Wildlife friendly fencing

Wildlife-friendly fencing includes alternatives to traditional barbed wire fencing. Barbed wire is hazardous to native wildlife causing:

• Wildlife deaths or injuries from entanglements and collisions
• Barriers to safe passage to important habitat and resources.

There are now fencing options available that can minimise risks to wildlife while still being effective for farming, and many landholders are adopting these new solutions.

In short: To make fencing wildlife friendly, the top strand of fences should not be barbed wire. It’s even better when the top two strands are not barbed wire. 

The next time you are investing in fencing, consider:

Replacing the top strand with barbless double-strand twisted wire

The top wire of a fence is the most dangerous for wildlife. Barbed wire and wildlife-friendly barbless wire use the same kit for installation, so it costs the same and cattle can’t break it.

Straight/plain wire can also be used but it needs different tools for installation. Twisted barbless is a straight swap.

Replacing the top two strands with barbless double-strand twisted wire.

Use only three or four strands total (depending on your stock). This helps the passage of cassowaries and tree kangaroos.

Not ready to replace your fencing?

If you’ve only recently installed you fencing you can adapt it to make it more wildlife friendly by making the top strand more visible. You can either paint the top strands of wire white or add materials that move in the wind (wide white electric fence tape is effective in hotspot sections).

Alternatively you can place poly pipe (preferably white) over sections of the fence where animals have become entangled in the past. It needs to be secured with cable ties to prevent cattle stripping and eating it.

Other options

Electric fencing and virtual fencing (neckbands) are effective ways to control livestock whilst being safe for wildlife.

What to avoid

Five strand wire is the worst for wildlife – much better to use four-strand wire.

Mesh fencing (often used to contain dogs) prevents wildlife from moving through habitat. If you need mesh, consider creating a passage for wildlife by fencing only part of the block.