Electric Fencing: reducing human-carnivores conflicts on Southern Vancouver Island
Nitya Harris, the founder of Coexistence for Carnivores Alliance, Peter Pauwels, conservation officer on Southern Vancouver Island, and Dan O'Connell, a local resident of Metchosin, provide insights on electric fencing and how such tool can prevent human-carnivores conflicts.
Electric fencing as a bear deterrent
Jeff Marley and a volunteer installing the fence
Volunteers helping install the fence
Do you remember Jeff Marley from Margo Supplies Ltd? Not only does he talk the talk, he also walks the walk. After having shared his limitless knowledge about bear deterrent methods with us in September 2018, Jeff has come back in April 2019 to help install an electric fence on a property in Metchosin that has experienced sheep losses over the last few years. To better understand what happens when we install an electric fence, we have set up cameras to document bear behaviour in response to electric fencing. A big kudo and thank you to Jeff and the volunteers who have made this project happen. Stay tuned for more information on this project.
THE BEAR DETERRENTS WORKSHOP FOR LOCAL FARMERS
Jeff Marley of Margo Supplies Ltd presenting about electric fencing.
Participants to the workshop
In Metchosin, Sooke and Highlands there has been an increase of impact on food producers from bears. This has taken the form of sheep and goat depredation, loss of bee hives and loss of fruit and damage to fruit trees.
To help local producers prevent damages by bears we have organized a workshop with a special guest in Metchosin on September 15th 2018: Jeff Marley of Margo Supplies Ltd. He has shared with the 38 participants to the workshop his over 35 years of experience and expertise in the use of electric fencing, and noise and light deterrents to bears.
Some of the key messages shared by Jeff with the farmers were:
Search the area of weakness when you install a bear deterrent. Bears are smart and will find a way in if they can see an easier access.
Be creative and adapt the suggested tools to your specific needs.
Use existing fencing and structure to install electric fences, it will be more cost effective.
Grass is the biggest issue for electric fencing effectiveness. Keep the bottom of your fence clean from grass for proper functioning.
Shrub touching your fence does not reduce the effectiveness of this tool.
Tight wires are best as they dissuade the bears much better to dig into your property.
Carnivores deterrents
Solar battery for electric fencing
