Tips for Creating Wildlife Friendlier Fences
- Use natural vegetation in the form of trees, bushes and gardens to delineate property boundary instead of a fence.
- If the fence is strictly aesthetic, try a low post and rail fence that wildlife can easily jump.
- Consider fencing only a portion of your property as a child’s play area, dog run or to protect a garden from wildlife.
- The height of the toprail should be no higher than 38-40 inches.
- If wire is desired, only use smooth wire and make sure the bottom wire is at least 16 inches off the ground to allow young animals and antelope to pass under.
- Choose a post and rail fence over a buck n’ rail fence, which is generally too tall and too wide for wildlife to navigate.
- Use fencing to enhance a wildlife corridor by using different kinds of fence for different purposes.
Learn more in the Wyoming Landowner’s Handbook Fences and Wildlife PDF.