Time for an Electric Fence?

C

CDGfig

Active member
Does anyone here have experience using an electric fence to keep the critters out?

So far this season, I have not had a chance to try a ripe fig. Not one. Cameras tell me that I'm primarily dealing with racoons and opossums (with a rare skunk or fox). I live in a small community that borders the Brazos River. The river and adjacent golf course affords the critters easy access. No hunting is allowed. Only live traps. Trapping and hauling them somewhere on the other side of the river is a never-ending task. Time to step up my game somehow. So I'm considering an electric fence. Thoughts?

P.S. It could be worse. Folks closer to the river regularly deal with feral hogs tearing up their landscaping. You would be surprised how much damage they can do in a night.
 
I have zero hands-on experience, but I've done extensive research and am considering installing one this summer.

Here is a good video (not the installation/effectiveness, but you can learn a lot from it) on this topic from someone who did it. There are links to two more of his videos about this in the video description.

Youtube link -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeFtFXzUK78&list=WL&index=39

Return wires seem to be the key point in having good results. If I do it, I will definitely install them. Here is an excellent video on this:
Youtube link -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPYkSBzhYws&list=WL&index=36

Another key thing is the Joule rating. You will see from the video linked above that a low joule rating had quite poor results for him. My research shows that I'd need at least 0.6 joules, and better yet, closer to 1 joule. Most recommendations for raccoons fall in the 0.1 - 0.2 joules, but a lot of users on Reddit recommend a higher rating, as low ratings aren't effective, despite what marketing materials say.
 
Figgin' A said:
I have zero hands-on experience, but I've done extensive research and am considering installing one this summer.

Here is a good video (not the installation/effectiveness, but you can learn a lot from it) on this topic from someone who did it. There are links to two more of his videos about this in the video description.

Youtube link -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeFtFXzUK78&list=WL&index=39

Return wires seem to be the key point in having good results. If I do it, I will definitely install them. Here is an excellent video on this:
Youtube link -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPYkSBzhYws&list=WL&index=36

Another key thing is the Joule rating. You will see from the video linked above that a low joule rating had quite poor results for him. My research shows that I'd need at least 0.6 joules, and better yet, closer to 1 joule. Most recommendations for raccoons fall in the 0.1 - 0.2 joules, but a lot of users on Reddit recommend a higher rating, as low ratings aren't effective, despite what marketing materials say.
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Great information. Thank you for providing me a head-start on my research.
 
We put one in at my father's place that I (un)fortunately maintain. Nothing gets in, except the one tube that I did not reconnect it and half the veggies got eaten, so I would say it works very well as long as you keep it connected.
 
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