Snake Fencing
Animex wildlife fencing is designed and tested to control snake movement and exclude them from unwanted or dangerous areas. It optimizes natural snake behavior to encourage safe and fast movement away from the fence line and, unlike mesh fencing, inhibits climbing and entanglement.
Snake exclusion fencing
Roads have been described as ecological traps for snakes. Since snakes are ectotherms, they need to obtain heat from their environment, so they are often attracted to the heat-retaining surfaces of highways. This increases the chances of them being killed by passing vehicles. When commuting snakes cross a road, some species become immobile in response to oncoming traffic, further increasing their chances of being hit. Additionally, snakes are potentially at risk of becoming trapped in foundation trenches, pipework, or machinery on poorly fenced construction sites.
Wandering snakes are more susceptible than more sedentary species. Research has shown that gopher snakes, for example, suffer higher rates of road-kill than rattlesnakes. This is particularly true during two periods of the year: in spring or summer – depending on the species – adult males are more prone to wandering as they seek out females to mate with; in fall, juveniles often disperse from their natal site. In spring, snakes are most active during peak vehicle commuting periods, while in summer activity is restricted to the coolest parts of the day (earlier and later), when traffic volumes are less. Poorly fenced construction sites also hold many hazards for wandering snakes, especially since these often provide attractive locations for females to nest.
It is the responsibility of planning engineers to reduce the ecological impact of roads and construction sites and use mitigation measures as tools in ecological conservation. The right kind of exclusion fencing, particularly if installed well and used in conjunction with mitigation features such as eco-passages, can reduce snake road-kill and construction site mortality dramatically. Construction sites are potential death-traps for snakes, and the presence of venomous species is clearly unwelcome where workers are engaged in construction – hence the need for effective exclusion fencing.
Fencing can also be used to aid population assessment before the development of new construction sites.
IMAGE: Black snake passing through an underpass after being guided by Animex fencing in a state park in the USA.
Top 5 snake species Animex is commonly used for:
Alameda whipsnake
Rattlesnake
Eastern indigo snake
Pine snake
San Fransico garter snake
Alameda whipsnake Masticophis lateralis euryxanthus
San Francisco garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia
Narrow-headed gartersnake Thamnophis rufipunctatus
Eastern indigo snake Drymarchon corais couperi
Pine snake Pituophis melanoleucus
Rattlesnake Crotalus sp.
Hognose snake Heterodon sp.
and more…
Height
40in is the product height most commonly used with snakes
Standard above-ground installed height 22in / 550mm (with anti-climb and anti-dig lips)
We have various fencing products suitable for snakes
Temporary
Recommended for short-term projects between 1-5 years but has an anticipated lifespan of 25 years.
Guide Price: USD $4 per ft / CAD $18 per m
Semi-permanent
Recommended for long-term projects of approximately 15 years but has an anticipated lifespan of 50 years.
Guide Price: USD $9 per ft / CAD $40 per m
Permanent
Recommended for long-term projects of approximately 25 years but has an anticipated lifespan of 50 years.
Guide Price: USD $30 per ft / CAD $150 per m
Guide prices are based on Animex fencing material and standard fixings and fasteners. This does not include support posts or installation. AMX-48, AMX-60 or a smaller customized, unlisted product may be more appropriate for some projects. Please contact us if you have any concerns or questions about the height or type of fence that is best for your project.
FENCE SELECTOR