Problems With Bears & Beehives in North Carolina

Background

With more than 10,000 beekeepers and more bee hives than any other state, North Carolina is one of the top beekeeping states in the country, according to N.C. State University. Each year, North Carolina beekeepers' honey bees produce 5-6 million pounds of honey, valued at approximately $10 million. Additionally, honey bees contribute another estimated $70 million to the state's agricultural economy through pollination of other crops. Black bears, or Ursus Americanus, are the only bear species to live in North Carolina or any other part of the eastern United States. Approximately 11,000 bears live in the state of North Carolina, occupying 50 percent of the state's lands, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources commission.

If bears and beehives exist in the same area, bears might raid hives. One visit from a bear can cause an economic loss to the beekeeper, including the cost of the hive and the bee colony --- at least $175 per hive --- as well as the lost income from honey sales). Once a bear has been rewarded with honey for raiding beehives, the likelihood is high that it will return again, according to the Watuga County Cooperative Extension Service. Any individuals raising livestock, including bees, in North Carolina are legally permitted to kill black bears preying on the livestock, so the bears themselves are put at risk when they raid beehives. A danger to bears and humans is present anytime bears are attracted to human activities, including beekeeping.

Beekeepers keep beehives in every county in North Carolina in areas ranging from urban to rural. The majority of North Carolina's bear population lives in the western mountains or the coastal regions, so these are the areas where bears are most likely to raid beehives. Bear occurrences are infrequent in the central Piedmont region of the state.

Deterrence offers the best solution to bears damaging bee hives. Bee keepers can erect electric fences to help prevent bears from getting into hives. The fences must provide a strong shock of at least 4,000-5,000 volts to effectively deter the large animals. Fences must be well grounded and well maintained to effectively protect beehives. Another option is to place hives out or bears' reach. Bee keepers can build tall platforms for their hives or place hives on top of buildings.