The Effect of Net Fences on Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) Invasion on the Meadow in Livestock Farm

Abstract

This study was carried out to obtain basic information on the effective techniques for preventing sika deer (Cervus nippon) invasion on the meadow. The first experiment was conducted to prove behavioural response of 3 domesticated deer to 4 different height (50, 100,150, or 200 cm) of synthetic fiber net fence (mesh size of a net: 6x6 cm). The animals passed through net fences at the height of 50 and 100 cm. On the other hand, all the animals exhibited exploratory behaviour toward the net fences at the height of 150 and 200 cm, and touched the 0-100 cm high nets with their lips or heads. However, there was no sika deer which leaped over net fences during the observation period (8 hr). In the second experiment, the effects of net fences at the height of 150 cm on wild animals' invasion on the meadow were investigated from November in 2008 to January in 2009 (about 3 months). From the results of the census in the early morning (6:00-7:00 h) in January, the net fences seemed to be more effective in preventing sika deer invasion as compared to the 4- wire and 140 cm-height electric fence (voltage and pulse interval, approximately 4,000 V and 1 s, respectively). At the end of the observation period (3 months later), the herbage mass of the net fences' area (1 ha) was significantly larger than that of the electric fences' one (1 ha) (P<0.05). These findings indicate that net fences at the height of 150 cm (fixed the lower part to ground) are effective in preventing the sika deer invasion on the meadow in livestock farm.