· an alternative, all fence wires may responsible for protecting
tain the wire spaci ng shown in be attached to a single fiberglass others from injury. Use ener-
the illustration on page 3. or plastic rod so all wires may be gized fence warning signs and
opened simultaneously. an unaltered energizer, listed
• If skunks are an additional Locate hives at least 3 feet with a qualified electrical
problem, an extra energized inside the wires. If hives are close testing laboratory, to protect
wire may be added 4 inches to the wire, a bear may reach yourself and others. Always
above the ground. through and tip the hive over. follow the manufacturer safety
Locate the hives away from recommendations.
• Corner posts may be 8·foot
over hanging trees and large
long, 4·inch diameter, pressure
branches.
Illustration of Energized Fence- Modified New York Design
(not to scale)
Porcelain InSulators
'P' Springs are
are ·wlre tied"
used to matlnain to the corner posts. l.,....\-.
wire tension
when uSing galvan-
cable.
~I
ri
r
r'
PVC pipe fits
"
Slake over stake.
Wire loop on I
pOst holds
PVC pipe
-----\Jtud,ods--- Energizer and grounding
,n place. system location art
determined by Slit
conditions. Shown in front
Spring type gale handles for damy only. They can
can also be used for be hidden in a modified
Individual wires. hive,
Materials List for Energi zed Fence - Modified New York Design
(See illu s tra tion a bove)
Materials list and price estimate (2003) for a 20' by 30' energized enclosure to exclude bear:
Quantity Sou rce Des cription Unit Cost Tot a l Cos t
I G Energizer (at least.7 Joule) $1 \ 0.00 Sl10.00
3 G 6' galvanized ground rods with clamps 10.00 30.00
G Digital voltmeter 60.00 60.00
4 F 8' x 4" round treated posts 7.00 28.00
1/2 Ib, F Galvanized fence staples 0.50 0.50
125' F 12.5 or 14 gauge steel wire to attach
porcelain Ins ulators to wood posts 4.00
24 G Porcelain doughnu t insulators 0.30 7.20
As needed G 12.5 gauge insulated underground cable (6S') 24.00 24.00
8 F 3/8" x 48" fiberrod posts 0.80 4.80
48 F 3/8" post clips 0,25 9.00
4 G Fence warning signs 2.00 8.00
2 G Poly wire (655' roll) 16.00 32.00
F 3/4" x 36" stake 4,00 4.00
F , · 1/4" x 4" schedule 80 pvc 4,00 4.00
G MaxiShock steel cable (optional wire) 46.00 46 .00'
6 G "f>" springs (necessary with "Maxi5hock") 3,20 19.20'
Source: G·Ene rgi zed fence su pplie r F-Farm s uppl y s tore Es timated tota l cos t S32S.50
·optional wire and springs were not figured in total costFence Material Sources For more in forma ti o n ca ll:
(651) 296·61 57 (Metro Area)
UAP Great Lakes 1·888·646·6367 (MN TolI·free)
Kencove Farm Fence Supplies
POBox 143 Telecommunication Device for the Deaf
344 Kendall Road
101 South Chestnut (65 I) 296·5484 (Metro Area)
Blairsville, PA 15717·8707
laCresenl. MN 5S947 1·800·657·3929 (MN TolI·free)
(BOO) 536·2683
(SOl) 895·21 03 www,kencQve,(oro () CoPyri9ht 2003, State of Minnesota, Department
of Natural Resources.
Shepard's Hill Farm Midwest Fence
Dave Deutschlander 5201 St. Paul Rd. Equal opportunity to participate In and benefit from
Rt. 4, Box 43 Medford, MN 55049 programs of the Minnesota Department of Natural
Pine City, MN 55063 (507)4$1-8657 Resources is available to all individuals regardless of
(320) 629·2 744 race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex,
Eikmeier livestock Systems marital status, status with regard to public assis·
K·Fence Systems 48737 237th St. tance, age, sexual orientation or disability, Discrimi·
RI. 1 Box 195 Pipestone, MN 56164 nation inquiries should be sent to' MN/DNR, 500
Zumbro Falls, MN 55991 (605) 997·2022 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155·4049; or the
(507) 753·2943 Equal Opportunity Office, Department of the Interior,
www.kfence.com Waconia Farm Supply Washington, DC 20240.
801 S. Hwy. 284
Premier I Waconia, MN 55387 This information Is available in an alternative fo rm at
2031 300th St. (9S2) 442·2126 upon request.
Washington, IA 52353 (888) 741·3276
(SOD) 282·6631 www.waconjafarm.com listing of company names Is for the readers conve·
www.premierisupplies.com nience and Is nOI considered comprehensive. The
David Mciver State of Minnesota neither recommends nor en·
15624 340th Avenue dorses specific products or companies.
Farwell, MN 56372 f t Printed on recycled paper containing a
(320) 283·5776 " . , minimum of 10% post·consumer waste.
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