6 Best Bear Resistant Fencing For Apiaries That Old Beekeepers Swear By
Protect your apiary with time-tested fencing. Discover 6 top solutions, from high-tensile electric to permanent barriers, that veteran beekeepers swear by.
There’s no worse feeling than walking out to your bee yard to find a scene of total destruction. Splintered boxes, frames tossed aside like firewood, and the heartbreaking silence where a vibrant colony once buzzed is a sight no beekeeper wants to see. If you keep bees in bear country, a powerful electric fence isn’t a luxury; it’s a non-negotiable piece of equipment. The right fence is the only thing standing between your hard work and a bear’s insatiable appetite for brood and honey.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!
Understanding Bear Behavior at the Apiary
A bear doesn’t typically charge a fence like a runaway truck. They are surprisingly cautious and intelligent, often investigating a new obstacle with their sensitive, wet nose or by trying to push a paw underneath. This is exactly the behavior you want to use against them.
The entire purpose of an electric fence is education. You want the very first interaction to be so unpleasant, so shockingly memorable, that the bear decides your apiary is not worth a second try. The shock needs to be delivered to their nose, mouth, or pads—the most sensitive and least insulated parts of their body.
This means your fence design has to encourage that kind of investigation. Wires must be spaced to prevent a bear from climbing through or crawling under without getting zapped. It’s less about building an impenetrable wall and more about creating a powerful psychological deterrent that works 24/7. A bear that respects your fence will give your hives a wide berth for good.
Gallagher S100 Solar Fence Energizer Kit
Power your fence anywhere with the Gallagher S100 Solar Electric Fence Charger. This portable energizer effectively controls livestock and wildlife across up to 30 miles of fence, featuring battery-saving technology for reliable power even without constant sunlight.
When you need a reliable, all-in-one solution that just works, the Gallagher S100 is a frequent recommendation for good reason. It’s a self-contained unit with the solar panel, battery, and energizer all in a single, weatherproof case. You mount it on a T-post, connect your ground and fence wires, and you’re in business.
This model is known for its smart battery management. It puts out a consistent, powerful charge even through a string of cloudy days, which is critical for year-round protection. For a small to medium-sized apiary (up to about 30 miles of wire), its 1.0 Joule output is more than enough to deliver a sharp, memorable jolt to a curious bear.
The main advantage here is simplicity and reliability. You aren’t piecing together a system from different manufacturers or worrying about weatherproofing a separate battery box. While the initial cost is higher than some component systems, the peace of mind and minimal fuss make it a favorite for beekeepers who want to set it and forget it.
Zareba EAC50M-Z: The AC-Powered Option
If your bee yard is within reach of an outlet in a barn or outbuilding, AC power is the king of reliability. You never have to worry about a dead battery, a dirty solar panel, or a week of solid rain. The Zareba EAC50M-Z is a workhorse that delivers a consistent, high-energy shock.
This low-impedance energizer is designed for containing stubborn livestock over long distances, which means it has the power to overcome some weed contact and still deliver a painful zap. Its 1.0 Joule output is a serious deterrent. A bear that tests a fence powered by this unit will not be back for a second try.
The obvious limitation is the need for 110V AC power. You can’t just run a cheap extension cord across the yard; that’s unsafe and will lead to significant power loss. You need a proper, buried line and a weatherproof outlet. But if your apiary’s location allows for it, an AC-powered fence provides the ultimate in consistent, high-powered protection.
Parmak Magnum 12 Solar-Pak for Remote Yards
Parmak has a legendary reputation for building tough, durable fencers, and the Magnum 12 Solar-Pak is a prime example. This is the unit you want for that remote bee yard at the back of your property, the one you might only check on every week or two. It’s built like a tank and is famous for its ability to hold a charge through long periods of low sunlight.
Its big selling point is its sheer power and endurance. The Magnum 12 boasts an impressive 30-mile range and a very strong 1.4 Joule output, putting it at the higher end for solar chargers. This extra power means it does a better job of burning through light weed contact that would ground out a weaker energizer, saving you maintenance time.
This isn’t a lightweight, portable unit. It’s heavy and built to be installed for the season. But that heft is a sign of its robust construction, from the oversized solar panel to the weatherproof casing. For beekeepers who need maximum power and reliability far from an AC outlet, the Parmak is an investment that pays for itself.
