New Hampshire has about 6,800 bears, biologists estimate, and many have become more comfortable with being around homes. 4). Adequate grounding is an important component in the function of all electrified fencing. 2). netting poultry premier electric testing setup info Theres definitely a little bit of hesitancy for people trying to set it up on their own, but theyre willing to try out anything just to make sure their chickens are going to be safe, said Lowe. Inadequate grounding is the most common problem with electric fence performance and can be especially difficult to overcome in dry areas with rocky or sandy soils. Therefore, a 7,000-volt shock delivered by a 1.0 joule energizer will feel more powerful than a 7,000-volt shock from a 0.2 joule energizer. The picture was part of a presentation about the growing trend of backyard chickens and wildlife managers mounting frustrations with having bears killed, or having to euthanize bears, for getting into chicken coops. Our work makes a difference, in the lives of Texans and on the economy. For more information on how to create these and other unique fences, please visit: Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks at www.fwp.mt.gov, Search for Bear Aware from the homepage, Defenders of Wildlife at www.defenders.org/ got-grizzlies, How to Install an Electric Fence video, information on their electric fencing incentive program, Gillian Sanders from BC, Canada https://www. All-hot fencing designs are only appropriate for locations where the soil is moist year-round, either naturally or because of frequent watering. var tag_id = document.getElementById('buylinkbearchicken-cm-070522,ph01'); The primary difference between a permanent and temporary electrified fence is your choice of fencing posts and the extent to which they are installed. Make sure your fence is always freshly baited by replacing the bait every 3-14 days depending on what youre using for bait (bacon would need to be replaced more than a can of tuna for example). fence electric predators chickens keep poultry chicken coop run raccoon backyard fencing safe meaning coyote secure night building motherearthnews There are three basic models of energizers to choose from: 110-volt AC: These plug-in style energizers connect directly to a 110-volt outlet (standard household current). The joule rating of energizers typically has one of two classifications: stored or output. The negative terminal on the energizer (ground or -) is directly connected to the grounding rod only. Once you have a basic understanding of how an electrified fence functions, you can create many designs with these basic concepts in mind. secure shed bear fencing electric resistant handle windows door endobj Id rather see people invest their money and time into electric fencing.. For excluding bears, at least five electrified wires are recommended. Holes can be even drilled through the posts to feed the electrified wire directly through them. How large of an area will your electrified fence enclose? The wire panel or net-wire fence would be directly attached to the positive terminal of the energizer (Fig. Some styles of AC energizers have on/off switches while others have to be directly unplugged to be turned off. A voltage meter tells you how much voltage is passing through a wire, which is what matters in this case. 5). 6 on page 7). See the section on. AC energizers are the least costly type of energizer to purchase and operate. For example, while both a 0.2 joule and 1.0 joule rated energizer can deliver a 7,000-volt shock, the 1.0 joule energizer has a higher amperage. . Depending on the size of your fence and the application, net-wire fencing, or wire panels can be used with or in place of single-stranded electrified wire fences. Back in 2005, we dealt with about 20 complaints a year involving bears and chickens. Only bears getting into outdoor trash draws more complaints than bears getting into outdoor coops. Copyright 2022 State of Vermont. 4) Is prefabricated electrified netting (Fig. When an animal touches one of the hotlines and the grounded net-wire together, it will receive a full electric shock that does not require the energy to travel through the soil to complete the circuit (Fig. For a large pasture, orchard, or property boundary fences, consider the size of the energizer needed to power your electric fence. This type of fence does not deter deer, but they can pull up and possibly damage the fence when attempting to jump over. To extend battery life, some DC energizers have a very slow per-minute pulse rate, so be certain to purchase one that pulses at the recommended 45 to 60 pulses per minute. Fish and Game who is the states go-to expert on the black bear population. One wire is directly connected to the positive terminal on the energizer, and then all remaining wires are connected in a series to each other. The wires on a gate are electrified by attaching one of the wires to the main fence with insulated electric fencing wire, as previously seen in Figure 4. ADF&G has created three videos