Solutions to this complex problem are highly political, expensive, and have not been totally effective. Concessions need to be made by all sides. There are several precautions the beekeeper can take to reduce the chances of bear damage. Typically, bears move through their home ranges with preferred travel lanes or bear crossings which often follow along certain ridges, ravines, stream-beds, or the forest edge. While these are not necessarily beaten paths, they may be.
Beekeepers can help avoid damage from bears by careful selection of the apiary site.
Placement of colonies on or near bear crossings or dumps will most likely result in problems. Spreading litter around an apiary site may also invite trouble. Research has shown that the farther bee yards are located from the forest edge and ravines, the less chance there is of bear visitation. Getting to know game commission personnel in your area, before bear damage occurs, can be invaluable. They can provide you with estimates on the size of the bear population for different areas and help to identify known bear crossings.