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Electric
Fencing to Exclude Deer and Elk from Recovering Areas -
Introduction
Electric
fences are psychological barriers. In order to work
effectively, they must be seen by deer and elk.
Electric
fences must be kept on during the off-season. If deer
and elk realize they can penetrate the fence, the
effectiveness is lost.
Cost
and effectiveness can vary with the type of fence
you construct.
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| By
Jim Knight, Extension Wildlife Specialist, Montana State
University. |
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| Following
forest or range wildfires, it is often necessary to eliminate
grazing for a period of time to allow vegetation to recover.
Controlling livestock grazing, although expensive for the rancher,
can be accomplished by putting the livestock in other pastures.
Controlling the use of areas by large ungulates is much more
difficult. |
Several methods
to control deer and elk have been used with varying levels of success.
Repellants such as periodic explosions and odors can be effective
for limited periods, but are not long-term solutions. The more desperate
the animals are, the more likely they are to put up with noises
or odors. After wildfire, food may be scarce and deer and elk will
put up with more disturbances than they would if there were more
alternatives. Exclusion,
although expensive, is usually the most effective method to protect
large areas such as pastures or revegetated forestlands.
Fences are the
most effective way to protect vegetation over the long-term. Several
types of fences are available to exclude elk and deer. One must
first consider the cost of constructing and maintaining the fence
as well as the effectiveness of the fence. Seven-foot woven wire
fences have proven to keep elk and deer out for up to 30 years,
but they are expensive to construct (Table 1). Barbed wire fences
are less expensive to construct, but are usually less effective
and require more maintenance. Electric fences are relatively inexpensive
to construct and will effectively exclude elk and deer if constructed
properly. However, they have a higher maintenance requirement than
a woven wire fence.
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