detailing the use of electric fences for homeowners (to protect chickens and livestock as well as smokehouses and property) and for campers and backpackers. For example, if you already have a fence constructed of net-wire and t-posts, you can add several electrical lines on the outside of the net-wire fence to prevent a bear from climbing over, under, or pushing through the fence. steel wire and copper posts) to prevent electrolysisa process that diminishes the charge of your fence. Alternatively, hog or cattle panels can be used to create small enclosures with several lines of electrified wires attached to the outside. This design directly returns electrical current back to the energizer through all ground wires, instead of solely relying on conducting electricity back through the soil and grounding rod. Subscribe Today, Granite Geek: New England cottontails hopping north, as their world shifts, NH students attend health care training in Nashville, 17graduate from the 118th Corrections Academy Class, More rain, more bodies in flooded Kentucky mountain towns, Hundreds came to say goodbye to Ryan McGonigle, Soon, the NH Swim School will have a place to call home, Soon, the NH Swim Club will have a place to call home, Concord Little League 11-12 All-Stars force Game 3 against Goffstown to determine state champion. This short duration pulse also allows people and animals time to move away from a shock safely. var sellablestring = "MONITOR STAFF"; The standard length of galvanized steel grounding rods are 6 to 8 feet and, if possible, a ground rod should be driven into the ground nearly its entire length. An electric fence protects a chicken coop near Vallecito Reservoir. youtube.com/watch?v=lqIRMavnahE, Deterring Bears with Electrified Fences A Beginners Guide, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc8xY2YuOfM. Hang warning signs in locations that will warn children, untrained adults, or visitors that your fence is electrified. Fish and Game pointed to a recent case in which a sow accompanied by three cubs was shot by a homeowner at a backyard chicken coop. These fences were designed to create small, moveable grazing pastures for small livestock, such as chickens, sheep, and goats while keeping them safe from predators. High impedance energizers have a pulse that is long in duration, but low in energy. Sightings in yards and driveways throughout Southern New Hampshire are common, even in downtown areas. New Hampshire Fish and Game lends out electric fences to people with bear problems. Solar panels can be purchased separately and added to a DC energizer, but the array must be powerful enough to keep a deep cycle battery charged. They are commonly premanufactured in 25- to 164-foot lengths and can be connected in series to create longer or shorter fences. The electrical current will travel from the energizer, through the wire, into the animal, into the soil, to the grounding rod, and back to the energizer. Today were dealing with 150 to 175 (a year), of bears getting into chicken coops, Timmins said. And, unlike other deterrents, (such as rubber bullets or banging pots and pans in your pajamas at 3 in the morning), electric fencing is a passive deterrent, in that it is always working whether youre around or not. Voltage meters designed for use on a vehicle or household current are inadequate to use on an electrified fence. Dry or rocky soils do not conduct electricity well which reduces the amount of energy that will reach back to a single grounding rod and the effectiveness of your electrified fence. Some conductors work best with certain energizers and accessories, so a kit ensures that your fence will be effective. Some electrified fencing materials handle snow and ice better than others. var photocredit = photocredit.toUpperCase(); Other materials may simply add conveniencesuch as on/off throw switchesand can be added as desired. However, these energizers will not be effective at deterring bears. Check for poor connections in spots where electrified wires have been spliced together. The fence line will need to be moved for regular weed cutting or mowing, they are difficult to place in hard ground, and the fences do not handle snow or ice loads well. Polywire will degrade and break after long exposures to sunlight. In dry or rocky soils, several grounding rods should be used, driven as deep as possible, spaced 10 feet apart, and connected in a series. 