Our Blog - The Fence Post

Guarding Your Pets from Wildlife Aggressors

January 14, 2019 | by Joe Morrell

Coyotes Raccoons Skunks Mountain Lions Woodchucks

Protect Your Vulnerable Loved Ones

As more undeveloped land is taken for house lots and commercial areas, the natural habitat for wildlife is increasingly restricted. Sightings of animals such as coyotes and deer are more frequent. The need for ways to protect pets from potentially aggressive wildlife increases. Here are some strategies in avoiding dangerous interactions with a variety of animals, your pets, and you.

Coyotes

One of the best ways to keep pets safe is to build a wire fence. To protect against coyotes, it is best to use a six-foot height. You can either bury 12 inches in the ground or bend it so it lays on top of the ground to the outside of the enclosure as an apron. This will discourage digging.

There are many choices of welded wire fencing and woven wire fencing meshes available:

Welded wire fencing - Galvanized Before Weld (GBW), Galvanized After Weld (GAW) and Vinyl Coated (VC)

14 gauge, 1" x 2" and 2" x 4" mesh

12.5 gauge, 2" x 4" mesh

Woven wire fencing -

Apron fence - 17 gauge, 1.5" hex netting mesh

Deer & Wildlife fence - 12.5 gauge high tensile wire

2"x4" mesh non-climb fence - 12.5 gauge

Emu & Ostrich fence - 12.5 gauge

Poultry & Garden/Deer & Orchard fence - 14.5 gauge wire

Notes on Coyotes

Generally content to stay out of sight, a hungry coyote may make an appearance. They are resilient and their numbers are increasing in some areas despite efforts to control them. Closer at hand than one realizes, they create dens in forested areas, in parks (yes, city parks too) and greenbelts. Coyote attacks are usually linked to being fed by humans and those rare attacks involve children six and younger for the most part. They will move on once they realize there are no vittles to tempt them. They are natural predators of dogs, feral cats, and outdoor cats sometimes; however, they are more interested in rodents, berries, grasses, and your vegetable garden.

Naturally, avoiding contact is best
Dawn and dusk are times when they roam--avoid walking a dog at these times (easier said than done)
Your dog must be kept on a leash and not far from you
Dogs are vulnerable to diseases that coyotes harbor--be sure your dogs' vaccinations are updated
If a coyote comes too close, appear larger by standing on something (a rock or stump) and act in a threatening way, appearing as a danger, not prey
Use noisemaking equipment to ward off a coyote that shows up repeatedly

Raccoons

cute

Electric Fence

Because Raccoons are excellent climbers and diggers, an electric fence is one method for controlling them. A couple of lines of electric fence at a distance of about 8 inches above ground and another line about 8 inches away from the fence is good. Burying the fence 6 inches underground and at a width of a foot will also help. However, there are no guarantees with raccoons, they are agile and clever.

Regular Fence

It's possible to use regular wire fencing, but it must be thick enough so they can't shred it (as they would with something like chicken wire. Louis Page can advise.) Making sure that the fence is far enough from what you want to protect is crucial as they can reach in and do damage. At the top, it is necessary to bend the fencing outward--away from the pen.

Notes on Raccoons

Widespread across North America, when provoked raccoons are vicious. Raccoons aren't looking for a fight, but if cornered and threatened they will eviscerate an animal. Their teeth and claws are little daggers.

never feed a raccoon--this is a major reason why they lose their fear of humans and come closer than they should
keep pet food indoors
make sure that the area around a barbecue is kept clean
trash containers lids should be secure
pet doors must be raccoon-proof
cats are more prone to diseases that raccoons carry--keep your cat's vaccinations up to date
don't chase a raccoon away, it may be threatened and invite attack

Not so cute

Skunks

A fence to ward off skunks

Skunks are not gifted climbers and that's good news for us. There are methods to secure a garden area as skunks dig around plants in search for grubs. To control these diggers, apron fencing, two feet wide, must be partially buried a couple of inches around the circumference of the area you want to protect and at a height of four to five feet. This will discourage dogs and coyotes as well.

