Alaskans can keep bears wild with electric fencing

A mother bear known as 482 walks with spring cubs by the Brooks River in Katmai National Park and Preserve on Sept. 6, 2021. (Photo by L. Law/National Park Service)

When bears wake up from hibernation, they’re hungry. Unfortunately, garbage, gardens and other smelly items are attractants that entice bears to wander into communities or properties, which may lead to human-bear conflict and ultimately, the bear’s death. The best way to avoid this is to adopt methods that keep the bears out. 

Defenders of Wildlife created its Electric Fence Incentive Program to help do just that.

Brown and black bears are lured into communities by potential food sources that are left unprotected. When bears can easily access these attractants, they are likely to return to seek out food from our communities instead of their natural food sources, which can lead to both health problems and human-bear conflict.  

Bears that are repeatedly reported within a community are often euthanized to prevent future conflict and protect human safety. Euthanasia, however, does nothing to address the root cause of the conflict — attractants.   

Bears are highly intelligent animals with a great capacity for learning and problem-solving.  

Just as bears can learn to associate human communities with an easy meal, they can unlearn this behavior and return to their natural diets. But the key to that transition is to change human behavior.  

Electric fences are a non-lethal, effective way to keep bears out of attractants. This tool prevents bears from associating human spaces with easily available food. Installing electric fences around chicken coops, gardens, livestock, beehives, garbage, composts and other potential attractants reduces conflict with bears and can help keep bears safe and healthy.  

Residents and landowners are eligible for Defenders of Wildlife’s Electric Fence Incentive Program, a reimbursement program designed to help residents protect property and reduce conflict with bears. Defenders will help you obtain and install an electric fence to keep bears out of garbage, gardens, chicken coops, beehives and other attractants. Defenders will also reimburse 50% of the total cost up to $500. 

Defenders of Wildlife’s Electric Fence Incentive Program has reimbursed Alaskans for their electric fences since 2019. The incentive program began on the Kenai Peninsula and expanded to Southeast Alaska in 2022. It is one of several initiatives by Defenders and its partners to reduce human conflict with brown and black bears. Other projects include bear-resistant trash cans through a partnership with Resurrection Bay Conservation Alliance  and food storage lockers in high bear- and human-use areas.   

Help keep bears and communities safe this season by limiting attractants.

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