2) Is a combination of electrified and ground-return wires (Fig. Place the fence energizer inside the area protected by the fence to prevent bears from damaging it. Bear pulled chicken wire off outside of chicken run and ate chicken food. The wire panel or net-wire fence is connected directly to the energizers negative terminal. Without adequate grounding, an electrified fence will be unable to deliver an appropriate shock to an animal. For example, an energizer listed as having 1.0 stored joules will only be able to deliver approximately 0.7 joules to the fence. Polytape, which is flat instead of rope-like, is less effective for deterring bears and is not recommended. For temporary, seasonal, or portable electrified fencing, consider the use of polyethylene wire, also called polywire (Fig. If soils are very dry for several months each year, consider designing a ground-return electrified fence (as described on page 5) in addition to several deeply placed grounding rods. //var LBtag_id = document.getElementById('buylinkLBbearchicken-cm-070522,ph02'); A joule is a measure of stored or released energy. <> These energizers receive their power from 6-volt or 12-volt DC (deep cycle) or marine batteries. To prevent electrified wires from leaking energy into the soil through conductive materials, wooden posts and metal t-posts will need the additional expense of insulators to hold electrified wires away from the posts. Non-galvanized steel, rebar, steel posts or painted metals are not recommended as paint and rust are very poor conductors. Sign up for our daily email newsletter or to receive breaking news delivered to your inbox: Choose from several print and digital subscription packages, 2022 Durango Herald | Some drawbacks of these fences are that they are meant for temporary use and will need regular adjusting to prevent sagging over time. Touching an electric fence still remains unpleasant, but one walks away uninjured, unlikely to repeat the experience. 6). More recently, a mid-June KTVA news report in Anchorage, Alaska, described a number of homeowners legally shooting bears in defense of backyard chickens. Email Us. There are a few things to consider before designing your electrified fence: Will your fence ever need to be moved or taken down? bear electric alaska fence fences homesteading fencing bears deterrents game portable camps adfg For adequate grounding, all electrified fences will need a minimum of 3 to 6 feet of grounding rod per joule of stored energy from your energizer. Think of gates as miniature sections of fencing. if (photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring) > -1) { It came back, but once it hit the fence, it ran off. <>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/Annots[ 29 0 R] /MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> When an animal touches an electrified wire and the ground simultaneously, the electric current passes from the wire through the animal, into the ground, to the ground rod, and back to the energizer. Fortunately, these events are rare in Texas, and bears should be less active when they occur. The output classification is the maximum number of joules that the energizer can deliver to a fence. Low impedance pulses are so shortless than 3/10,000 of a secondthat a spark should not produce enough heat to start a fire. Bears have a tremendous sense of smell and can be attracted to chicken feed inside coops or to the chickens themselves as a tasty meal. 3). var tag_id = document.getElementById('buylinkbearchicken-cm-070522,ph02'); For excluding bears, the ground-return (pos/neg) design is recommended. When protecting fruiting trees, place your electrified fence so that all fruit falls inside the fence boundary instead of outside it. Grounding rods should be driven deeply into the ground near the energizer. Only low impedance energizers are recommended for deterring bears. Alternatively, wire panels or existing net-wire fence could be used as grounded wires in a ground-return wire fence design. It lasts a long time, said Timmins. Your most important maintenance tool is an electric fence voltage meter, sometimes called a fence tester. How the fence is grounded is an important consideration, but most crucial is the joule rating of the energizer to effectively deter bears, a minimum of 6,000 volts is required. Preventing bears from accessing your resources might even save that bears life, as food-conditioned bears often get hit by cars or shot if they create substantial damage or become a threat. This creates another type of ground-return fence. Management Activities on Wildlife Management Areas, www.tractorsupply.com/know-how_farm-ranch_fencing_electric-fencing, www.margosupplies.com/usa/electric-fencing, How to Use Electric Fencing to Secure your Outdoor Attractants, Bear Necessities: Living With Black Bears Videos. Voltage readers only tell you if electrical current is passing through a wire. There are hundreds of types of insulators available, all designed for different uses and fencing system designs. She said a good electric fence is the best nonlethal method she knows for keeping bears away from chickens. Therefore, whenever possible, electrify gates as well. hd_%~ JF+*XET( A"#6e_z=/5g}NLe4ei6%c.BW4._Fi]K+Jz|hz**UR?T]5XKQ/o{?_=g?O?r||;~v}_'?}1>n|~RJ/[|^Ktpg/'?'}S7~>yq':?Y=zWwqm5~VJi%[Zzt[j:'VWnO^}^z^x/~w_}'?Gzth}m:c_;a6? Energizers are the power source for your electrified fence. The message at the Missoula bear conference was clear: If you are making an investment in chickens or other livestock, erecting an electric fence is simply the right thing to do. youtube.com/watch?v=lqIRMavnahE, How to Electric Fence Against Bears video, Download a printer-friendly version of this publication: Deterring Bears with Electrified Fences A Beginners Guide. Electrified netting does not need to connect back onto itself (i.e., create a circle) in order to function. Be prepared to do maintenance on fencing if you have a heavy snow or ice event. Aluminum wire is lightweight and easy to use but will break with repeated bending. 