Last update 03/06/2007

Things That Go Bump in the Night

Recently I purchased a UDAP Bear Shock Lightweight Electric Fence for camping in Canada.  The area I camp in had five black bear attacks in one year.  All related to campers or tourists not keeping a clean camp or acting responsibly by not feeding the bears. My seven-year-old son and I spend several weekends a year camping and hiking on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in Pennsylvania.  The state has an estimated Black Bear population in the tens of thousands and a three-day hunting season nets approximately three thousand bears.  Each year several bears weight-in at over the 600 pound mark.  Needless to say, you need to take bear precautions when wilderness camping in Pennsylvania.

After receiving the UDAP bear fence I decided to take it on a weekend AT hike to learn the proper way to set it up.  I read the instruction booklet once before leaving and put batteries in the unit.  I’d never used a bear fence before so this was all new to me. We arrived late in camp and were joined by a couple of thru hikers staying at the shelter and a scout troop setting-up tents near us.  Due to the numbers of campers at the shelter I decided skip setting up the electric fence for the night. While sitting around the campfire we could hear a few large animals rustling around in the leaves and assumed them to be deer.  Naturally the thru hikers started to ask about the bear population in Pennsylvania and the number of increased sightings, as hikers get closer to New Jersey.  I could tell this was starting to scare my seven year old and quickly changed the subject.

It was time to go to sleep and as we headed back to the tent my son told me he was glad I brought the fence and asked me set it up.  It was dark, the temperature dipped into the twenties, and we were tired, so I was not thrilled about having to figure out how to set-up a bear fence in the dark, but my son insisted. I pulled out the fence kit and started to assemble it in the dark thinking it would be a challenge; to my surprise the kit was extremely well thought out.  The folks at UDAP provided a well-made storage bag for everything.  The poly wires wrap conveniently around a winder.  The wires easily slip on the pole insulators, and don’t tangle due to the winder, and the terminal end has a nifty metal clip that fits on a loop you adjust using a cord lock.  This allows you to get the wires up and tightened quickly and easily even in the dark with very cold hands.  Lastly you hang the energizer on the wire using the top stay-on clip and attach the ground clamp. One flip of the switch and we were set and ready for sleep.

That night was uneventful and we slept late the next morning.  I slept sounder knowing the fence would discourage any nocturnal visitors.  In the morning my son stated “ it sure was a good idea to bring the fence”. I have to say thanks to the Team at UDAP for creating a well made and thought out kit.  It is greater than the sum of its parts. I will be leaving to spend several weeks on the AT hiking and plan to take the bear fence with me.  The couple of extra pounds are worth a sound night sleep. Once again, Thanks for creating such a well, designed, easy to use product.

You really do sleep better when it surrounds your tent. - Greg

"...We had a barrier between us and possible unwanted visitors..."

Dear Pepper Power,

I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that I took your electric bear fence up to the Alaskan interior with me for a three-week float trip last month. We had to be extremely mindful of weight, since we took a bush plane in and out, and appreciated the lightweight design of the fence.

We used your Bear Shock Electric Fence and took 1 spare set of D-size batteries. We encountered every type of weather possible, and the temperature dropped below freezing every night. We set up camp every evening on many different types of surfaces, ranging from tundra to river gravel bar.

We both found your bear fence easy to set up, and although we never had a bear encounter, everyone in the party slept much more comfortably knowing we had a barrier between us and possible unwanted visitors. We also used it around our camp when we went out on daily hikes to protect our gear and food stash. I did replace the batteries on the final week, not because they were weak but because we saw a very large male Grizzly within a half-mile of the camp and for some reason, I felt compelled to have new batteries in the unit that night! Thank you for providing a great product that is lightweight, durable and easy-to-use.

Sincerely, Kent Rotchy President www.OarSaddle.com

"...Ever since I put up the electric fence, I have had no more bear attacks..."

Dear UDAP,
I am a physical scientist at Denali National Park and Preserve.  I am in charge of the soundscape program, which involves maintaining remote sound recording stations throughout the park.  Many locations in Denali are frequented by bears, mostly grizzly bears.  These bears are curious and my stations look interesting to them, especially the fuzzy windscreens I use on the microphones.
One particular station has been attacked numerous times over the last two years.  The station is located near the famous Sable Pass Closure, which is a popular wildlife viewing area along the park road.  This station had been attacked six times in the last two summers.  Most of the time the microphones are knocked down and I just have to put them back up. Sometimes wires are cut, which are easily repairable.  This summer the bears have exposed my microphones and caused some expensive damage. As a result I decided to protect the station using a UDAP Bear  Shock electric fence. I have to hike into some of the sound station locations so I needed a lightweight bear deterrent.  The UDAP Bear Shock electric fence is only 3.5 pounds so it is perfect for use at my hike in stations.  Ever since I put up the electric fence I have had no more bear attacks.  The fence must be working to keep the grizzlies from causing any more damage.  I'll be using a UDAP Bear Shock electric fence at each of the locations that is frequented by bears.  Check out some photos of my sound station near the Sable Closure.

(1 - Station attacked) (2 - Station attacked with evidence of who done it) (3 - Station with UDAP electric fence)

Chad Hults - Center for Resources, Science, and Learning