# How to discourage a bear. (Need answer fast!) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 17, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-discourage-a-bear-need-answer-fast/628533 "2012-07-17T16:28:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-discourage-a-bear-need-answer-fast/628533/21 "2012-07-17T18:00:34Z")
> [@Testy](#): > > **enipla** > > Great idea. Mothballs are cheap and easy and with luck the bear will dislike the smell as much as I do. I don’t mind shooting rifles around the chickens. For some reason it doesn’t seem to bother them that much. At least small caliber rifles. Don’t know about shotguns or really large rifles. > > Thanks again > > Testy I was thinking that the mothballs would not be good for the chickens. Not the rifle report. Though it did sort of read the other way around. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-discourage-a-bear-need-answer-fast/628533/22 "2012-07-17T18:11:03Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I was thinking that the mothballs would not be good for the chickens. Not the rifle report. Though it did sort of read the other way around. Good luck. **enipla** OK, gotcha. I hadn’t thought about that aspect of things. Those beasts will try to eat just about anything. Thanks Testy ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-discourage-a-bear-need-answer-fast/628533/23 "2012-07-17T18:14:02Z")
I would nuke it from orbit. Its the only way to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-discourage-a-bear-need-answer-fast/628533/24 "2012-07-17T18:58:33Z")
Just tell him that you’re straight. That always works for me… ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-discourage-a-bear-need-answer-fast/628533/25 "2012-07-17T19:10:51Z")
Pound a bunch of nails into half inch plywood boards so they are sticking out the other side. Place the boards around the chicken coop, like a big wide spike strip. If it starts getting into your garbage: Secure a garbage can on its side and wire a can of bear spray into to it. Use a small piece of plywood and some fishing line as a trigger for the bear spray. Make sure the bear has to crawl into the can pretty deep before it goes off. Check out the legality of this stuff before you start bragging to Fish & Game ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-discourage-a-bear-need-answer-fast/628533/26 "2012-07-17T19:16:02Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > Pound a bunch of nails into half inch plywood boards so they are sticking out the other side. Place the boards around the chicken coop, like a big wide spike strip. > > If it starts getting into your garbage: > Secure a garbage can on its side and wire a can of bear spray into to it. Use a small piece of plywood and some fishing line as a trigger for the bear spray. Make sure the bear has to crawl into the can pretty deep before it goes off. > > Check out the legality of this stuff before you start bragging to Fish & Game **stitchesis** The bear spray in a garbage can sounds do-able. I would rather not say anything at all to the fish and game people if I don’t have to. I’m not so sure about the nails though. A wounded bear might be a bad thing to have around. Around here, I think a lot of people just use the “shoot-shovel-and shut up” method of dealing with bears and the like. I’d hate to get the guy killed over some chickens though. Thanks Testy ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-discourage-a-bear-need-answer-fast/628533/27 "2012-07-17T19:26:39Z")
I remember my grandfather curing his chicken killing dog with one (long) lesson. He took the dead chicken from the dog and wired it around his neck with baling wire. The dog so hated the rotting chicken around his neck that he retired from killing chickens after a few weeks. Not sure if that would work with a bear 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-discourage-a-bear-need-answer-fast/628533/28 "2012-07-17T19:28:39Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > I remember my grandfather curing his chicken killing dog with one (long) lesson. He took the dead chicken from the dog and wired it around his neck with baling wire. The dog so hated the rotting chicken around his neck that he retired from killing chickens after a few weeks. > > Not sure if that would work with a bear 😃 **jasg** I think it would be great except for the wiring part.😛 Regards Testy ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-discourage-a-bear-need-answer-fast/628533/29 "2012-07-17T19:30:09Z")
The nail boards don’t really hurt them in the sense of giving them puncture wounds. They just make for an impossible place to stand while tearing apart other things. We use 4x8 sheets under all the windows and in front of all the doors of our field camps. The bears can’t bash in the windows and clime in because they simply can’t stand underneath the windows. I’d imagine it would be the same for the chicken coop. ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-discourage-a-bear-need-answer-fast/628533/30 "2012-07-17T19:34:31Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > The nail boards don’t really hurt them in the sense of giving them puncture wounds. They just make for an impossible place to stand while tearing apart other things. We use 4x8 sheets under all the windows and in front of all the doors of our field camps. The bears can’t bash in the windows and clime in because they simply can’t stand underneath the windows. I’d imagine it would be the same for the chicken coop. **stitchensis** Ahhh, got ya. I was thinking more along the lines of punji stakes and was worried about the potential fall out from that. Good idea. Thanks Testy ---