Mercifully, skunks find humans and their pets an aberration, so they limit their foraging time to the night. Lights and activity usually repel them, so contact is rare. The spraying happens when a skunk perceives its backed into a corner or surprised. Interestingly, the spraying is used as a last resort and cannot be employed again for three or four days--I know, cold comfort, if you have been sprayed.

do not attempt to scare off a skunk--back away
a dog must be completely controlled for a skunk to back down
in bad situations, saucers of ammonia may work as a repellent to skunks and many wild animals
if the worst happens, have nearby: Dawn dishwashing soap, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and old towels (to be discarded)

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Clean up brush and other debris around your property to keep animals from building nests. Seal off holes and cracks in your house. Look around your barn for entry sites and fill these in. Make your space as inhospitable to wildlife as possible. Orphaned wild animals should be left alone--their parents are often not too far off and will return to them.

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Mountain Lions

Tall Fencing Required

Generally, pets are safe in the yard during the day unless there have been reports of a sighting; however, nighttime is another story--this is the time when mountain lions are most active and pets should remain indoors.
For the protection of your livestock, tall fencing is required. Mountain lions are powerful: they can jump up to 15 feet and can leap a distance of 40 feet.

The name "mountain lion" includes cougars, pumas, and panthers. The reference to lions is only related to their color. Cougar is the most common name in North America. Largely found in the western areas of North America, there are some populations east of the Mississippi that are small. There is a subspecies in Florida, called the Florida Panther, which is highly endangered.

Deer are a mainstay of mountain lions and not attracting deer to your property is an important safeguard.

Woodchucks

Small dogs that dig (good example: terriers) can be vulnerable to a woodchuck that is sensing its territory is being invaded. Also, dogs that are protective of their space can be more aggressive to invaders and prompt an altercation. Woodchucks have razor-sharp teeth and can become hostile when cornered; though admittedly this being rare, animals are unpredictable. Cats are generally not threatened. What is most likely threatened on your property is your garden.

Deterring a Woodchuck from Burrowing and Climbing

The clever woodchuck moves below ground of course, and above.

A 6-foot fence is required as a minimum, with 5-foot posts.
Chicken wire should be dug in 10 inches or more below ground level.
Leave a foot of chicken wire unattached from the post at the top and bend it outwards. This prevents the woodchuck from getting a good grip for climbing over the fence.

Another possibility is:

Place 3 feet of chicken wire flat on the ground around the perimeter of the garden.
After which, secure a 4 to 6-foot fence vertically 6 inches in from the chicken wire edge which leave 2 1/2 feet of chicken wire on the outside on the ground.
At the top, leave 12 inches of the chicken wire bent outwards away from the garden, unsecured.
The woodchuck will not be able to dig under the vertical fence because of the 3 feet of chicken wire surrounding the garden.

Image from Mass Audubon Society.org

As the Old Farmer's Almanac advises: The best woodchuck deterrent is a fence.

Gophers

Gophers are highly destructive animals. They live in burrows and like to eat many of the plants that people have in their yards and gardens. They are voracious--eating half their body weight each day. If a family of gophers takes up residence in your yard, you could quickly find your lawn taken over by gopher mounds and tunnels. It is easy enough to kill or capture gophers once they arrive, but it would be greatly preferable to keep them out in the first place.

Fencing is a very effective tool for keeping gophers out of your yard. What kind of wire mesh do you need? To keep the gophers out, choose wire mesh fencing with no more than ½-inch openings. Gophers are burrowing animals, so the fence should extend at least 18 inches below the surface. Because it will be highly susceptible to corrosion, choose galvanized steel or vinyl coated fence wire. If your yard is already populated by gophers, you will need to use one of the other methods to get rid of the gophers once you install the fence; otherwise, you could end up with a gopher sanctuary. Electric fencing is another option for restraining gophers.

The Bad News on Gophers

Gophers can cause a number of problems. The aesthetic damage to your landscaping is just the beginning. Gophers also eat garden plants like carrots, lettuce, and radishes. Gophers also carry dangerous diseases like rabies. They have sharp teeth, and like any other animal, they can be dangerous when they feel threatened. Worst of all, gophers make holes in your yard; these holes are a trip hazard for anybody, but especially for children and elderly individuals. Before you know it, a child could have a sprained ankle and an older person could end up with a broken ankle, wrist or hip. Then there are the diseases--

Rabies
Plague and hantavirus
Monkey Pox, the most common--which exhibits flu symptoms--aches, swollen glands, fatigue and small pustules on the skin

Their tunnels can cause soil erosion by diverting irrigation water. During a gopher's digging activity, lawn sprinkler systems and plastic water lines can be gnawed on and damaged.

