Risks to wildlife for what benefit? Did these security fences really need barbed wire?
Matthew MoABSTRACT
Barbed wire, widely used in security fencing, is well-documented to cause impalements in wildlife. These risks are unwarranted in fences with barbed wire that are compromised in their security effectiveness. These include discontinuous fences that do not fully enclose properties, leaving properties openly accessible. Perimeters with barbed wire may have gaps where fences do not adjoin neatly or gates secured with long chains leave a gap, which in both cases enable potential intruders to fit through. Fences without sufficient proximity to the ground also leave a gap that potential intruders can crawl through. Structures adjacent to fences may also provide climbing aids. Additionally, situations where fencing is directly parallel to tall walls renders the fence redundant. In the interests of reducing harm to wildlife, land holders should consider whether barbed wire in their fencing retains a valid function and remove barbed wire in unwarranted instances.