Fencing out Wildlife

Nothing is more awe-inspiring than catching a glimpse of deer or chipmunks in your front or back garden. We all love the beauty of wildlife, yet it has a downside. And, depending on your location, different states or provinces across North America present wildly different wildlife encounters.

The growing urbanization of North America has altered the typical patterns of wildlife habitats. Many animals have learned to adapt to people in proximity. Whether they’re seeking food, shelter, or a place to nest their young ones, animals often look for places near or inside communities.

In certain areas, bears, cougars, wolves, coyotes, moose, alligators, and even snakes are a direct and imposing threat to not just people, pets, crops, or livestock - but to property as well. While in urban communities, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, opossums, chipmunks, deer, and rabbits present multiple levels of concern – damaging gardens, further compromising fences, attacking children, and small pets, burrowing near or under foundations – the list is endless. Damages are not just unsightly; they can be surprisingly disastrous and always costly. These animals can damage crops, attack people, pets and livestock, damage home, vehicles, and outbuildings, just to name a few risks. Fencing can also be destroyed and allow wildlife access if it’s not in good repair. But protecting an urban or rural property can be done quickly with the right type of fencing and fence maintenance protection plan.

The best defense starts with a fence.

Start asking what the property’s fence needs are and the type of wildlife intrusions it might be facing:

• Is it in in the country, the suburbs, or the city?
• What kind of animals are local to the area?
• What are the critical seasonal factors? Remember, animals are not unlike people; their priority is caring for their young. Spring is often the time when they look for nesting places.
• What’s the state of the existing fence? Can it be easily breached? Does it need a total replacement, an addition, repairs, or replacements?

Make a solid investment.

Throughout North America, property fence lines are a number one priority. Many homeowners have fences to create privacy first and security second. If there is a pool or a hot tub, a fence is necessary to prevent trespassing or even an accidental drowning. The same can be said for wildlife – how many homeowners have ever had to scoop out drowned skunks, bunnies, or raccoons?

A fence that’s well planned, professionally designed, constructed, and maintained will protect property from wild intruders, season after season. When you factor in the cost of professional wildlife control, a fence represents an important investment. “Discuss the extra costs the homeowner could avoid by properly planning or maintaining their fence line,” says Al Martins of Fence Armor. “If an existing fence has weakened boards or posts, or if there’s evidence of digging under panels, or posts, chances are there is a family of critters, or multiple families calling their backyard ‘home’ already.”

It’s essential to keep fence panels and posts in proper repair as rabbits, snakes, and alligators can quickly push through weakened areas at the bottom of these panels. “Consider replacing rotted, leaning, or unstable posts with posts that are reinforced with the protection of Postsaver, below ground,” says Martins. “It’s also important to think about protecting these posts against trimmer damage – and even gnawing wildlife with Fence Armor Post Guards.”

Leaning fence posts will pull entire panels out of alignment, creating the perfect opportunity for the fence line to be breached, above and below. Hungry, determined, larger, or more dangerous wildlife, such as coyotes, bears, or cougars, can easily gain access to yards that to do not present a fortified front against their intrusions.

Small wildlife intrusion prevention.

During the process of repairing existing fence posts, it may be wise to consider installing a multi-purpose mesh barrier, such as chicken wire or a poly-hex patterned mesh at the base of each fence panel. Proper installation of this product requires it to be secured to the length of the fence, with at least 6˝ of the
material buried underground. This prevents burrowing or digging critters, as well as snakes and alligators, from breaching the fence line at ground level. “The most common fence types for this form of mesh are wood or vinyl privacy fences,” adds Martins. “However, chain link, ornamental, or even 3’ tall picket fences could benefit from this level of protection.”

Larger wildlife intrusion prevention.

In most cases, living in a rural area offers the greatest challenges. Larger animals such as deer, caribou, and moose, or more dangerous animals like bears, cougars, wolves, coyotes, or foxes, are most often searching for food – and it’s not always in the form of what’s in your garbage bin or growing in your garden. They can pose a real threat to property owners, pets, crops, and livestock alike.

“Although the property owner may have considerable acreage to protect. a ranch fence is still the best protection against wildlife intrusions” says Martins. “A two, three, or even four-rail fence will pay for itself in protection. And you can – and should – bolster it with extras, such as wire mesh to keep smaller animals out, and fence caps, or post guards to prevent deer, cattle, goats, sheep, and horses from nibbling at the tops or bottoms of posts.”

Proper design, build. maintenance schedules and defensive products will always protect the investment of any fence line far longer than if it were sitting in the ground with no protection or maintenance plan.

Build an effective electric fence.

If the rural fence is compromised, it may be worthwhile for the property owner to invest in additional preventative measures, such as electric fencing. Martins says to always check with your municipality regarding fencing restrictions. Building an excellent electric fence is important to the health and well-being of livestock and wildlife. It’s safe to use with animals because it doesn’t harm livestock or wildlife. It simply redirects them safely.

“Good fences make good neighbors” is an old saying that applies to more than humans. “Clearly, we want to live in harmony with animals that inhabit our communities – but that doesn’t mean allowing them access to our property,” says Martins. “By choosing the right kind of fencing, we can easily live in peace with our animal neighbors without the risk of destruction, disease, or nasty confrontations.”

Fence Armor designs, manufactures, and distributes products that provide outstanding post protection above and below the ground line. Visit www.FenceArmor.com for sustainable and effective fence maintenance products and other helpful tips on building a fence that delivers long-term benefits.