A burrow system can cover an area of 200 to 2,000 square feet.
Food storage and nesting areas can be as deep as six feet.
Feeding burrows with a 3" diameter are most often 6" to 12" below ground.

Topics: woven wire, welded wire

Understanding Wire Gauges Used In Welded & Woven Wire Mesh & Fence

December 7, 2018 | by Duncan Page

Wire Gauge

What is it?
What does it mean?
How is it used to describe wire?

Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary defines wire gauge as any of various systems consisting of a series of standard sizes used in describing the diameter of wire.

It all starts with heavy coils of large diameter wire called rod made in a rolling mill. The rod is then shipped to a wire manufacturing mill. To make the wire used in wire fence and mesh, single strands are "drawn" through a series of increasingly smaller dies or plates and reduced to a specific gauge/diameter. The gauge is determined by the wire's final use - single strand wire, welded wire mesh or woven wire fence. Heating of the wire is not required in the drawing process.

Wire Gauges Through Time

There have been several different gauge designations since this process was introduced. Numbers have been used to designate wire diameter since 1735. They originally referred to the number of draws used in the process. The first draw was called 1 gauge, the second 2 gauge, the third 3 gauge, on down to the final draw of the thinnest wire being made. This is why thick wires have a lower gauge number than thin wires. 9 gauge wire is thicker than 14 gauge because it requires fewer "draws" than 14 gauge.

The Birmingham Wire Gauge, also known as the Stubs Iron Wire Gauge, was originally developed in early 19th-century England as a means of standardizing gauge sizes. It has been used in a medical setting (needles) since the early 20th century. In 1855, Brown and Sharpe established a formula-based progression of 39 steps - from 1 gauge through 40 gauge. This is now known as the American Wire Gauge and is used extensively in the United States.

Common Wire Gauges

The following values show in inches the most common gauges of wires used in welded and woven wire mesh and fence:

8.5 gauge - 0.155 inch

9 gauge - 0.1483 inch

10.5 gauge - 0.128 inch

11 gauge - 0.1205 inch

12.5 gauge - 0.099 inch

14 gauge - 0.080 inch

16 gauge - 0.0625 inch

18 gauge - 0.0475 inch

20 gauge - 0.0348 inch

21 gauge - 0.0317 inch

23 gauge - 0.0258 inch

27 gauge - 0.0173 inch

There are many different combinations of wire gauge and mesh size manufactured. You can select the right product for the requirements of your project.

Topics: wire gauges

5 Unique Styles of Fence

November 14, 2018 | by Duncan Page

1. Wattle Fence

An Historic Perspective to a Garden Fence

Wattle fences may be one of the oldest types of fencing still in use today. They were used in England long before medieval times. Traditionally the fences are built from straight, slender, flexible suckers or saplings of the willow tree up to 1-1/2" diameter. After the leaves are stripped, the ”withies” are woven between upright wood posts. Willow is an ideal wood because it is pliable and resists splintering. Other species, such as alder, can also be used.

A Variety of Benefits and Uses

Wattle fences are very strong and long-lasting. Willow posts often take root in the ground creating a living fence, perfect for containing animals and enclosing gardens and orchards. And the density of the fence makes an ideal windbreak.

The rustic, handwoven appearance of a wattle fence adds an attractive defining touch to any yard, garden or landscape. Some possible uses:

arches
towers
trellises
plant supports
garden accents
hurdles or fence panels
attractive garden borders to line walkways

Wattle construction is a great way to use trimmings for fence building materials. Instead of burning or destroying branches, use them in a creative way to beautify and add interest to your landscaping. Even though willow is the ideal wood, any type of wood can be used.

2. Lace Fence

Having grown up in a neighborhood where the lawns flowed into one another, when some new folks moved in and put up a stark chain link fence around the perimeter of their property, the neighbors were collectively horrified. Mercifully, they grew ivy on it.

