Fruit Trees For Wildlife....Another Food Source

[DOUBLELUNG]

I love that third picture of the bear standing under the feeder. It needs a "son of a ..." thought bubble   

[Alchase]

Wacenturion, you have some beautiful land. I could look out on that view of the valley all day long.

[Wacenturion]

I love that third picture of the bear standing under the feeder. It needs a "son of a ..." thought bubble   

Got to say the bears are the most entertaining for sure.  The two pictures of the bear on the tripod feeder and then looking back at the feeder after he knocked it over are just two in a sequence of several photos that show him looking at feeder, climbing up, getting on top, walking away after if fell and then looking back at it....funny.  Didn't hurt the feeder.  Kind of figured I was asking for trouble up near the timber with it.  Learning process.

The feeder pole in that third photo to give some reference is 15 feet tall at the top.  I have it pointed uphill so it's somewhat less in height due to the slope, but the bottom of the barrel is still at least 9 1/2-10 1/2 feet off the ground.  Agree with the caption comment...

[Southpole]

I like "The Thinking Bear" or is it "The Pondering Bear" picture.

[Twispriver]

I hope the trees survive to maturity. Bears are devastating to young trees and they have no problem coming in at night to do their damage. I recommend pulling all the fruit until the trees are 10' to 12' tall and consider pruning the lower limbs to 5' or 6' up the tree. I don't know what size of tree you purchased but most nursery and orchard trees are grafted on stock that allows you to pick 80% of the fruit from the ground. If that is the case its tough to keep the bears from ripping limbs off of them. I am up to about 110 trees on my property and last year I suffered some damage until I pulled all the fruit and ultimately shot the bear that didn't quit tearing up the trees even when there was no more fruit to be had.

[Wacenturion]

I hope the trees survive to maturity. Bears are devastating to young trees and they have no problem coming in at night to do their damage. I recommend pulling all the fruit until the trees are 10' to 12' tall and consider pruning the lower limbs to 5' or 6' up the tree. I don't know what size of tree you purchased but most nursery and orchard trees are grafted on stock that allows you to pick 80% of the fruit from the ground. If that is the case its tough to keep the bears from ripping limbs off of them. I am up to about 110 trees on my property and last year I suffered some damage until I pulled all the fruit and ultimately shot the bear that didn't quit tearing up the trees even when there was no more fruit to be had.

Thanks for the input.  I was thinking along those lines as well.  Definitely going to prune to ensure lower limbs start branching at least 5' up the trunk.  Never really had thought about fruit removal, but like that idea as it would cetainly keep bears away.  All the trees I purchased are basically semi drawf, no dwarfs trees, as I had semi and dawrfs in my back yard years ago and readily know what to expect height wise from both.  Most of the trees I bought fall into the 5'-8' range.  See cherry trees below.......
 

[bearpaw]

I like pic of the bear studying the feeder! 
He's probably still figuring how to access that feeder...

I used to lease a ranch that had plum trees, the bear hit that old orchard hard in the fall, there are volunteer plum and apple trees scattered around the area most likely from bear scat.