Installation of an electric fence at the Haines Sanitation landfill is running about a month behind schedule, but the company has been able to keep bears at a distance using other devices, officials say.

Money issues have delayed construction of the fence, which was scheduled to be finished July 1, said Burl Sheldon, a consultant working for the company.

So far this summer, a mature brown bear boar called Big Boy has twice been at the landfill, once in early May and again last week.

“Both times Big Boy has not caused any damages,” said Pam Randles, president of the Alaska Chilkoot Bear Foundation. “He has also been scared off by critter getters both times as well.”

Critter getters are devices that use bright flashes and screechy noises to scare off unwanted wildlife. They are only temporary until the fence is installed.

Once complete, the fence will surround the landfill building where the municipal solid waste — the waste that attracts bears — is kept. The eight-strand fence will be four feet tall and enclose a two-acre area.

“The only potential issues this fence could bring is that it may cause bears that are conditioned to eat at the dump to now look elsewhere for food, like people’s houses,” said Randles. “People should just continue to keep all bear attractants tucked away.”

Fence poles were installed this week. The fence will be fully installed by Aug. 1.