However, a new type of fencing has been introduced by the Demakersvan design studio in Holland. Called lace fence, it is a combination of chain link fabric and the art of lace making.

The design possibilities - from floral themes to contemporary patterns and designs - are infinite. And you can submit your own designs. With this opportunity to customize each job, every lace fence is unique. Chain link fencing, a basic functional fence, can become a decorative and attractive work of art. Imagine coming up with a theme related to the property or space you are defining.

Lace Fence can be woven from both 11 and 12-1/2 gauge wires, either galvanized or vinyl coated. The wire mesh is securely clamped to a tubular frame. There are many different types of locations - both interior and exterior - where Lace Fence is currently in use, including but not limited to:

barrier fences in parks and other public areas

interior partitions in banks, restaurants, hotels and gyms

railing safety mesh on stairways, decks and balconies

decorative panels on the facades of commercial buildings

safety fences on apartment buildings

museum displays

Photograph of Lace Fence at The Design Center at Philadelphia University is used by permission. See this blog article to see more pictures of this unique fencing.

3. Worm Fence

Definition:

A fence, zigzag in plan, made of rails resting across one another at an angle - according to the Random House Dictionary.

This style of fencing is also known as Snake Fence, ZigZag Fence and Battlefield Fence - the latter term due to its presence on many Civil War battlefields (see video below). Worm Fence (also known as Virginia Worm fence) has been used in America since the 1600's. Easy to build, split wood rails are stacked on each other to create the fence. The ends of the rails alternate, creating the openings. For stability of the stacked rails, each section of fence is angled from the previous one, giving the appearance of a worm or snake.

No Post Holes, Rocky Terrain bonus

No vertical posts are required to build the fence. This both eliminates the need to dig post holes and makes the fence easy to install - a particular advantage in rocky terrain. Sometimes a pair of crossed posts would be used at the junction point of each section. This would allow the fence to be closer to a straight line. With a plentiful supply of wood and ease of construction, it is easy to understand why worm fence was the most common type of fence used in America by the late 1800's. It is gaining popularity today for use as a rustic fence that will add to the appearance of a piece of property and it is used in many outdoor historical museums.

4. Living Snow Fence

Strong winter winds can cause dangerous driving conditions. Not only does blowing snow dramatically reduce visibility but also treacherous drifts can accumulate across roadways and other open unprotected areas.

A Natural Windbreak

Several states have successful programs in place using living snow fence. The Iowa DOT has been developing and improving theirs for over 40 years. Living snow fencing is a natural barrier created by planting a combination of shrubs, trees, and grasses that act as a windbreak. In Iowa, rows are five feet apart and shrubs are set three feet apart within the row. Plantings are arranged so that the gaps in one row are filled by the plants in the next row. As the speed of the wind is disrupted and decreased, snow settles among and downwind from the plantings. Research shows that drifts will form downwind 10 to 12 times the height of the trees (100 to 120 feet downwind from a 10 tree). A concentrated and closely spaced placement of trees and shrubs results in shorter and deeper drifts. When positioned properly, living snow fences can greatly reduce the amount of plowing needed to keep roads open for travel. Winter travel is safer.

Environmental and Aesthetic Advantages of Snow Fences

There are benefits in addition to safety when living snow fencing is used:

Highway beautification is enhanced with native species of plants.

Environmental stewardship is promoted.

Trees, shrubs and grasses are excellent wildlife habitat all year.

Living snow fences slow and reduce erosion.

When measured during winter months the temperature of the pavement surface in areas protected by living snow fence were higher than the surface temperature in unprotected areas. In areas with severe cold, this greatly increases the effectiveness of chemicals used to prevent icing.

It is no longer necessary to install and remove wood or plastic snow fence.

5. Papercrete Fence

Ever heard of a fence made out of papercrete? What exactly is papercrete?

This video will show you how to make a 4' by 8' section of fencing - real DIY stuff, folks. A recipe follows--

Papercrete Ingredients--

30 pounds of concrete

18 pounds of joint compound

1 pound of boric acid

90 pounds of newspapers

Just add water and you're good to go!

