God bless Google............I looked it up. They are trying small sections of 3-strand wire fences, if that's what you've been seeing. \ Keeping large animals from wandering onto public roadways is an important goal, particularly in a large, rural state like Wyoming where both livestock and wild game significantly outnumber the human population. Good, well-maintained fence along highway rights-of-way is WYDOT's first line of defense in keeping critters away from the road, but that in itself presents a secondary problem. Animals such as antelope, deer, elk, and moose must move seasonally in order to survive Wyoming's harsh weather. They tend to follow well- established migration patterns, often across highways, to reach winter feeding grounds. Right-of-way fencing is here to stay, as WYDOT is not about to back away from its mission of improving highway safety for travelers. However, the agency recognizes that highway fencing does hinder wildlife movements and that anything it can do to ease the situation ought to be considered. That's the reason WYDOT recently coordinated with the Wyoming Department of Game and Fish and the University of Wyoming in researching novel uses for "high-tensile electric fence," or HTEF for short. Electric fences are not a new concept, and for the most part they have been used to pose a barrier, to either keep animals within an area, or to keep them out. However, the recently completed WYDOT-WGF- UW research project used HTEF to both include and exclude animals simultaneously. The goal is a fence that contains livestock, yet permits wildlife unrestricted movement. Test sections of HTEF were installed at several locations in Wyoming and Colorado. The final design consists of three parallel, galvanized wires spaced 22", 32", and 42" above the ground. The top and bottom wires are "hot," while the middle wire is neutral. What makes HTEF work so well is the fence's relative flexibility, which allows the wildlife to go under, over, or through the fence without becoming entangled. Livestock, including bison, normally lead with their nose, and receive a painful stimulus when they touch the fence, causing them to avoid it thereafter. Conversely, wildlife tend to brush up against it with the chest, effectively insulating them from shock. The HTEF research project concluded last October when WYDOT and UW teamed to conduct clinics on the subject for WYDOT maintenance personnel. Attendees learned about all about HTEF, with topics including risk, liability, maintenance, electrical theory, and monitoring the electrical charge of the fence. Video clips from cameras mounted on fence end posts showed wildlife easily traversing the fence, yet containing cattle and bison. Some participants also learned technical aspects of building and maintaining HTEF, including wire splicing, proper wire tensioning, and proper use of insulators. They also learned how to monitor electric load and especially how to turn the electricity off before beginning repairs! Comments heard during the clinics were illustrative. Many have seen antelope become trapped inside right-of-way fences, then panic and race back and forth across the road looking for a way out. With HTEF, the potential for this situation would be greatly reduced. Upon review, HTEF has been deemed to be "legal" fence in accordance with state statute, at least for Wyoming. In this context, a "legal" fence is one that does what it is designed to do, in this case, it contains livestock. Story by Michael J. Patritch, WYDOT research manager. He may be contacted at michael.patritch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Story posted on 2/2/2005, read it here: http://www.transportation.org/success/71.aspx > All along I-80 in Wyoming there are what appears to be little sections of > fencing. Any one know what they might be for? Dog related: We are now in > Colorado and it is raining and hailing at the Ranch. > Mike Gray > > > > > > ============================================================================ > POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original > author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any > kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of > the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. > > ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY > MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS > PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY > FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. 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