Fencing Strategies to Keep Predators Away from Your Herd

Liam Shaw with Gallagher Animal Management joins the show to discuss various fencing strategies cattle producers can implement to keep not only coyotes and wolves out of your calving pastures but also deer, elk and other wild game. This short episode is informative and to the point. Liam stresses that it is vital for livestock producers to implement these strategies before there is a problem if they know of predator issues in their geographical area.

Predator Management

Depending on your geographical location, predators can be an issue. This is especially true during calving season. Liam shares how turbo fladry can be used to keep wolves out of your pastures. “What we've done in the past is something called turbo flattery. And what it is, is around a cabin area, you'd set up a hot wire, but the hot wire would have electrified tape, or sometimes just ribbon hanging down. And it flutters in the wind, and it's got the electrical element, and it kind of throws off the wolves.”, Liam Shaw. Shaw also shares other effective fencing strategies such as night penning or building a solid 7-strand fence.

Wildlife Management

Wildlife can impact the type of fence you need when it comes to keeping them out of your haystacks or other areas. Shaw shares that you either need a really short (3 feet tall) or a really tall fence (8-10 feet tall) when it comes to elk and deer. The short fences allow them to jump over without ruining the fence and the tall fence keeps them out. If you have elk in the area, you will also need a larger, stronger energizer than what you would normally use to keep your cattle in or out of the area.

Infrastructure Tips

As usual, before you build the fence there are a few questions to always keep in mind. Make sure you know how big of an energizer is needed for the area and species you are keeping out. Be aware of what type of grounding system works best in your environment. Know if these fences are to be permanent or temporary. Do not build the fence right up against trees or other wildlife habitats. Give wildlife room to investigate what the fence is and recognize that it is a barrier. If it is too close, they won’t see it and this poses the risk of them running right through it.