We have installed an electric fence around our garbage shed at Tofino Hummingbird Cottage.

Bears, with their well developed sense of smell, have found their way to our shed on numerous occasions and are willing to break the door down if they have to, to get to the garbage inside. According to Critter Care’s article on Southern BC black bears, “A black bear’s keen sense of smell is its superpower. It’s estimated that their sense of smell is seven times stronger than a bloodhound’s, allowing them to locate food from great distances.”

Wanting to care for bears and humans, I sought advice. Bob at WildSafeBC Pacific Rim was extremely helpful. He advised me to install an electric fence on the outside of the garbage shed, and he himself did the installation.

We now have a fence that protects bears by deterring them from the potential food source (garbage) in the shed. And it protects humans too as it lessens the chances of us encountering a foraging bear as we go to the shed to throw away garbage.