The wolf is returning to the Slovenian countryside, and for sheep and cattle farmers this means a fence has to do more than an ordinary grazing fence. An electric fence that actually deters a wolf must be strong, conductive and properly grounded from the very first encounter, otherwise the animal simply learns that the fence can be crossed. PATURA, whose Slovenian partner is Kancler Sistem Pro, has clear recommendations for this that are worth following from the moment you start planning your electric fencing.
Why a wolf-proof fence is a different league
With a standard grazing fence for sheep or cattle, the main goal is to stop your own animals from getting out. Protection against wolves works the other way around: the fence has to convince a highly intelligent and cautious predator that it is not even worth trying. What matters most is that the first electric shock the wolf feels delivers its full effect immediately. Only then will the animal remember the fence well and choose to avoid it in the future. It is also worth fitting flashing lights to the fence, which warn the animal of the obstacle before it makes contact.
Energizer power and grounding decide the outcome
How strong a shock the wolf feels does not depend only on how many wires the fence has, but mainly on three factors: the power of the energizer, the quality of the grounding, and the conductivity of the wires.
- The energizer should deliver at least 2 joules of pulse energy per kilometre of fence, and at least 1 joule for short fences; dense vegetation can call for significantly higher values.
- For grounding, the basic rule is at least 1 metre of ground rod for every joule of pulse energy the energizer delivers. The ground voltage should actually be measured, since the rule of thumb without a measurement is only an estimate; the lower the value, the better the system performs. If the fence is under load and the ground voltage exceeds 500 volts, additional rods need to be added.
- Wires or strands must have a resistance below 0.25 ohm/m, and below 0.1 ohm/m for long fences with heavy vegetation.
Voltage that needs regular checking
To reliably deter a wolf, a voltage of at least 4,000 volts must be present at every point of the fence at all times, rising to 5,000 volts in very dry conditions. This is not something you check once at installation and forget about: monitoring the fence, and with it the safety of the herd, has to be maintained through regular inspections, since vegetation, moisture and wear gradually lower the voltage.
Which system to choose
Depending on whether you are dealing with permanent grazing or a temporarily fenced area, PATURA offers different solutions.
A permanent fence makes sense where the same area is grazed year after year. Corner and end posts use solid robinia poles, while line posts can be self-insulating hardwood, cross-profile posts, or T-posts. A permanent wolf-protection fence of this kind is built from five rows of steel wire and stands 1.20 metres high; for horses, six rows of special HippoWire are used, at a height of 1.40 to 1.50 metres.
A mobile fence is the right choice for movable enclosures where you only need protection temporarily or in one particular spot. For sheep, we recommend a 5-wire stationary fence with wires at a height of 120 cm (spacing of 20/40/65/90/120 cm), or an easier-to-move 4-wire mobile fence with highly conductive strands at a height of 90 cm, ideally upgraded to 120 cm with five strands. Electric fence netting with high conductivity at a comparable height works just as well.
Upgrading an existing fence is the fastest route if you already have a fence with mesh loops or welded joints. Mount one or two electrified wires on standoff insulators outside, in front of the existing fence; this stops the wolf from pushing the fence down. If the fence is too low, you can also run an electrified wire above it, at a height of about 120 cm.
Checklist before you build
- An energizer delivering at least 2 J of pulse energy per kilometre of fence (at least 1 J for short fences)
- Ground rods of roughly 1 m per joule of pulse energy, with a measured ground voltage below 500 V
- Wires with resistance below 0.25 ohm/m (below 0.1 ohm/m for long fences)
- A measured voltage of at least 4,000 V at every point of the fence, 5,000 V in dry conditions
- Regular fence inspections, and flashing lights where possible to warn animals early
Need advice?
We can check together whether your current fence will hold off a wolf if you send us its length and number of wires.