Publications

Using electric fences to protect stored hay from elk and deer

Description

Alberta landholders in the natural range of elk have occasionally suffered substantial losses of stored hay during winter. Depredation of hay and greenfeed bales by elk is worst when snowfall occurs early and the snow is deep. Fencing hay yards with 2.1 m high mesh wire has been an effective, but expensive, way to keep elk away from stored hay. A more economical way to prevent elk and deer damage employing electrified fencing is being used by farmers in British Columbia. To test the effectiveness of this kind of fencing in Alberta, an electric fence was built around a one acre hay yard near Niton Junction. Elk had been responsible for serious hay depredation at the farm in the previous winter. Elk were unable to penetrate the electric fence. Not only was the fence effective, but the electric fence cost much less to build than a comparable fence using barrier mesh. The material cost for building an electric fence is about half the cost of a mesh fence.

Updated

January 1, 1993

Tags
deer electric fences elk fences hay wildlife control

Title and publication information

Type
Fact Sheet
Series Title

Agri-facts

Extent

5 pages

Frequency

Once

Publisher / Creator Information

Publisher

Agriculture, Food, and Rural Development (1992-2006)

Contributor

Acorn, Robert C.

Place of Publication

Edmonton

Subject Information

Topic
Agriculture

Resource Dates

Date Created

1993-01-01

Date Added

2016-01-05T21:11:44.438262

Date Modified

1993-01-01

Date Issued

1993-01-01

Audience information

Identifiers

AGDEX number

684-17

NEOS catalogue key

2394186

Usage / Licence

Contact

Contact Name

Agriculture and Forestry

Contact Email

duke@gov.ab.ca