FARM Cheap perimeter fencing that can stop an elephant - literally!

[Old Gray Mare]

In Africa it looks like top bar bee hives with sun shades are being used to discourage elephants from destroying crops. It seems to be working. The added bonus? Farmers get to sell honey for a profit providing added financial incentive to maintain hives. The hives are suspended from the fence. Anything trying to force their way through it will probably get some unwanted attention from the bees. I'm not sure I'd want to mess with Africanized bees. At least now when the little buggers get this far I will will know how to put them to work.

Top Bar hives are easy to bang together out of scrap wood. The problem is the comb usually cannot be reused by the bees so the bees have to rebuild it each time the honey is removed.

I'm wondering if the farmers in the picture are standing next to an unoccupied hive?

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2...campaign=Feed:+wired/science+(Wired:+Science)

The article also comes with a HOW TO manual;
http://www.savetheelephants.org/files/pdf/ 2011 King.L.E Beehive Fence Construction Manual .pdf

 

[Old Gray Mare]

bump for evening and just because I think it's a cool idea.

 

[Chair Warmer]

Great for Africa, but I don't have elephants running around my neck of the woods, however I do have bears. I'd think the honey hives would attract the bears.

If I were going to create bear deterrant fencing, I'd probably go with wide hedges of lots of thorns, cactus, and hot pepper plants.

Bees would probably help deter people, though I wouldn't be using the Africanized kind, ouch!

Mrs.Cw

 

[Freeholder]

Bears are a whole 'nuther ball of wax. Hmm. I wonder what bears are afraid of? Anyone have any ideas (besides electric fence)?

Kathleen

 

[feralmama]

Dogs.

 

[FarmerJohn]

Now I know how to contain elephants, should I get some.

As you might imagine, the neighbors would raise a fuss every time they get out and the insurance issues are unbelievable.

You can't have just one you know; they tend to get lonely.

 

[Chair Warmer]

Dogs.

Yes, I once had a little super brave Jack Russel that chased the bears away, and something else works too which I cannot publicly state.

*Note; No bears were harmed in the experiences which lead to the creation of this post.

Mrs.Cw

 

[LtPiper]

I wonder if this would work with deer?

 

[Old Gray Mare]

In the How To manual it said it was less effective in higher elevations where it was wet and colder. In those conditions bees were less likely to come out at night. If these are Africanized bees they are probably nasty. In warmer climates the system worked best. They actually tested it under different conditions.

 

[Walrus Whisperer]

African bees? yikes!

 

[ainitfunny]

The other night the deer REALLY pruned back my rose bushes and took several young raspberry bushes down to the root as well as all the leaves on the other young raspberries. They didn't touch the tomato plants though.