Hi vincentb5,
I can understand your concerns but I would like to lay your fears to
rest. There are miles and miles and more miles of electric fencing
winding its way across the hills and dales of the countryside and all
of those farm families who maintain them are alive and well! It is not
the jolt itself that stops 1500 pound animals (cattle, horses), it is
the *memory* of the jolt that stops them from touching the fence again
- it is a very effective negative reenforcement.
I don't know if your neighbor will have much luck keeping the deer out
with electric fence (electric fence netting may be more suitable for
deer, see link below) but it does work well with many animals.
Livestock and humans alike only need to touch it once or twice to
learn that they don't want to touch it again. Living on a farm , one
can't help to touch the fence at least several times a season, during
all kinds of weather. Does it hurt? Yes, but it is more of a surprise
than anything else. I've never seen anyone cry after touching it, you
just sort of jump back surprised and usually laugh at your stupidy.
The fence isn't continually sending out a current, it is intermittent,
so it is just a short shock that you can easily pull away from. Yes,
wet ground makes it feel worse, but again, it's a big surprise and
shock but then it is completely over. I suppose the first time it
happens you might worry for the next hour about whether you are ok or
not, but after awhile it becomes pretty routine. Don't worry about the
high voltage - that is ok. An electric chair has only 2,000 volts but
high amperage, enough to kill. A shock from your doorknob may have
5,000 volts, but it has a very low amperage and so it doesn't harm
you. That is the principal an electric fence works on - enough volts
to give a shock but low amps to keep it safe.
I can't imagine having an electric fence in town, what with all the
pets and people around. Here is a suggestion that you can consider
making. Ask your neighbor if you could tear up some brightly coloured
rags, or get some bicycle streamers or something noticeable like that,
and every four or six feet or so tie a streamer to the fence (make
them short enough so there is no possibility that they will touch the
ground). It's sort of like putting decals on glass doors to remind you
that the door is there. With streamers on the fence it will help to
remind you and your children that it is there.
How electric fences work:
"Touch an electric fence once and you'll know why it works; it's not
very painful -- about the equivalent of a sharp slap -- but you'll
remember the sensation, and you won't want to repeat it anytime soon."
"With an electric fence, the goal is to sting or startle the animal
without causing harm, so electric fences operate with low amperage and
higher voltage."
://www.google.ca/search?q=cache:BFi2k-E26oMC:horses.about.com/cs/management/a/eqkeepcurr354.htm++%22electric+fences%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
In regards to human health, there is an excellent discussion here:
"No they are not dangerous as far as physical harm. They sure can give
you a good sting, but I am not aware of anyone being physically
harmed. If they were capable of causing damage, why would we put
cattle worth $1000+ ($AM) behind them? Zzzap, whoops there goes
another grand..."
://www.google.ca/search?q=cache:Uhd3yws0030C:grazel.taranaki.ac.nz/grazel/graze/elecfen.html++%22electric+fences%22+irregular+heartbeat&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
It is important that you ask the grandparent's physician if the fence
could pose a danger for him/her. Ask your neighbor for a copy of the
specifications (voltage/amperage) and take it with you to the doctor.
Only he will be able to give you an accurate assessment of the
grandparent's personal health risks. But remember, if your neighbor is
willing to hang streamers which blow in the wind on the fence, the
chances are good that the grandparent will be able to avoid any
accidents.
Additional Links:
COPING WITH DEER IN HOME LANDSCAPES:
http://www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/h462deer-coping.html
Electric Fence Netting:
http://www.electric-fence.net/electric-netting.html
Wireless Deer Fence:
http://www.wirelessdeerfence.com/wdf/index.htm
Electric fence for deer:
http://www.deerdamagecontrolfence.com/electric_fence_for_deer.htm
Do electric fences keep the deer away?:
http://www.mydeergarden.com/FAQ/Deer/05.htm
Asset or Liability?
Getting the best from your covenant fencing
Part 3: Electric Fences:
http://www.nationaltrust.org.nz/tips/tiptwelve.html
Minimizing Deer Damage to Residential Plantings:
http://animalrangeextension.montana.edu/Articles/Wildlife/Deer_damage.htm
Deer Fact Sheet: Ornamental and Garden Plants: Controlling Deer
Damage:
http://www.msue.msu.edu/jackson/Horticulture/Fact_Sheets/Animal/deer.html
I hope this helps. If you have any questions or if this hasn't
satisfied your request, please post a clarification request before
rating my answer. I enjoyed working on your question as it brought
back many happy memories of "fencing time" in the spring - something
the whole family, no matter what the age range, could do together.
Thank you,
hummer
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