jl, so sorry to hear about the bear attack. We live in an area where there is bears, and we live along a bear path, so they call it. A deep ravine runs alongside our property, dark place, with a small stream running through it. THey love to traverse this ravine, carrying on in the area for a long ways. I have electric fencing and livestock fencing around my apiary, it is so foolproof I don't think a giant could get through it. I have not had any bears trying to get it, not to say that one day it may occur. But thank goodness, two years of beekeeping and narry a bear yet. Good luck to you. Bait the fencing as was advised, that will put the bear right off, they have a very tender nose :evil: and, once it gets it, I doubt it will come back. Best of luck. Great day, great life. Cindi