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Electric fences zap compost nibblers

WildSafeBC ups the voltage to reduce wildlife-human conflict

Bears, deer, raccoons and more. When it comes to unwanted human-wildlife interactions, bears are just the tip of the animal iceberg.

But according to WildSafeBC officials, installing an electric fence can do much to keep wildlife from rummaging through compost heaps, or clambering up backyard fruit trees.

“If you are caring for animals, it is very important to secure them from wildlife,” said Francine Ulmer, WildSafeBC’s Powell River community coordinator. “Electric fences are a proven method for securing your livestock. [An electric fence]…can also reduce deer coming into your garden.”

WildSafeBC, evolved from the successful BC Bear Aware program, and delivered through the BC Conservation Foundation, aims to educate and support the public in reducing conflict between humans and all sorts of wildlife.

Ulmer hopes by educating the public on the proper use and installation of electric fences, human-wildlife conflict can be significantly reduced.

“We want to encourage animals as much as possible to search out wild sources of food,” she said. She explained how animals conditioned to human food sources quickly become seen as nuisances that might require expensive or even deadly action, such as being moved or put down.

To discourage wildlife, Ulmer said, wildlife-proof fences must be installed with determined hungry creatures in mind rather than livestock.

To be effective, electric fencing must meet certain requirements. According to Ulmer, to deter predators or hungry deer, fencing should carry anywhere between 6,000 and 10,000 volts of charge—a number significantly higher than the 2,000 or 4,000 volts required for livestock fencing.

Additionally, more lines of wire are recommended.

“Five lines of wire, starting from six inches off the ground going up,” said Ulmer. “That way you really make sure that if a bear came sniffing along the ground, their nose would hit at least one or more of the bottom wires.”

Although leaping animals, such as deer or cougars, are more difficult to keep out with electric fencing—because animals must be grounded to receive an electric shock—according to WildSafeBC, even placing a single strand of electric wire one and a half metres from an existing fence can limit jumping ability and raise the stakes on accessing backyard foodstuffs.

Ulmer also recommended placing and moving fencing according to specific seasonal requirements of both plants and animals. For example, she recommends putting electric fencing around fruit trees when they come into season, and being particularly aware of when animals might venture into the garden, what might attract them (for instance bird feeders, chicken coops, bee hives or compost) and cordoning off those areas.

Although signage around electric fencing is required, for safety reasons WildSafeBC guidelines stipulate that wiring be approved by either the Canadian Standards Association or Underwriter Laboratory.

“Kids learn, dogs learn,” said Ulmer. “A lot of children grew up on farms with electric fences and have survived.”

Michael Johnson, a resident of Wildwood, said he installed an electric fence in his backyard after attending one of Ulmer’s workshops.

“It was definitely not a problem to install,” said Johnson of the five-string, grounded 6,500-volt fence.

Johnson, who prior to installing the fence would see bears and deer in his garden and compost, said because he has children and pets he only turns the electric fence on at night when the animals are most active.

While bylaws were modified in Williams Lake and Kaslo, requiring owners of backyard chickens and bees to install mandatory electric fencing, in and around Powell River there is no such demand—and zoning restricts the use of electric fencing in some areas. Electric fences are permitted outside city limits, however, within the city whether or not these fences are allowed is dependent on zoning.

According to City of Powell River bylaws, electric fences are only permitted in A1, A2, and RA1 zones. Electric fencing is permitted in many areas of Townsite, Cranberry, as well as east of Manson Avenue. There are some exceptions, so for more information on zoning readers should consult the city’s website www.powellriver.ca.

To learn more about the correct installation of electric fences readers can consult materials available on the WildSafeBC website or email Ulmer at prrd@wildsafebc.com.