**Author:** ![Perderabo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Perderabo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perderabo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-discourage-a-bear-need-answer-fast/628533/31 "2012-07-17T19:37:55Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > The dog so hated the rotting chicken around his neck that he retired from killing chickens after a few weeks. “a few weeks”?? So the dog spent a couple of weeks more killing chickens… with a dead chicken wired to his neck the whole time? Slow learner. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-discourage-a-bear-need-answer-fast/628533/32 "2012-07-17T21:14:16Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > The nail boards don’t really hurt them in the sense of giving them puncture wounds. They just make for an impossible place to stand while tearing apart other things. We use 4x8 sheets under all the windows and in front of all the doors of our field camps. The bears can’t bash in the windows and clime in because they simply can’t stand underneath the windows. I’d imagine it would be the same for the chicken coop. Bears don’t know what a door or window is. They just go through wherever they feel like it: door, wall, whatever. If your wall is not made of logs, it’s not likely to stop a bear that is after food. This has happened at my brother’s cabin on several occasions. Those are grizzlies, however, and they pretty much ignored the bear boards; just walked over them and tore a hole in the wall to walk through. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-discourage-a-bear-need-answer-fast/628533/33 "2012-07-17T21:20:45Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I was thinking that the mothballs would not be good for the chickens. We used to have a problem with rabbits in the garden, so we scattered some mothballs around. They did keep the rabbits away. Then we noticed that birds would come around and preen themselves with the mothballs, apparently to get rid of insects in their feathers. Don’t know whether chickens would do this too. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-discourage-a-bear-need-answer-fast/628533/34 "2012-07-17T21:54:39Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Bears don’t know what a door or window is. They just go through wherever they feel like it: door, wall, whatever. If your wall is not made of logs, it’s not likely to stop a bear that is after food. This has happened at my brother’s cabin on several occasions. Those are grizzlies, however, and they pretty much ignored the bear boards; just walked over them and tore a hole in the wall to walk through. Grizzlies don’t care! ---
**Author:** ![StrangerThanFiction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@StrangerThanFiction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrangerThanFiction)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-discourage-a-bear-need-answer-fast/628533/35 "2012-07-17T22:43:54Z")
> [@Astroboy14](#): > > Just tell him that you’re straight. That always works for me… _golf clap_ ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-discourage-a-bear-need-answer-fast/628533/36 "2012-07-17T23:35:41Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Grizzlies don’t care! One only cared about the food: he only chewed open cans with meat in them. Then he took a huge dump on the kitchen floor and exited through a new hole in the wall. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-discourage-a-bear-need-answer-fast/628533/37 "2012-07-18T00:45:44Z")
> [@StrangerThanFiction](#): > > _golf clap_ A golf clap certainly won’t scare a bear! ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-discourage-a-bear-need-answer-fast/628533/38 "2012-07-18T04:01:41Z")
You need to get[some twinks](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Capital_Gay_Pride_parade_in_Albany_New_York_2009.jpg). Natural enemy of the bear. Sure they might get along at first, but eventually the twink will say something catty about the bear’s fashion choices, and horseplay will turn to tears. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-discourage-a-bear-need-answer-fast/628533/39 "2012-07-18T04:05:05Z")
A related question – and this may be good for the OP in case a bear still comes around – is how to escape one. I have heard that one should run downhill, as the bear’s shorter front legs will impede him to some degree. But that may be entirely bogus. Anyone know if this is true? ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-discourage-a-bear-need-answer-fast/628533/40 "2012-07-18T05:43:35Z")
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