7). If the soil in your area becomes dry during certain months of the year, your fence will be on dry, rocky soil, or if your fence crosses pavement, wood, or concrete, you will need to design a ground-return fencing system. Your energizer would need to plug into a 110 V outlet. According to bear managers, electric fencing is a breakthrough achievement for keeping bears (including grizzlies, naturally) out of almost anything beehives, fruit trees, chicken coops, livestock enclosures, compost, grain sheds, landfills and even unoccupied vacation homes. Bears. When possible, use crimp sleeves, brass ferrules, or other splicers to make connections. The kit was from Premier One. It included the electric poultry netting, stakes, the solar energizer and battery. The installation itself was simple. These will hold your fence up. David Brooks is a reporter and the writer of the sci/tech column Granite Geek and blog granitegeek.org, as well as moderator of Science Cafe Concord events. Electricity must be able to easily flow from the soil to the grounding rod and back to the energizer for an animal to receive an adequate shock. Why does he value better wiring above better walls? poultry netting Energizer manufacturing companies rate their products with an energy measurement unit called a joule. | Solar charged batteries are more expensive but use sunlight to charge themselves. stream You want the bear to encounter the electrified fence before reaching the structure itself. The only additional materials needed is an energizer and grounding rod. Do not attempt to step over or climb through a fence that is electrified. Seasonal use or portable fences are typically constructed using step-in-the-ground plastic posts or fiberglass posts. Some styles of AC energizers have on/off switches while others have to be directly unplugged to be turned off. Modern low impedance energizers have been designed to transfer energy fast enough that a spark generated along the electrical path should not produce enough heat to start a fire. Look for insulators that are the most suitable for the posts and design of your particular fence. The first video provides an overview of the materials needed, shown above. See the section discussing Energizers for more information. There are many prefabricated electrified netting fences that are quick to install and easy to move. Never attach your electrified fence to a grounding rod used for a buildings electrical system. Low impedance energizers have pulses that are short in duration, but higher in energy. This is not the same as a voltage reader. Because these units consist of three separate parts (solar panel, battery and energizer), solar energizers are the most expensive and highest maintenance option for powering an electrified fence. gallagher smartfence fencefast raccoons Your solar energizer must be placed in a location where it will receive enough sunlight to provide a sustainable charge for the battery. Whenever possible, AC energizers are recommended for electrified fencing. We installed electric fence. //var LBtag_id = document.getElementById('buylinkLBbearchicken-cm-070522,ph01'); If so, consider a lightweight, temporary fencing design. Rather than buying a bunch of pressure-treated lumber and building a great coop build an adequate coop and then put your effort into electric fencing.. 1 0 obj var currentheadline = document.getElementById("headline").innerText; Keep the vegetation surrounding your fence short do it does not interfere with the electrical current. Based on the principals of these two different wiring systems, there are many fence designs that can be created. High impedance energizers are also not recommended; these energizers may also be labeled as continuous current, weed burner, or weed chopper. Electrified netting is a combination of horizontal and vertical polywires permanently attached to step-in-the-ground posts (Fig. When an animal is standing directly on soil and touches just one of the electrified wires, it will receive a shock. }, Electric fence is the best way to protect backyard hens from bears looking for dinner, especially from a backyard chicken coop. The electrical current is completed and results in the animal receiving a shock (Fig. The New Hampshire Department of Corrections announces that the 118th Corrections Academy class graduated from the pre-service training at a LOUISVILLE, Ky. Another round of rainstorms hit flooded Kentucky mountain communities Monday as more bodies emerged from the sodden landscape Electric fence is the best way to protect backyard hens from bears looking for dinner, especially from a backyard chicken coop. Concord Monitor. Another option is to bury a ground wire along the