SEQUIM — A Sequim-area beekeeper has installed an electric fence to keep a hungry bear from destroying any more of his hives off Hooker Road southwest of the city.
Bob Pasco discovered that a black bear had demolished one hive as it rummaged for honey Friday.
He noticed the bear lurking in the woods as he snapped photos of the broken frames.
“He’s pretty heathy,” Pasco said of the bruin. “He pulled [the hive] off the stand and started going through it.”
After finding another one of his six hives damaged Sunday, Pasco baited an electric fence with aluminum foil and peanut butter in hopes of dissuading the bear from coming back for more honey.
All told, the bear destroyed 10 frames from two hives. It killed or displaced thousands of bees, which can’t fly when it gets cold.
“He just tore the frames apart on both of them and licked honey off both frames,” Pasco said.
“The bees are the expensive part. He killed one hive. They were absolutely wiped out.”
Pasco, who has kept bees for five years, never had a problem with bears
before Friday.
“It happened to another fellow in the bee club,” he added. “He lives on Mount Angeles Road.”
Pasco, president of the North Olympic Peninsula Beekeepers, did not report the bear to state Fish and Wildlife officials.
“We had a situation up in Port Angeles about six months ago where some bears were going into hives, and an electric fence took care of that,” said Klaus Hintermayr, past president of the beekeepers association.
When asked if his electric fence was effective, Pasco said: “I’ll let you know a couple days.
“I hope so,” he said.
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