Premier 1 Supplies IntelliShock 60 Kit
Premier 1 is a go-to source for all things electric fencing, and their IntelliShock 60 kit is a well-designed system perfect for apiaries. This solar energizer is powerful enough for a determined bear, putting out 0.6 Joules, but its real advantage is its smart technology. It automatically adjusts its power output to conserve the battery during the night when animals are often less active, then ramps up during the day.
This energy-saving feature is a huge benefit, extending the battery’s life during those long, gray stretches in spring or fall. The kit often comes bundled with high-quality polywire or their famous electric netting, which can be an excellent all-in-one solution for setting up a new yard quickly. The netting, in particular, presents a significant visual and physical barrier.
While some old-timers prefer the raw, continuous power of a Parmak or Gallagher, the efficiency of the IntelliShock is hard to argue with. It represents a modern approach to fence energizers, balancing power with intelligent conservation. For someone looking for a complete, well-thought-out system from a single trusted supplier, this is an excellent choice.
Speedrite AN90 Unigizer for Portability
Flexibility is sometimes the most important feature. The Speedrite AN90 is a "Unigizer," which is just a fancy way of saying it offers multiple power options in one small package. You can run it from a 12V deep-cycle marine battery for a portable setup, or plug it into a 110V AC outlet with the included adapter for a permanent one.
This versatility is perfect for the hobby farmer whose needs change. You can use it to protect a new nuc yard in a temporary location, then move it to power a rotational grazing paddock for your sheep later in the season. Despite its small size, it packs a respectable 0.4 Joule punch, which is the minimum you’d want for a bear but effective when properly installed.
The tradeoff for its portability is the need for manual battery management when used in the field. You’ll have to haul your 12V battery back for recharging every few weeks, depending on the load. But for temporary enclosures, protecting swarm traps, or as a reliable backup energizer, the AN90’s adaptability is unmatched.
High-Tensile Wire with a Stafix X6i Energizer
For a large, permanent apiary, you eventually graduate to a high-tensile fence. This is the most durable, lowest-maintenance, and most effective system you can build. When you pair that sturdy wire with a powerhouse energizer like the Stafix X6i, you have created a fortress that no bear will challenge twice.
The Stafix X6i is in a different league. It’s a 6-Joule, mains-powered unit that can energize over 60 miles of fence. Its key feature is the integrated remote and fault finder. This tool allows you to turn the fence off and on from anywhere along the fence line and points you directly to any shorts, saving you hours of frustrating troubleshooting.
This is absolutely not a beginner’s setup. Installing a high-tensile fence requires specialized tools like a spinning jenny and tensioners, and the initial cost is significant. But for a serious beekeeper with a valuable operation to protect, the long-term reliability and peace of mind are worth every penny. This is the system you build once and trust for decades.
Proper Grounding: The Key to a Hot Fence
You can have the most powerful energizer in the world, but it’s an expensive paperweight without an excellent ground system. Electricity must flow from the energizer, through the wire, through the bear, into the soil, and back to the energizer through the ground rods to complete the circuit. A poor ground is the number one reason electric fences fail to deter animals.
Forget the single, 3-foot rod that came with a cheap kit. For a bear fence, you need a serious ground field. The rule of thumb is to have at least three 6-foot galvanized steel ground rods, spaced 10 feet apart from each other. In dry, sandy, or rocky soil, you may need more rods or a "hot/ground" wire setup where you alternate charged and grounded wires on the fence itself.
Take the time to do this right. Use proper clamps to connect the ground wire to the rods; simply wrapping the wire creates a weak, corrosion-prone connection. If you’re in a dry spell, pouring a bucket of water around your ground rods can dramatically improve their effectiveness. Remember, the quality of your ground system directly determines the intensity of the shock. Don’t skimp here.
Ultimately, the best brand of energizer is the one that’s installed correctly and delivering a consistent, powerful shock. Whether you choose a simple solar kit or a high-end AC unit, the principles remain the same: ensure it’s powerful enough for the job, meticulously install your ground system, and keep your fence line clear of vegetation. A well-maintained electric fence is the most effective and humane way to ensure bears and bees can coexist—just not in the same yard.
