Technology and Development at the Forest Service

Library Card

Wolf, Jerry . 2006. T&D Snippets—Fencing Out Wildlife: Plastic Mesh Fences and Electric Fences Monitored by Satellite Telemetry. 0624 2S01. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Technology and Development Program.

Fencing Out Wildlife: Plastic Mesh Fences and Electric Fences Monitored by Satellite Telemetry

By Gary Kees

This report describes the results of 2 years of tests on three types of fences designed to keep elk and moose out of 1-acre areas being used for research. All but one of the fences are on a steep, north-facing slope at an elevation of 8,200 feet near the Continental Divide in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in Montana. The other fence protects a willow patch along the Middle Fork of Rock Creek near Philipsburg, MT. The fences are intended to last for at least 8 years and cost from $2.12 to $2.72 per linear foot to install.

The types of fences being tested include: a 7 �-foot-tall plastic mesh fence and two 6-foot-tall electric fences, one using polyethylene rope with metal wires braided into the rope (polyrope) and the other using high-tensile steel wire. The electric fences use 7,000-volt pulses. They are powered by a 12-volt deep-cycle battery and a 20-watt solar panel.

A satellite telemetry system was used to monitor the electric fences, which are in an area that is difficult to access and that lacks radio and cell phone coverage. So far, the telemetry system has not proved reliable.

The high-tensile steel electric fence has proved to be almost maintenance free. The polyrope electric fence, installed with metal posts because of the fence's height and the heavy snow loads on the Continental Divide, has shorted out many times. The plastic mesh fence proved to be reliable.

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T&D > T&D Pubs > Library Card Library Card Wolf, Jerry . 2006. T&D Snippets—Fencing Out Wildlife: Plastic Mesh Fences and Electric Fences Monitored by Satellite Telemetry. 0624 2S01. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Technology and Development Program. Fencing Out Wildlife: Plastic Mesh Fences and Electric Fences Monitored by Satellite Telemetry By Gary Kees This report describes the results of 2 years of tests on three types of fences designed to keep elk and moose out of 1-acre areas being used for research. All but one of the fences are on a steep, north-facing slope at an elevation of 8,200 feet near the Continental Divide in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in Montana. The other fence protects a willow patch along the Middle Fork of Rock Creek near Philipsburg, MT. The fences are intended to last for at least 8 years and cost from $2.12 to $2.72 per linear foot to install. The types of fences being tested include: a 7 �-foot-tall plastic mesh fence and two 6-foot-tall electric fences, one using polyethylene rope with metal wires braided into the rope (polyrope) and the other using high-tensile steel wire. The electric fences use 7,000-volt pulses. They are powered by a 12-volt deep-cycle battery and a 20-watt solar panel. A satellite telemetry system was used to monitor the electric fences, which are in an area that is difficult to access and that lacks radio and cell phone coverage. So far, the telemetry system has not proved reliable. The high-tensile steel electric fence has proved to be almost maintenance free. The polyrope electric fence, installed with metal posts because of the fence's height and the heavy snow loads on the Continental Divide, has shorted out many times. The plastic mesh fence proved to be reliable. View Fencing Out Wildlife: Plastic Mesh Fences and Electric Fences Monitored by Satellite Telemetry HTML Keywords:
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