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Grower's Guide Page 2 of 6 Indian Berry and Plant 800 - 295 -2226 Energized Fencing Energized fencing is an effective and practical method to reduce goose damage in your fields. It is more durable and performs better than bird scare tape. Most grower's prefer portable energized fencing which can be set up in a few hours and quickly taken down for storage when not in use. When properly maintained, energized fencing materials may last 10 or more years. When a goose touches the energized fence, the electric pulse passes from the energizer through the fence wire, through the goose into the earth, to the grounding system and back to the energizer -(figure ai. The result is an uncomfortable, but harmless "shock" that geese Learn to avoid. Energized fencing must be properly constructed and maintained to be effective. Make the fence long enough so geese do not walk around it jfigure 2). Measure voltage weekly and keep fence wires clear of vegetation using mowing or herbicides. Install energized fence warning signs every 60 feet. If you are interested in using energized fencing for geese, contact your DNR Area Wildlife Office for additional information and assistance. Key components of an energized fence for geese: (1) Energizer - The energizer is the powet source for the fence. Energizers cam be battery powered or 120 volt. Low impedance energizers, which deliver a short electrical pulse, are safe and effective. The energizer should provide at least 4,000 volts to the fence. (2) Fence wires - Most growers prefer the ease of using polytape. Polytape is a 1/2- inch -wide material consisting of polyethylene fibers interwoven with conductive wires (5 or more strands of stainless steel) to carry the electrical charge. Stretch two strands 8 inches and 18 inches above the ground (figure 3). Tighten wire to remove visible sag. Connect fence wires to the fence terminal on the energizer. (3) Grounding system - The grounding system is a series of at least three 6 -foot galvanized steel rods driven into the earth at 12 -foot intervals. Leave 4 -5 inches of the ground rod above the ground to make connections. Connect the rods in sequence using steel wire and connect the series to the ground terminal on the energizer. (4) Voltmeter - A voltmeter is a device used to measure voltage on an energized fence. A voltmeter is essential to ensure that the system is working properly and to pinpoint problems when they occur. Barrier Fencing Barrier fencing effectively prevents geese from walking into your field. The method consists of placing a physical barrier that geese cannot pass though between the water and the field you wish to protect (figure 2). A barrier for walking Canada geese can be made from fence materials at least 30 inches high with -24- http://www.fw.umn.edu/ research / goose /html /growgd /grwguide.html 4/7/00