Electric Fence Program

Protecting Bears and Livestock with Electric Fences

We provide assistance installing or repairing electric fences to protect your property and livestock from bears. Follow the steps below to find out how!

STEP 1: ACQUIRING ELECTRIC FENCING MATERIALS 
There are two options for acquiring electric fencing materials. If you qualify, you can get free materials from Colorado parks and wildlife. If you do not qualify we can help you find supplies, deliver, and install the fence. 

Option 1: Acquiring fencing using CPW materials

  • What are the qualifications for receiving preventive materials or reimbursement from Colorado Parks and Wildlife for damages caused by wildlife?

    Any landowner who has experienced damage or has the potential to damage their property can qualify for reimbursement or preventive materials if the damage is caused by the following species. 

    • Elk, Wolf, Big Horn Sheep, Deer, Black Bears, Moose, Mountain Goats, Mountain Lions, Pronghorn Antelope

    • Nuisance species are not covered by CPW such as coyotes and racoons

  • Landowners who receive CPW materials must comply as follows:

    The landowner does not unreasonably restrict the hunting of species likely to cause damage on the land under the landowner’s control or restrict the hunting of species likely to cause damage on any other lands by restricting access across lands under the landowner’s control, and who charges not more than five hundred dollars ($500) per person, per season, for big game hunting access on or across the landowner’s property (C.R.S. 33-3-103.5).

    The doctrine of avoidable consequences applies to wildlife damage claims, and claimants have a duty to mitigate damages. A claim shall be denied or limited, as is appropriate under the doctrine, where the claimant fails to exercise reasonable care and diligence to avoid the loss or to minimize or lessen resulting damage.  The burden of proving a failure to mitigate damages shall be on CPW (Reg. #1710).

    A landowner agrees to install the prevention materials as specified for damage purposes only and maintain them for a specified period.
    For more information, please visit CPW’s website.

  • How do I apply for reimbursements and preventative materials from Colorado Parks and Wildlife? 

    For more information on how to identify damage by game animals, you can visit The Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management.

    Another website for identifying wildlife tracks is the Nevada Division of Wildlife which has a visual resource guide on wildlife tracks and how to identify them.

  • Colorado Parks and Wildlife Game damage policies: 

    If you would like to read more about CPW’s policies on wildlife damage you can visit them directly here.
    To apply for preventative materials or reimbursements contact your local CPW district Wildlife manager (DWM). All DWM contact information for the state of Colorado can be found on this page.

Option 2: Installing fencing if you do not qualify for materials from CPW

We can provide you with a list of all the materials you need, we can also deliver, and install the fence. 

STEP 2: INSTALLING ELECTRIC FENCING

Option 1: Install it yourself

CPW’s guide to creating a secure beehive enclosure can be found here. 
CPW’s video guide to installing an electric fence can be found here. 

Option 2: Colorado Bear Coalition helps with the installation

  • General guidelines for having CBC install your fence:

    Depending on the fence size we will send 1-2 members the Colorado Bear Coalition to lead the installation with 2-3 volunteers per project. 

    Depending on the project size it will take 1½ to 4 hours to install. A waiver will be signed by the property owner to release CBC of any liability for injury during the setup or use of the electric fence. 

  • Cost:

    Suggested donation within Boulder County:

    $100: 8x8 electric fence

    $150: 20x20 electric fence

    $300: 40x40 electric fence

    Additional cost for travel outside of Boulder County. Please contact us for details. 

  • Why should you consider installing an electric fence?
    So that you can protect your livestock, property, and the bears!

    While it may be difficult to believe the idea that an electric fence can deter hungry bears, rest assured that there is plenty of research to back up your investment in an electric fence. Bears are intelligent animals who learn quickly and when an electric fence is installed properly and has a high enough voltage (6000-volt minimum ) and Jule output( -1 J minimum ) it will deter a bear from trying to get into your beehive or other food sources. An electric fence is an open circuit that has bursts of high-energy electricity until something touches it and closes the circuit. When the circuit closes, whatever is touching the fence gets a shock, and in the case of a bear, this teaches them that there is no food reward present here despite the yummy smells. Instead, they get an electric shock which is not lethal or harmful but it does get their attention! Electric fences have been proven to be one of the most effective defenses against bears and are used frequently across different industries to prevent damage. 

  • Additional Information:

    If you need help getting your materials delivered or installed you can fill out this form and please email us.

    Colorado Bear Coalition is a registered nonprofit. If you would like to donate to our efforts to reduce human-bear conflict, please donate here. Thank you!

    If you would like to volunteer with us, we would love to have you join our team! Please let us know by filling out this form and emailing us.