Deer at gate
This story is as old as Brer Rabbit, pitching farmers against wily and cunning critters whose capacity for destruction would only rival a natural disaster.
Fast forward into modern agriculture and the problems remain, intensified by modern attitudes toward wildlife preservation and respect for our shared ecosystem. In today’s world there is a lot of pressure to use the land in a way that is ethical and preserves our shared environment as much as possible.
The farmers and land users have risen notably to the challenge. With innovations in all sorts of areas, they wage battle using sounds and lights and nets and dogs in their tool belt but what has seen the greatest rise in use is arguably the fence.
Once only seen around the most vulnerable of farms, it is almost uncommon today to see farms without wildlife fencing surrounding the perimeter. Sometimes multiple farms will be linked together to form miles of uninterrupted fence line. These fences have proven to be an effective barrier but effective barriers also come with unintended consequences.
Australia’s Great Dingo Fence is the second longest structure in the world – It is also a case study in the environmental effect of ecological segregation. While it is vital to protect Australia’s sheep industry, the wider effects are visible on both sides of the line. In North America we have the expanded border wall in the U.S. Intended to prevent the migration of people, it also prevents wildlife from moving between the United States and Mexico
Animals have always needed room to move for migration, getting to sources of water or shelter, and for mating to start. By segregating our world with fencing we disrupt the natural balance of life for these creatures. From the low and fast flight patterns of grouse, who often fly into Paige wire, to the impact on insect populations being trapped by spiders who can conveniently build webs in the squares of woven fencing, human infrastructure has an impact on the wider ecosystem.
There is another particularly frustrating issue that arises when farms are completely enclosed by fence lines; how to evict unwanted intruders! Once animals inevitably dig, crawl, jump or smash their way into the farm, they often can find themselves comfortably trapped inside!
It’s not a problem unique to the farming world. Departments of highways across Canada and the U.S. have been perpetually dealing with the issue of animals on roadways, and the use of roadside fencing has created the same issue of preventing animal migration and trapping animals on roadsides, only to be entangled or spooked onto roadways. In the 70’s highways departments in the US states of Colorado and Idaho started studying and adopting the use of one-way deer and animal release gates.
Gate system
The use of these one-way release gates outside of our national parks and highways has been slow, but the advantages to farmers who use these gates is the same: Farms see less deer and animals for shorter stays and the animals are able to transit and live healthier and more natural lives.
The best part about one-way release wildlife gates? They save money! When used on highways the cost of the gate programs is vastly less than the cost in vehicle damage and animal life. Similarly, in agriculture, the price of the gate and installation is long forgotten after a lifetime of savings in damage to crops.
Decided you want to install one of these devices on your fence line? Great! Except where would you buy one? Well until recently, nowhere, which is why Munckhof Manufacturing has decided to commercialize and produce these gates for the general market.
You can buy them at www.munckhof.com
Fence mockup
One way release wildlife gate.
