Since Autumn 2018 and within action C.2, we have been testing the efficiency of electric-mats as an alternative protection measure for human property. Abroad, this type of measure is already widely used to prevent bears from accessing human property and breaking into buildings. As in Slovenia we mainly face damages in agriculture, this measure is appropriate to protect beehives from damages caused by bears.
It is an easy solution, especially in case of mobile beehives and those terrains, where the installation of high electric fences is challenging. For permanent beehives, the electric-mats represent an alternative measure besides fixed multi-wire electric fence. Because the electric-doormat contains electric current, the bear suffers severe shock when touching the wires. Similarly to other electrified protective measures, also the electric-mats represent a psychological barrier, which results in bear avoidance of the protected object.