Newfoundland Crop Insurance Agency

Moose Exclusion with ElectroBraid™ Fence, 2000 – 2001

Introduction

The introduction of moose to Newfoundland in 1904 has been a resounding success. With few predators, we now have about 115,000 moose.   But the need to protect land for a growing agrifoods sector has led to increasing conflicts.

Farmers have tried many methods to reduce crop destruction by moose. Success has always been short-lived. Moose quickly get used to noise-makers and scents, ignore guard dogs and knock down fences. Crop losses continue.  In particular, the Newfoundland Crop Insurance Agency pays very high claims every year for moose damage to cabbage crops

The Newfoundland Government had previous successful experiences with ElectroBraid™ Fencing to control migrating caribou and moose, so we decided to test ElectroBraid™ in selected, high conflict cabbage fields in the late summer and fall of both 2000 and 2001.

We have now completed a two year project working with three different cabbage growers who previously suffered large crop losses.  The ElectroBraid™ fence was self-installed by each farmer around a cabbage field of up to 5 acres, then taken down and stored for the winter and re-installed in a new location the following year.

We tested and evaluated the following:

1. The strength and resilience of ElectroBraid™ against the force of one or more moose.

2. The ease of initial construction and the ability to take down and re-install the fence in a different location.

3. The effectiveness of solar powered energizers in areas with no electrical power.

4. The usefulness of ElectroBraid™ for other agricultural applications.

5. The height of fence required to deter moose jumping over the fence.

6. Long-term viability.

Summary

Initially, the three growers were skeptical about the strength and ease of installation.  However, after a couple of days working with ElectroBraid™, all three changed their minds and became enthusiastic.  All agreed that the ease of installation including the solar panels was much superior to traditional high tensile wiring. 

Three fields of late cabbage were fenced in August 2000 totaling 13.5 acres.  These three fields have historically suffered extreme losses to foraging moose.  During the first year, there were no signs of moose entering the fields, and there was no crop loss due to moose.  Nevertheless, at all three locations, there was ample evidence of moose activity and abundant moose tracks along the perimeters of the fenced fields.  After year one, all producers were highly satisfied.  During the second year, in the fall of 2001, in three different fields, there was one incidence of a small moose (likely a new-born calf) which entered a field but left without causing damage. 

Over the two year period, six fields totaling 27 acres of high-risk late cabbage were fenced using ElectroBraid™ fencing.  There was zero crop loss due to moose. 

All three farmers were particularly satisfied with the ease of construction, the storage capability of the fencing materials and the ability of the solar panel to maintain a constant voltage in the northerly latitude of Newfoundland.  One of the great blessings was that the growers did not have to stay with their crops, sometimes all night, to chase away moose; they were able to go home at the end of the day, feeling confident their crop was protected.