Some domestic animals have a penchant for climbing and it can be extremely difficult to keep them safely within bounds. However, pets aren’t the only animals that individuals have to worry about. A range of wildlife can, and will, climb a fence to get to something they want. That includes alligators, bears, bobcats, coyotes, opossums, raccoons and skunks.

The solution to keeping wild animals out of yards, gardens and away from backyard chickens is a fence of at least 6 ft. tall. Chain link works best, but the spacing in the mesh must be small enough to prevent smaller animals from simply squeezing through.

At the top of the fence will be an extension that bends 90 degrees toward the outside of the fence. Wildlife may attempt to climb the fence, but when they reach the 90-degree angle they’re unable to make the physical “flip” necessary to push themselves up and over.

Rollers can also be placed at the top. The rollers prevent an animal from gaining purchase to pull themselves up. They spin, deny the animal traction, and dumps them back on the ground. Installing rollers can be a bit expensive, but they have an attractive appearance. They’re highly effective and provide a non-lethal way of dealing with unwanted wildlife. They’re commonly called coyote rollers.

One area that people typically forget when establishing a no-climb fence is the gate. Wild animals can be far cleverer than people think. They can learn to manipulate latches and closures on fence gates. It’s equally important to ensure that there are no gaps between the gate and fence where animals can wiggle through.

Florida is home to a wealth of wildlife and many species have learned to co-exist in urban environments. Many view dogs, cats and backyard chickens as an easy food source. No-climb fences provide an effective barrier against many species of wildlife, while providing a safe space for pets to play.

Zoos, wildlife sanctuaries and rescue organizations that are responsible for wild, endangered or dangerous animals know the importance of specialized fencing and must adhere to very specific containment specifications. They must keep animals safely contained, provide safety for handlers, and protect the public from potential injury.

Zepco Fence is a leader in the fencing industry and has specialized experience in chain link style wildlife fencing. They designed and installed security fencing for two big cat sanctuaries in Palm Beach and Broward counties in Florida. The innovative designs were so effective that they were adopted by the State of Florida Department of Wildlife Management.

Containing different types of animals requires specialized solutions for each. Depending upon the species, they may dig, climb or jump and those behaviors must be taken into consideration when creating a fencing system. Some big cats, for example, can jump a distance of up to 20 feet from a standing start, leap 15 feet up a tree, climb over a 12 foot fence, and take 40 foot bounds when running.

The primary object of animal fencing is to keep the animals in and it’s increasingly critical for their own protection. There have been instances of high profile break-ins at zoos around the world by poachers. At a Paris zoo, poachers killed a white rhino and stole his horn to sell on the black market.

Fencing is a necessity in many locations through Florida to aid in keeping alligators and other wildlife out of residential yards and swimming pools. Chain link is the most commonly used fencing for protecting children and pets from incursions by a variety of wildlife species. It’s durable, strong, cost effective, and can be installed quickly.

Zepco Fence chain link fence installations come with bottom cable to prevent pets from digging out and wildlife from burrowing in. Gates are installed with childproof locks and self-closing gates for an extra measure of safety.

Florida is home to a wide variety of unwelcome and dangerous wildlife and one of the best ways to provide children and pets with protection is with a chain-link fence or alternately, an iron or PVC fence. It keeps youngsters and pets from venturing too close to a situation that has the potential to be dangerous and the ability to keep wildlife predators off the lawn.

A chain-link fence is strong, durable, and cost-effective. As an added benefit, Zepco Fence installs all of its gates with self-closing springs and childproof locks, along with a bottom cable to keep unwanted wildlife from digging under the enclosure while keeping children and pets inside.