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Need to build a fence? Make it permeable to support your wild neighbors!

P-22 Mountain Lion next to fence

Wildlife Permeable Fencing

Since the Eaton Fire moved through Altadena, the built and natural landscapes of the area have changed drastically. With property owners looking to put up fencing in and around residential lots, we’ve received a lot of questions about how to do so in a wildlife-friendly way. We’d like to share some of our recommendations for fencing that meets the safety needs of both the humans and animals who call Altadena home.

Significant ecological areas

Parts of Altadena are located within Significant Ecological Areas (SEAs); these are areas designated by LA County to have irreplaceable biological resources. When you live in the wildland-urban interface, and especially in or near an SEA, it’s critical to make choices that support our local wildlife.

Anywhere we live in the foothills of Los Angeles, we are living around critical natural habitat and wildlife corridors. For that reason, our recommendation for anyone installing fencing or barriers on their property within our long-term conservation area is to adhere to LA County’s SEA Ordinance Implementation Guide.

Explore the map below to see if you live within AFC’s Long Term Conservation Area.

Leaflet Map – Long-Term Conservation Area Only

FENCING RECOMMENDATIONS

The SEA Ordinance Implementation Guides suggests using wildlife permeable fencing—meaning wildlife can safely pass through your property and over, under, or around fences. Wildlife permeable fencing may be used to delineate property lines or to section off development features. A wildlife permeable fence is one that incorporates, at minimum, the following principles:

  • Wildlife should be able to easily see all fence posts and horizontal elements. Materials that are visible to wildlife include wooden rails, steel pipes, vinyl rails, PVC pipes, recycled plastic rails, coated wires, or smooth wires covered with PVC or clearly marked with flagging.
  • The top edge of the uppermost horizontal elements should be no more than 42 inches above ground level to allow wildlife to jump over the fence.
  • The bottom edge of the lowest horizontal elements shall be no lower than 18 inches above ground level to allow wildlife to pass under the fence.
WILDLIFE FRIENDLY FENCE
A 3-strand wildlife friendly fence with smooth wire on the top and bottom allowing wildlife to safely pass. Photo courtesy of Tom Koerner/USFWS
Wildlife permeable fencing must be of open design and constructed of materials that are readily visible to wildlife. Height of top rail may be no more than 42-inches above ground-level, and the bottom rail must be at least 18-inches above ground-level to permit movement of wildlife both under and over the fence.

material recommendations

Fencing materials are also an important factor to consider:

  • Never construct or top fences, gates, and walls with spikes, glass, razors, nets, or other such materials that may be harmful to wildlife.
  • To prevent the entrapment of birds, fence and signposts should not be hollow at the top or have unfilled bolt holes.
  • Wildlife friendly fences are those constructed of materials that are readily visible to wildlife, preventing unfortunate accidents such as collisions, entanglement, entrapment, or impaling of unsuspecting animals.
  • Barbed wire should not be used at the top or bottom of fences.

For more information on Design and Development Standards for those living in SEA’s please see LA County’s SEA Ordinance Implementation Guide.

Do your part to support wildlife.

Wildlife are already at risk in Los Angeles from the fragmentation of habitat. When you use wildlife permeable fencing you support preserving connectivity and ensuring wildlife can safely travel to find food, water, shelter, and mates.

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