Black Bear Folds Like A Cheap Lawn Chair When It Accidentally Bumps An Electric Fence

If you’ve spent any time in the woods across North America, chances are you’ve been closer to a black bear than you realize. Found in just about every state in the country, as well as Canada and Mexico, these curious, powerful, and surprisingly intelligent animals are the most widespread bear species in North America.

Adults usually clock in between 150 and 600 pounds, though some northern males can top 700. Shockingly nimble, these things can run up to 30 miles per hour, climb trees like squirrels, and swim across lakes without breaking a sweat. They may mosey about, but they’re truly one of the most able-bodied animals in the entire world.

Bears are opportunistic omnivores, meaning they’ll eat just about anything they can find with as much ease as possible. Berries, insects, fish, nuts, roots, small mammals, and carrion… just about everything is on the menu, but like a curious toddler, they will often follow their nose into campsites, parked vehicles, backyards, garages and even homes. Of course, they’re not usually aggressive at all unless they’re starving or protecting cubs, but that doesn’t stop humans from doing what they can to limit these interactions.

Enter…  the electric fence.

In bear country, it’s not uncommon to see an electric fence used as a bear deterrent. Whether it’s a portable one you put around your campsite, one used to protect livestock or crops (or even honey), and sometimes, folks are just looking to bear-proof their home (and garbage corral). But nevertheless, whenever a bear does encounter one, it can be pretty hilarious. With a shock just strong enough to give them a jolt and keep them away, it’s safe for the bear and generally will get the job done. Although, every once in a while, you find a clever guy like this.

This blueberry farmer put a fence around his field and lo and behold, this sneaky fellas managed to dig down, slowly Army crawl through, and slide right under… genius:

And then sometimes, the ol’ bear gets a zap that fold ’em like a cheap lawn chair.

This big fella wandered up to this electric fence and once zap to the snout had enough juice to drop him to his knees. Sure enough, he popped right back up and high-tailed it out of there, but I have to imagine he thought twice about every coming back that way again. I also have to imagine it takes quite a bit of juice to bring a bears to its knees.

If you’ve ever touched an electric fence (I had one growing up for our horses), you know it’ll make your arm go numb for a second (kind of like when you hit your funny bone, but just imagine your whole arm and leg). Electricity likes to find the quickest way to the ground, so it would appear that this bear’s front legs gave out and he ate some dirt.

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Finally, then there’s this one… a bear vs an electrified deer carcass.

Now to be fair, this carcass (which was actually found on the road) was hung here and wired to test if it was a viable method for hunter’s to utilize when protecting their deer harvests in bear country. Of course, of you hunt in a place where bears could potentially get to your kill, it might be worth a shot.

And it worked… well, at least at first…

Check it out:

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