perimeter of the fence in addition to having ground rods. They can be used to prevent bears from accessing fruit trees, deer feeders, chicken coops, garbage, or anywhere else bears need to be excluded from. % Will you use your electrified fence during months of snow and ice? For some, very small, fence designs that cover short distances, 16-gauge wire could be considered. Kits range from $300-500 and can be found at some of the following locations:(these are just some suggestions and are not listed in any particular order), Kits will come with instructions on how to install, but otherwise you can use online tutorials, We saw evidence of a bear trying to get into our coopthere were claw marks on the roof and it appeared it had been trying to pull the roof off, but then nothing else. These fences are fully portable and require no special tools to install. if (photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring) > -1) { This is less expensive initially but requires you to use electricity. Check battery terminals for corrosion and adequate connection. Bait by coating one of your lower strands of your fence with peanut butter, bacon grease, or bacon strips. Place the lowest wire approximately 8 to 12 inches above the ground and the top wire 36 to 42 inches high. Bears are not good jumpers, so electrified lines should be spaced to prevent a bear from going under, passing through, or climbing over the fence without fully touching at least one of the wires. tag_id.innerHTML = ' Buy this Image'; To effectively deter bears, your energizer needs to pulse at a rate of 45 to 60 pulses per minute, which is approximately 1.0 to 1.5 pulses per second. 6), or. This guide is designed for people that have limited or no experience with electrified fencing but are interested in understanding the basics before designing a fence of their own. Do you have a question -or- need to contact an expert? '"; However, if the soil is too dry or the ground rod is inadequate, the electric current will be unable to find a path back to the energizer, and the animal will receive little or no shock. We value bears. Regular and proper maintenance will ultimately determine the effectiveness of your electrified fence. The six primary components of an electrified fence are: Additional materials may be necessary depending on the design of your particular fence. var photocredit = "'' 'Electric fence is the best way to protect backyard hens from bears looking for dinner, especially from a backyard chicken coop. We dont see the most complaints in areas with the most bears, we see most complaints in areas where we have the most people, Timmins said. While these fences are easier to construct than permanent fences, temporary fencing designs require more regular maintenance than permanent fencing to keep them running at optimal performance. We recommend at least four strands. Voltage meters come in everything from inexpensive models, with multiple LED lights that light up when a certain amount of voltage passes through it, to more expensive models, with an exact digital readout of the amount of voltage passing thought it. 3 0 obj var currentLocation = window.location; var sellablestring = "MONITOR STAFF"; Energizers come in a wide variety of makes and models, but all of them are designed to store energy and deliver it in short pulses through the connected wires. 2), 3) Is a combination of electrified wires on the outside of an existing fence (Fig. It ran off when we banged on the porch. However, they are more expensive. One of my favorite takeaways from a bear conference last year in Missoula, Mont., was a photo with this caption: Dont let your chickens kill a bear!. If you have no experience with electric fences, no fear! With the backyard chicken boom showing no sign of abating, Andrew Timmins would like to give newcomers a bit of constructiveadvice. Whenever possible, AC energizers are recommended for electrified fencing. Electrified netting comes in all-hot or ground-return (commonly called pos/neg) designs. Place the lowest wire approximately 8 to 12 inches above the ground and the top wire 36 to 42 inches high. It seems its mostly for backyard chickens, said Andy Lowe, warehouse manager for the Agway store in Winnisquam. This requires constructing a fence that: 1) Has multiple electrified wires (Fig. Your solar energizer must be placed in a location where it will receive enough sunlight to provide a sustainable charge for the battery. Bears are more likely to pay attention to an electrified fence that delivers a painful shock. <>>> Best protection from bears and other predators because there are smaller gaps than in a rope, tape or wire fence. In plain terms, a 1.0 joule energizer has a more painful shock value than a 0.2 joule energizer. The purpose of this guide is to provide basic information on properly designing an electrified fence for deterring bears. Commissioner Christopher Herrick, 1 National Life DriveDavis 2 tag_id.innerHTML = ' Buy this Image'; A minimum of five wires is recommended, with the top and bottom lines hot.