Location
Orange Beach, AL
Start Date
1-3-2017 10:00 AM
Description
We constructed a fence enclosure with the objective of preventing escape of rat snakes (Elaphe obsolete) as part of a repellent study. A 25cm trench was dug in a 30m × 30m square (0.1ha) in an unimproved pasture. Wood posts (8.9cm × 8.9cm × 2.0m) were secured on corners and at 15m intervals between each corner at an average height of 128.5cm ± 0.5 height with an inward slope of 17.1o ± 0.5. Steel T-posts (2.0m) were erected to a similar height and angle at 4m intervals between wood posts and fitted with plastic insulated caps. Three strands of 17-gauge wire were secured to the top, middle and 10cm above the ground of each post. Plastic sheeting (3.04m × 30.4m × 4mm) was draped over the suspended wires with the bottom 25cm secured within the trench with dirt. All overlapping seams of plastic were secured with polypropylene tape. A single strand of 17-gauge electric fence wire and a strand of electric polyfence tape were attached by duct tape to the top of the inside of the plastic fence. An additional strand of electric polyfence was attached by duct tape to the plastic 20cm above the ground. A loop of the electric polytape was also attached in each corner and connected to the wire and polytape on the top and lower strand of polytape. The electric fence strand and all polytape was energized by a solar powered charger with an output > 5000v. During two releases of 5 mature rat snakes (n = 10; 136.7cm ± 6.4), containment within the enclosure was similar (p > 0.05), and limited to 9.1h ± 1.8 and 9.4h ± 1.8 respectively. Video analysis indicated snakes were climbing the electric charged polyfence tape and escaping over the fence without evidence of receiving an electric shock. This fence design was not sufficient to maintain mature rat snakes.
Recommended Citation
Weisser, Mckenzie; Creamer, Danielle; Smith, Daryon; and Gallagher, George R., "Anatomy of a Snake Fence Intended to Prevent Escape of Non-Venomous Rat Snakes (Elaphe obsolete) from an Enclosure" (2017). Wildlife Damage Management Conference. 4.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/wdmconference/2017/posters/4
Anatomy of a Snake Fence Intended to Prevent Escape of Non-Venomous Rat Snakes (Elaphe obsolete) from an Enclosure
Orange Beach, AL
We constructed a fence enclosure with the objective of preventing escape of rat snakes (Elaphe obsolete) as part of a repellent study. A 25cm trench was dug in a 30m × 30m square (0.1ha) in an unimproved pasture. Wood posts (8.9cm × 8.9cm × 2.0m) were secured on corners and at 15m intervals between each corner at an average height of 128.5cm ± 0.5 height with an inward slope of 17.1o ± 0.5. Steel T-posts (2.0m) were erected to a similar height and angle at 4m intervals between wood posts and fitted with plastic insulated caps. Three strands of 17-gauge wire were secured to the top, middle and 10cm above the ground of each post. Plastic sheeting (3.04m × 30.4m × 4mm) was draped over the suspended wires with the bottom 25cm secured within the trench with dirt. All overlapping seams of plastic were secured with polypropylene tape. A single strand of 17-gauge electric fence wire and a strand of electric polyfence tape were attached by duct tape to the top of the inside of the plastic fence. An additional strand of electric polyfence was attached by duct tape to the plastic 20cm above the ground. A loop of the electric polytape was also attached in each corner and connected to the wire and polytape on the top and lower strand of polytape. The electric fence strand and all polytape was energized by a solar powered charger with an output > 5000v. During two releases of 5 mature rat snakes (n = 10; 136.7cm ± 6.4), containment within the enclosure was similar (p > 0.05), and limited to 9.1h ± 1.8 and 9.4h ± 1.8 respectively. Video analysis indicated snakes were climbing the electric charged polyfence tape and escaping over the fence without evidence of receiving an electric shock. This fence design was not sufficient to maintain mature rat snakes.