We have investigated the efficacy of electric fencing in preventing Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi) and Ryukyu wild boar (Sus scrofa riukiuanus) invasions of Tankan (Citrus tankan Hayata) orchards (circumference: 940 m) on Tokunoshima Island, Japan. This study was conducted from November 9, 2022, to November 12, 2024. We installed electric fences (three polywires at heights of 10, 20, and 30 cm above the ground) in November 2023 and they were continuously energized with a pulse current of over 5,000 V for 24 h. The efficacy of electric fencing was assessed during two periods: 363 days before and 369 days after the fence setup. The relative abundance index (RAI) of Amami rabbits before the installation of the electric fence was 79.2 on the outside and 80.8 on the inside of the fence, and 45.1 on the outside and 0.9 on the inside after installation. The RAI of Amami rabbits inside the fence was found to be significantly lower (P < 0.01) than that before the fence setup, thus indicating that the electric fence was effective in preventing invasion and suppressing foraging damage in the Tankan orchard. The RAI of Ryukyu wild boars both outside and inside the fences decreased significantly after the fence was installed (P < 0.05), and damage was also greatly reduced. These results indicate that the installation of electric fences in Tankan orchards is effective in preventing the invasion of Amami rabbits and Ryukyu wild boars, regardless of the installation distance, if the management work to keep the fence energized is properly carried out. However, the installation of an electric fence did not restrict Amami rabbit plant-eating or movement around the fence.
