Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So currently i live in a somewhat suburban community. Ive been here almost close to 10 years and have never seen a raccoon or opossum. I just purchased 3acres in the country. There is a lot of wildlife like Deer, Jack Rabbits,ect... I have not seen a Raccoon or Opossum out there but have no doubt there out there. So here in the next few weeks i am going to be fencing in the land. I am concerned with keeping unwanted critters out. In my friends back yard I have seen some pretty mangled Tortoises due to unknown critters in the night. Has anybody built a fence this size and if so any tips on protecting the lil guys. My first thoughts were to electrify the top of it. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

I put up 5'chain link around 2.6 ac. One expence I did not figgure was clearing the fence line! I was worn out before I started and a few grand over budget. My tortoises are not diggers so I did not put any of it underground. I have a friend that put 1 ft.under ground for Galup's. Very labor intensive. On my fence I put sheet metal at the bottom on the inside. Between the metal (1-2' high)I put this black shade cloth kinda stuff to keep the metal and chain link from rubbing against each other as not to cause ware/rust damage. It also looks better from your neighbors view point. Also along the bottom on the inside I placed landscape timbers. They will rot over time but startes a burm or build up of dirt that can be planted with seeds. This bottom metal has several purposes. Most animals on the outside tend to move along it rather than try to go umder. It will keep your torts from climbing up and turning over from being able to see that grass that is always greener on the other side. Some of the metal I used was from the walls of above ground swimming pools,cut long ways down the middle. No fun but a real money saver. People throw this stuff away all the time. 5v roof metal is also good for interior walls. Now to keep animals out. Ele.wire might work. Overhanging tree limbs,trees close to the fence is a way for entry.(I did not do this because I needed the shade.) Lastly, and this could be the "best"or "worst" thing you will ever do with tortoises, A DOG. Its the fine line bewteen stability and chaos.Here is what I did. I went to the animal shelter to pick out a big dog I thought could handle Racoons. I brought a tortoise with me and placed it in the fenced area they have for you to get to know the dog. This dog sniffed the tort then lost instrest. That was a good sign but not a sure thing. I took a lot of time handeling the tort.around the dog and felt OK about it. Most of the time Racoons avoid dogs so a walk around the fence line with the dog every so often helps when they leave a marker or two as they go. When its dry they will take chances with dogs. She's a keeper! Molly, A 90 lb.verifyed Racoon killer! Vic Morgan

SHE'S A BLOODHOUND ! And their not lazy like in the movies.*(cool hand luke) And if your ever excaping from a road gang, and you hear the bloodhounds, GIVE YOURSELF UP! There is no big fat Gaurd holding three of them on a leash. VM

Thanks Vic, That was kind of the rout i was thinking...chain link. I picked up an old Ford 2N to clear the rest of what needs to be cleared so i dont expect to much labor there. But man when you start to think about what all goes into doing this right and not killing the pocket it is a bit over whelming. The flashing makes cents i was planning on using something to block the view but was going to use a uv friendly cloth for now till something better is implimented. I will most likely do the electric fence at least initially as getting a dog for me is harder than buying a car, gollee am i picky! If I am going to spend my time with one and train it then by god im going to shop around! Thanks for the info!!!

a bloodhound, eh? here's a thought.. ever thought of trying to train her to track the scent of your tortoises? that way, if one ever did happen to get out of your yard... or if an egg ever escaped your notice, and there was a wee hatchling on the loose... she would find them?

I'd love to do that, it takes a certin type of expertise to brake through their mind set. She gets destracted by all the sents but I have watched her through a window trace every step I made before hand, smelling everything I touched. She can hear/smell a mole underground and quickly make a hole in the ground and pull it out! She's got a eye in the trees too,and will run off the halks if she sees them land. Rats, feral cats, opossoms have also been taken out. She got nailed by most likely baby cottonmouth, and just surugged it off with a little MSM and benadril. We have big mock's every year,that worry's me. I'll try to post a pic of her. Vic

I'll post some pics shortly of something I installed last weekend. Where I live, there are raccoons, possums, foxes and coyotes that regularly visit the neighborhood. They don't seem that interested in the turtles and tortoises but more directed towards my neighbors chickens, gheese and other more delectable prey. However, as a precaution, I installed solar powered electric fence.

So far this technique works well for my friends that keep Koi that were high up on the raccoon prey list. I expect this will do well and it was not difficult to put up.