Abstract:
Two factors have led to curtailment of some lethal methods of combating
sheep predators and limit the use of others: changes in public attitudes
and more restrictive state and federal regulations. Ranchers now use more nonlethal methods for reducing losses of sheep to predator attack. Electric fence tests in Oregon and other western states have shown that fencing can be a useful, nonlethal control tool. Fences using only electrified wires generally have alternate strands of “hot” and ground wires. Wires are charged by electric fence controllers connected to 115-volt AC or 12-volt batteries. Prototype fences had 12 wires, but most electric fences now use only 7 or 9 wires. Best results are obtained with fence controllers that generate 4,000 to 5,000 volts at the fence and have a current flow time of about 1⁄1000 of a second.
