Efficacy of a secondary electric fence at preventing direct contacts at risk for disease transmission between white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
Open Access
Author:
Khouri, Renee M
Area of Honors:
Wildlife and Fisheries Science
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
W. David Walter, Thesis Supervisor C Paola Ferreri, Thesis Honors Advisor C Paola Ferreri, Faculty Reader
Keywords:
chronic wasting disease direct disease transmission electric fence fence-line contact Odocoileus virginianus Pennsylvania white-tailed deer
Abstract:
Although direct contact at fences separating free-ranging and captive cervid herds are at risk for chronic wasting disease transmission, no study has explored the use of a secondary electric fence to prevent these contacts in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Using a captive herd of white-tailed deer in Pennsylvania, USA, we tested the efficacy of two electric fence designs constructed along two primary fence lines (each composed of 20 m of chain link and 20 m of woven wire fencing) dividing paddocks of captive deer. From June to November 2019, we conducted three trials of variable lengths to assess how season, age, and sex impacted behavior and motivation to breach the test fence. When no electric fence was in place, we observed direct contact through both woven wire and chain link fences. With the electric fences in place, we observed fence breaches (some of which led to direct contact between deer) only by weaned fawns (37 breaches) and males in the late rut (1 breach). Our results suggest that no type of primary fence alone is sufficient to prevent direct contacts and that the addition of a secondary, properly designed electric fence constructed along the primary fence of captive white-tailed deer facilities could prevent direct contact between captive and free-ranging deer.