Electrifying Liard River Hot Springs
History of Conflict Although the source of the springs is natural, the pools were built during the construction of the Alaska Highway during World War II. The location is an extremely remote section of the road and is surrounded by undisturbed wilderness. The geothermal-supported microclimate is vibrant and the valley is extremely productive for black bears and other wildlife. Bears have even been observed to soak in the hot pools themselves. The hot pools are the second largest in Canada and are the only major attraction for hundreds of miles so many travelers on the Alaska Highway stop for a soak or to camp. The combination of concentrated bear population and non-natural attractants made this a heavy conflict zone. Unfortunately, this deadly combination resulted in two human fatalities in 1997. Partially as a result of this history, lethal control was often used as a primary mitigation strategy for human-bear conflict. Construction This site featured challenges beyond most electric fencing projects and was one of the most involved electric fence construction projects completed. A small specialist team was able to solve these issues- proving that electric fencing is a practical solution at even the most challenging sites. Site Size The total fence line was surveyed at 1600 meters. This is a moderately large electric fence in total distance. Adding substantial grounding and breaking the fence into two separately energized sections ensured an effective shock would be delivered at any spot on the fence. Vehicle Access A fence must simultaneously exclude animals while allowing easy human access. The requirement for easy and frequent vehicle access demanded a more user-friendly solution than a simple gate. A custom-designed electrified wildlife guard (similar to a cattle- guard) was designed and installed to allow un-restricted vehicle access while excluding animals. Fence Line Selection The fence was constructed around the perimeter of the park facilities, camping, and day-use areas, with all visitor parking contained within the fence. As the campground was already constructed, there was little room between the camping pads and the wetland area which is the Department of Fisheries designated critical habitat for endemic snails. Precision surveying, fencing preparation, and 31 direction changes along the fence line allowed construction within these constraints. Fence Line Preparation Much of the fence line was located in heavily forested areas. It is important that a fence line is prepared both for construction as well As for ongoing monitoring. Wildlife should have a chance to clearly see a fence through a cleared area rather than bumping into a fence in the midst of heavy forest. We used an industrial mulcher to clear the right-of-way, which also helps in suppressing vegetative regrowth. As the area has had indigenous use, an archaeologist supervised construction and identified a number of culturally modified trees. Visual Impact on park Guests Electric fencing can be intimidating for anyone who is not experienced in dealing with them. The fence was designed to remain visually appealing while also including necessary signage to ensure proper use of the fencing system. The fencing around the picnic site was made out of wood rail material with electric fence outrigging to maintain park aesthetics in the most visible areas of the fence line. News stories from the fatal Liard River Hot Springs bear attacks in 1997 (left) Map of the electric fence erected by Margo Supplies, photo of vehicle drive-over gate and pedestrian gate (right). For More Information on the Liard River Hot Springs project, click the link below:
Using Electric Fencing to Manage Bear Conflict
Bear conflict, in large, is driven by food in Alberta. Margo Supplies Heavy Duty fence is the tool of choice for homeowners, hobby farms, and industry professionals. The Heavy Duty fence is a multi-functional carnivore fence that can be a standalone fence system or can be installed on an existing fence. http://vimeo.com/video/631000796?h=8d541b7de8 Jay Honeyman is a bear conflict biologist with Alberta Environment and Parks. His job is large carnivore conflict mitigation and with that, he often deals with human-bear conflict. Jay explains the nature of these conflicts, and how installing a simple electric fence can protect high-value food sources from bears. From hobby farms to industry professionals, the benefits of electric fencing can be easily understood after speaking with Honeyman. “By reducing conflict and reducing these attractants so that bears aren’t interested in coming onto people’s properties. We’re not having to euthanize bears, we’re not having to relocate bears, we’re not having property damage for the landowner, and we’re not having public safety issues with bears hanging around properties.” – Honeyman, 2021 Electric Fencing is an integral component for managing conflicts with bears, especially when bears are motivated to an area. Once a bear gets a food reward they become quite driven and they will return to the area. Electric fencing breaks this reward cycle and tells the bear that they need to move on. “By removing the food source, it’s a win-win for everyone, and it’s something we should be doing more of”
Protect Yourself and Wildlife with Portable Electric Bear Fencing
You open the flap on your tent and gaze at the vista before you. The Alaskan coastal estuary stretches before you bathed in greens and golds in the morning light. Beyond, the pine forest extends up the slopes of the coastal mountains, turning into the blues and whites of the high alpine slopes, their upper reaches permanently capped in snow. In the foreground, you notice a dark shape moving silently through the reeds – a Grizzly Bear slowly making its way toward your camp. Bears are a symbol of the freedom and majesty of the wilderness, but it also reminds us of the dangers lurking in the wild places we love. Those who have awoken in the night to the sounds of huffing and snorting outside their tent know the feeling of true terror. Sometimes we imagine these sounds, but other times they are indeed signs of an inquisitive bear inspecting your camp. Armed with the proper equipment and knowledge you can sleep safely and still observe these majestic animals. A bear that enters a camp and is positively rewarded with human food will likely continue to seek out human settlements in search of more. Bears are intelligent and curious animals, as well as opportunistic feeders with a strong sense of smell. They will often inspect human camps, and may even rummage inside looking for last night’s dinner leftovers. Unfortunately, a 1,500-pound Kodiak Grizzly Bear can do a lot of damage to a camp, or even threaten its human inhabitants. A bear that enters a camp and is positively rewarded with human food will likely continue to seek out human settlements in search of more. These bears quickly lose their fear of humans and become a danger to themselves and people. The opposite is also true; by protecting a camp bears learn to associate human settlement negatively and avoid them. By taking a few simple steps, we can protect our camp and sleep easily after a long day in the wilderness. Luckily, by taking a few simple steps, we can protect our camp and sleep easily after a long day in the wilderness. Portable electric bear fences are highly effective at preventing bears from entering your camps, both at night and when you are off exploring during the day. Electric fencing works by delivering a painful, but harmless shock to inquisitive bears. The short burst of low amperage, high voltage electricity sends bears fleeing from the area. The fence is safe for both animals and humans. Our most portable electric fence, the Electra-Netting can be set-up in as little as 30 minutes. Electric Bear Fences are versatile and can be used to protect camps, cook areas, fish gutting stations, cabins, meat caches, and smoke houses. These affordable and effective products can be the difference between a successful stay in the wilderness or a terrifying encounter with one of North America’s largest land predators. Eliminate worry by securing your camp today. You’ll also be doing your part to keep bears wild and ensure that you will enjoy their presence for years to come. Shop Electra Netting Bear Fence Kits
