2009 - Ongoing

Hundreds of elk and deer throughout North America get caught in fencing each year.  The mission of the Wildlife Friendly Fencing Project at the ASCCA is to educate people locally about building fencing with wildlife in mind. There are ways to build fence that allow wildlife to cross safely over and under wires. Landowners can also install alternatives to fencing where property boundaries are needed, without a physical barrier.

The Facts

• less time and money is spent repairing fences when wildlife can get through
• 1 ungulate (elk, deer, moose…) gets tangled per 4km of fence on average per year
• 90% of deaths were fawns curled up near fences – likely because they could not follow their mothers across the fence
• most animals died when a leg got caught between the two top wires while trying to jump over
• woven wire fences topped with barbed wire were the most deadly (Harrington)

Click for projects list

Paige, C. 2008. A Landowner’s Guide to Wildlife Friendly Fences. Landowner/Wildlife Resource Program, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Helena, MT. 44pp.