Protecting forest nurseries, orchards, vegetable gardens and other green areas from damage caused by wild animals is a priority for anyone responsible for such land. To effectively protect crops against rabbits and hares, which can destroy a significant part of the plantation while searching for food, it is worth investing in a properly designed electric fence.
When building an , it is important to remember that wild hares and rabbits have much thicker fur than animals kept in domestic conditions. Their coat provides a certain degree of insulation, which makes them less sensitive to weak electrical impulses. For this reason, when choosing an particular attention should be paid to the power of the device. The energizer determines the amount of energy supplied to the fence and therefore the strength of the impulse received by the animal when it touches the conductors.
Mains-powered energizers are generally considered the most convenient and almost maintenance-free option. However, battery-powered energizers and solar energizers can be equally effective, although they require slightly more attention. A sufficiently powerful energizer generates a short, safe but unpleasant electrical impulse that discourages the animal from entering the protected area again.
To effectively protect orchards, a single line of may be sufficient. Because hares and rabbits are relatively small, the conductor should be positioned quite low – approximately 15 cm above the ground. This can make maintenance more demanding, as vegetation must not be allowed to touch the fence. Grass and weeds growing around the conductor can reduce its effectiveness, so they should be cut regularly. An additional ground wire can also be installed at a height of approximately 5–7 cm.
The electric fence line is best made using durable , such as wire or electric fence polywire with a diameter of around 2 mm. Using a special tensioner handle and wire tensioner, the conductors can be properly tightened so that no section hangs loosely.
For supporting the conductors, are a practical choice. At corners, they can be reinforced with . When building an electric fence against hares and rabbits, it is also important to use suitable insulators to prevent electrical leakage and faults.