There has Never Been a Better Time to Fence Cattle Out of Streams

Bobby Whitescarver and his wife are beef cattle farmers in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

Two years ago, they enrolled in Virginia’s Agricultural Best Management Practice Cost-Share Program and used this state funding to fence their cattle out of the streams and develop a rotational grazing system.

“The program opened a huge door of opportunity for us to get water for our cows to parts of the farm that didn’t have any,” says Whitescarver. “There has never been a better time to fence cattle out of streams, thanks to state and federal funding being made available.”

This year, Virginia provided a record amount of funding for its agricultural cost-share and related programs, totaling more than $280 million over the next two years. On the federal level, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is also receiving historic levels of investment in farm conservation practices. Private non-profit organizations are helping with funding and technical assistance as well.

In addition to benefiting farmers and cattle, these programs also prevent pollution to waterways from the Shenandoah River to the Chesapeake Bay. People downstream want clean water, and they are willing to pay for it through these robust programs.

“Before we enrolled in Virginia’s cost-share program, our cows had one source of water: a creek on the north side of the farm,” says Whitescarver. “This meant we couldn’t make full use of our land. The cattle stayed near the creek to drink and were reluctant to walk almost a mile to graze on the south side of the farm. We have a cow/calf operation, and we didn’t want our cows calving near the creek. Steep banks and wetlands are dangerous places for newborn calves to learn how to nurse.”

However, under the state program, Whitescarver says conservation specialists helped them design a system of six watering stations strategically located throughout the farm. They installed a mile of fencing to exclude their cows from the creek, a mile of internal fences to facilitate rotational grazing and a mile of underground pipeline that feeds water under pressure from a well to the six new watering stations.

“It was a huge endeavor for us, but we got a lot of help,” says Whitescarver. “We were reimbursed more than 100% of the costs through three programs that provided the funds and technical assistance such as engineering designs and site inspections during construction.”

He adds that the internal fencing and watering troughs help them to be more efficient and profitable farmers. “We prefer to rotate our cattle to new pastures, but previously we didn’t have water for the cows where we needed it. The internal fencing was designed to not only rotate the cows to new pastures, but also to help us get the cows into the barnyard when we need to work them.”

Whitescarver explains some of the top reasons farmers fence their cows out of streams. “The top reason is to get more abundant clean water for their cows distributed throughout the farm. The number two reason is to exclude cows from calving risk areas like steep banks along creeks and wetlands. That exclusion fence is good insurance against a dead calf. The number three reason is to improve herd health. If the herd drinks out of streams, the farmer’s biosecurity program to prevent diseases and infections is only as good as the worst farm upstream. At least 50% of all cattle ailments in the Mid-Atlantic states are transmitted through the fecal-oral pathway. If an infected cow defecates in the water upstream, the cows downstream could drink contaminated water. The number four reason: well-designed fences make it easier to get the cows into the barnyard.”

He says there are more reasons, but the bottom line is that it’s the right thing to do because cattle destroy streams and pollute the water.

It’s all voluntary now, but on July 1, 2026, Virginia’s bovine bill (HB 1422) could mandate that any farm with 20 cows or more must exclude them from all perennial streams. This trigger law only goes into effect if the Chesapeake Bay cleanup goals have not been achieved.

Whitescarver stresses that livestock exclusion from streams is one of the most popular and cost-effective best management practices in Virginia. “Right now, funding and technical assistance are at historic levels. To learn more or to sign up, contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District or your local USDA field office.”

Originally published in the Virginia Mercury, 9/1/22. Bobby Whitescarver is a cattle farmer and retired soil conservationist with the USDA. He can be reached through his website at www.gettingmoreontheground.com.

3 Things to Consider Before Installing a Fence for a Dog

An estimated 75% of Americans feel it is important to spend time outside in their yards. If dogs could take surveys, they would probably express the same sentiment.

Having a place for a dog to run and play is important for their health and happiness. However, dog owners need to think about their pet’s safety, which is why installing a fence can be so advantageous.

If you’re working with a customer who is installing a pet fence for their dog, the professionals at Straight Line Fence in Grand Rapids, Michigan, advise discussing these three key considerations with them:

1. A big dog requires a big fence. If the dog is a fun-loving gentle giant, it probably won’t take much effort for him to get over a four-foot fence to catch that squirrel he’s got his eye on. You’re going to need a taller fence. For most breeds, six feet should be enough. Of course, a big dog is also probably strong. Make sure you choose durable fencing materials like high-quality wood.
2. Watch out for climbers. Even without opposable thumbs, dogs can be crafty climbers. A clever dog will try to find a way over a fence regardless of the height. When preparing for a residential fence installation, choose a design that is impossible to climb. For instance, a chain link fence is a bad idea, as they provide perfect little footholds for a dog’s paws. A solid panel fence has a flat surface, which is ideal for keeping a dog on the ground, on the safe side of the fence.
3. Minimize temptation. A solid panel fence is also a great option because it keeps a dog from seeing what’s on the other side. If they can’t see the squirrels, the birds, the dogs, the people, the cars, and the myriad of other things dogs love to chase and bark at (which is pretty much everything), they’ll stay much calmer. As it turns out, between 80 to 90% of people looking to put up fences are interested in privacy fences. This is exactly what is best to keep a dog safe and secure.

Over half of homeowners who are upgrading their outdoor spaces spend six or more hours in their yard per week. It is likely that their dogs spend even more time there. That’s why it’s important to work with the homeowner to make sure the fence they choose will deliver the results they want for both their home and their dog.

Learn more about Straight Line Fence at www.straightlinefences.com.