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Elsevier, Biological Conservation, 4(127), p. 429-437

DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2005.09.002

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The efficacy of feral cat, fox and rabbit exclusion fence designs for threatened species protection

Journal article published in 2006 by K. E. Moseby, J. L. Read ORCID
This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.
This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.

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Abstract

Pen and field trials were used to test the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of wire netting and electric fence designs as barriers to feral cats, foxes and rabbits in northern South Australia. A 180 cm high wire netting fence with foot apron and a curved ‘floppy’ overhang effectively contained most rabbits, feral cats and foxes during pen trials and proved effective with intensively monitored paddock-scale exclosures. A reduced height fence of 115 cm did not reduce effectiveness of the fence during fence trials but paddock-scale trials are yet to be completed. Conventional 40 mm diameter hexagonal “rabbit netting” was not an effective barrier against young independent rabbits and it is recommended that 30 mm hexagonal netting should be used. A 60 cm wide external netting overhang, curved in an arc and supported by lengths of heavy gauge wire, effectively precluded more feral cats and foxes than a 30 cm wide overhang angled upwards. The 30 cm foot apron was augmented in erosion-prone dunes and watercourses by the addition of wider netting or rubber matting to prevent incursions. Posts, and particularly corners, were targeted by feral cats and foxes and the efficacy of the fence was improved by using steel, rather than timber posts. Electric wires offset from the netting at heights of 120 and 150 cm provided a shock to animals exploring the base of the overhang and further improved the fence efficacy. PVC conduit rollers on the top wire were not effective.Material costs ranged from AUD $8814 per km for the 115 cm high fence to AUD $12,432 per km for the 180 cm high fence with two electric wires. The non-standard 30 mm hexagonal netting accounted for 57% of the material costs of the low netting fence. Increased demand for this netting may reduce the expense of rabbit exclusion. Expenses could also be reduced where existing stock fences are modified by the addition of netting.