Don’t Fence Me In

By Marilyn Goode

More and more people buying property on Sonoma Mountain and elsewhere feel the need to surround much of their land with six- to eight-foot fences of non-climb welded wire that creates a complete barrier for the free movement of deer and other mammals.

Allen Buckman, an upland biologist for the California Department of Fish and Game who is working on a Wildlife Friendly Brochure, provided the following information about fencing for those who love and care about wildlife on their property.

• Use deer-proof fences only around vineyards, gardens, or other deer-sensitive areas. Try to keep most of your property as a natural habitat.
• Native habitats and particularly streams should only be fenced with open fencing that allows animal passage.
• Graduated or field fencing should only be used around cow-calf operations, dog runs, and other areas where the young cannot escape through the fence, and such enclosures should be located away from streams and not encompass large areas of native habitats. This form of graduated field fencing or non-climb welded wire does not allow fawns and other smaller mammals passage from one area of their habitat to another. These fences should not be placed across streams.
• Any two wires in fencing top wires should be a minimum of 10 inches apart. When deer try to jump fences, they frequently pick up the top wire with their hind foot, which can hamstring the deer. Bottom and top wires should be smooth. Bottom wires should be placed 12 to 18 inches off the ground to allow fawns and other mammals to pass.
• Gates should be placed in the corners of vineyards and orchards so animals can be driven out. Deer will run past an open gate in a sidewall.

More watershed analysis is needed to identify wildlife corridors (other than creeks and habitat groups), and to plan beyond the individual parcel or project level. Better community wildlife management is needed. Property owners can work with each other to create wide wildlife corridors that connect from one property to the next. These corridors need to be a minimum of 100 feet wide. Subdivision CC&Rs can be amended to allow wildlife the freedom to move from one part of the Sonoma Mountain to another.

Buckman advised property owners to study the land and identify the plants, wetlands, meadows, and waterways before fencing any land. Good stewards find out which native plants and animals live in their area, and then do all they can to protect and support this habitat. The plants and animals on Sonoma Mountain have evolved together over thousands of years, yet can be destroyed in all too short a time when there is little understanding of how they interrelate.

For more information and help, call the Sonoma Ecology Center (996-9744) in the town of Sonoma. Caitlin Cornwall, the staff biologist, is working to make sure wildlife corridors and habitats are of sufficient size to support wildlife in Sonoma County. Either she or Allen Buckman (944-5500) would be happy to offer advice.

Remember—you moved to Sonoma Mountain because you loved its natural beauty. Try to protect it.