| Popis: |
The New York State black bear (Ursus americanus) population, approximately 4,000 animals (Clarke 1977), causes damage to apiaries in the catskill, Adirondack, and Southern Tier regions of the state. During 1987, 1988, and 1989, USDA Animal Damage Control (ADC) administered a program in New York to control bear damage to apiaries. Control activities were carried out pursuant to a Cooperative Agreement between ADC and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, and were supported by matching Federal-State contributions. Program objectives were beekeeper education aimed at preventing bear damage and for the construction of demonstration temporary electric fences. During 1987, an 8-wire, low-tension fence of 12.5 gauge wire used in conjunction with a high-voltage, low-impedence New Zealand energizer was constructed around an apiary in Clinton County. In 1988, two fences were built in Steuben County: an 8-wire, low-tension fence of 14 gauge stainless steel braided cable used with a 110 volt energizer connected to a nearby utility pole, and a 3-strand polytape fence used with a solar-charged 6-volt energizer. In early 1989, a 42-inch high polywire mesh fence, used with a solar 6-volt energizer, was installed at another Steuben County site. The polytape fence is considered the most desirable because of effectiveness, relative low cost, portability, ease of installation, and compatibility with the polar 6-volt energizer. |
