keeping away new animals - part 2

jester7891 · February 12, 2008, 10:57:21 PM

Sorry I didn't make myself clearer with my first message. I have raccoons, skunks, coyotes and the rare bear. Electric fencing is not an option. I have a 9 year old and a half dozen kids within a half mile that would just be too interested to go close to the electric fence. I was thinking about some kind of cage. Any suggestions. Thanks.

Jerrymac · February 13, 2008, 12:34:55 AM

We have kids from 18 months old to over fourteen and electric fences all over the place for the livestock around here. No problem.

reinbeau · February 13, 2008, 08:06:16 AM

Quote from: Jerrymac on February 13, 2008, 12:34:55 AM
We have kids from 18 months old to over fourteen and electric fences all over the place for the livestock around here. No problem.

Really. It's like having a hot stove around. You may think I'm mean, but it only takes one touch to teach the child to never do it again. Of course you don't want that to happen, so educating them is the best defense.

That cage would have to be awfully strong to keep out a bear - ask the National Park Service about testing garbage barrels. The electric fence is really your only defense against a bear.

indypartridge · February 13, 2008, 08:20:03 AM

Ditto reinbeau and Jerrymac.
Electric fences are normal in rural areas. Tens of thousands of kids on farms are just fine around them. At 9 years old, my daughter was responsible for taking the horses back and forth from the dry lot (electric fence) to the pasture (electric fence) each day. Sometimes if the horses were frisky, she'd get bumped into the fence. An occasional shock for a girl who loves horses is no different than a occasional sting for a guy who loves bees.

danno · February 13, 2008, 09:08:53 AM

We grew up with fences. My kids have grown up with them and my grandkids will grow up with them. Beleave it or not no one has died yet. Everyone has either accidentally touch one or many by a dare from freind. Its not pleasant but its only is a attention getter. Tell the kids what it is and put up signs around the perimiter.

Robo · February 13, 2008, 09:29:12 AM

I do have to agree on the electric fence, but won't harp on it as it has been covered very well by the folks already.

I can share that I have had many experiences with bear and the electric fence IS the only thing that I have found to work. If you search the forum, you can read about my experiences, but I have had them climb over a 25ft garage roof, rip the door off my shed and bust thru 8ft fencing to get to my bees. Building any type of enclosure to keep them out would be way to expensive.

By the way, kids will only touch (or pee on :-P) an electric fence once.

Jerrymac · February 13, 2008, 12:18:02 PM

Quote from: Robo on February 13, 2008, 09:29:12 AM
By the way, kids will only touch an electric fence once.

Well maybe. My grandson was out playing and took off running towards the neighbors horses. He had to far a head start and no one could catch him in time. As he got to the electric wire he grabbed it with both hands and raised it up so he could shoot right under it without slowing down. Perhaps it was the combination dry ground and rubber soled tennis shoes but he didn't get a shock.

danno · February 13, 2008, 12:37:54 PM

One of my chargers got a lighting strike this past summer so I bought a cheap one for 24.00 to replace it. To check it I slapped it a couple of times and felt nothing so I touched it and barely felt a shock. First I thought it was faulty but then thought hey i have rubber sole shoes on I slipped one off and tried it again. OMG!!! I was about 4 ft from the charger and in 49 yrs haven't gotton one quite like but I'll still here to tell about it.

SystemShark · February 13, 2008, 02:31:53 PM

I don't have any experience with elec fences and kids but in highschool my mom wanted to put electric collars on our dogs who kept digging under our fence to get out. So a friend and I installed a radio system around the parameter and before we started training the dogs we both tested the devices on ourselves. I don't think anyone wants to kill anything if it can be avoided..so the elec fence is a great option because its just a reminder to stay away from an area.

Other fencing won't work because a bear will just tear it down unless its brick or cement I guess. Maybe some kind of humane live traps? (Not that you'd want to trap a bear)... I dunno.

Kathyp · February 13, 2008, 03:13:16 PM

many dittos to the above. i tried to keep my granddaughter from touching the fence, but she was a stubborn one. finally just let her grab the thing. self trained in one lesson. never did it again.

Bennettoid · February 13, 2008, 03:43:11 PM

I was watching my 9 yr old son and his 2 buddies playing "Dare Ya" with the pasture fence the other day. They took turns getting zapped and laughing at each other.

Burl · February 13, 2008, 04:00:10 PM

Shocking , isn't it ?

poka-bee · February 13, 2008, 09:08:26 PM

I agree with everyone. One of the best & easiest ways to teach kids bout the "natural" consiquences (sp??) of their actions! I had a home daycare & never had a problem...except for the older boys who would do the "dare" & laugh thing! They do pulse the charge , many times I have hit it & it took a couple of pulses to knock me one! Bears have wet noses & fat so are very sensitive to the charge...pigs are too. my potbellied wouldn't get near anything even string on the ground! She was only zapped 1x & remembered for 11 years!

Jody

Cindi · February 14, 2008, 10:10:57 AM

Danno, now that was a funny one. Hee, hee. Kathy, shame on you :lol: :lol: :lol: letting your Granddaughter push you around, ;) :). Some kids just have to learn the hard way, no ifs, ands, or buts, period. My youngest gal was like that, still is and probably always will be, lessons in that school of hard knocks. Great day, beautiful day, beautiful life. Cindi