But would you really want a papercrete fence around your house?

Topics: vinyl coated, Wire Coating, living fence, worm fence, lace fence

Philadelphia Zoo's Revolution

November 5, 2018 | by Joe Morrell

This month our spotlight shines on the Philadelphia Zoo

Philadelphia Zoo, America's first zoo and host to 1.2 million annual visitors now features the internationally ground-breaking and very captivating Zoo 360.

Zoo 360 is a campus-wide network of exploration trails--for animals! Featuring elevated trails surrounded with see-through hexagonal wire mesh that allow animals to roam above, across, and around the park. Animals are able to explore, circle through and around visitors, who can see them through tunnels of galvanized mesh, creating more interest and exercise for the animals and revolutionizing the experience for visitors. This allows animals to be observed in action and doing more of what they would do in the wild. Rather than existing in stationary exhibits--animals can wander, be more active, are less bored, which:

enhances their quality of life
lets them travel longer distances
allows them to explore a variety of environments
links habitats, where appropriate

Some examples of these roving exhibits:

Treetop Trail--smaller primates can visibly walk or swing through tops of trees.
Gorilla Treeway--higher places to observe and explore with an extensive area to move about.
Big Cat Crossing--tigers, lions, jaguars, leopards, pumas, and others are able to prowl about and get some exercise.
Meerkat Maze--an underground world where Meerkats can do what they do--running, digging, popping their heads out of their burrows and observing the scene above.

Here is a video that will give you a look at the latest developments at the Philadelphia Zoo.

And these smart folks at the zoo know that stainless steel mesh resists rust, corrosion, and stands up to harsh chemicals. They also use rust resistant vinyl coated mesh which resists destructive elements such as acid rain and guards against abrasion while the black coating works as an invisibility cloak, creating an undistracted view--much better than green and not as prone to glare as the galvanized grey. And the happy answer here is less maintenance because the galvanization is reinforced with highly bonded PVC which extends the life of the fence indefinitely.

Now, thinking about the animals' experience...

Inside those walls of mesh--an animal's environment can be enhanced through the provision of:

trees with various levels for perching
vines
a variety of ground, soil and rock modifications
nesting and den possibilities
programs of positive reinforcement that stimulate cognitive abilities
familiar and unfamiliar scents
recordings of sounds that would be heard in the wild
food that is hidden, buried or scattered so that an effort must be made to attain it as in the wild
toys that would be of particular interest to a given species
programs where you can sponsor a specific animal and also make contributions for toys etc.

Progress is being made and the Philadelphia Zoo is evidence of that. We here at Louis Page applaud all this innovation and fine work!

Topics: vinyl coated, Wire Mesh for Zoos, zoo, cages, wire mesh, hex mesh

Florence and After

September 20, 2018 | by Joe Morrell

An ongoing state of emergency

The Dangers are imminent

Our hearts go out to the people of North Carolina and the massive suffering that they are enduring. The dreadful personal loss, psychological trauma, and physical setbacks are monumental. It is overwhelming to think of the reconstruction and the distribution of supplies that will be necessary for the short term and ongoing. Here, a short example of their present distress:

Beyond Drastic

Farmers are devastated. The poultry industry has never seen such unprecedented losses with millions of chickens and turkeys taken by the waters as well as the numerous pork farms that have lost so much. Not only livestock, but also barns, containment structures, and equipment have been damaged and most will face enormous replacement costs. Wire mesh fencing will be a necessity for many farms and parks--both state and federal. For farmers, this will be a watershed (no pun intended) moment as they consider whether to stay in business. Erosion along the coast will require sand fencing and costly structural safeguards. Overall damage estimates may run to 22 billion dollars, and that is probably lowballing it.

A Future

Let's get these people to Thanksgiving Day--that they'll have something to give thanks for, as our country and each of us individually reflects now on the measures to be taken in helping these folks just survive and then rebuild. Interestingly, sending supplies can be more disruptive than helpful, forcing people on the ground to receive, organize, house, and spend time apportioning the goods. Regrettably, what is sent often misses the mark. Sending cash to trusted aid organizations is best for the most part. At Louis Page, we are doing what we can to give assistance with these efforts.