Alpaca Fencing

Alpaca Fencing

Great consideration needs to be given to fencing. The ease in which your operation functions depends on it. We can go into great detail about how to lay out the interior areas of fencing with paddocks, catch pens, chutes, gates and more. I would be very happy to talk at length with anyone on the subject. Feel free to send me an email or give me a call.

My main concern, however, with respect to fencing at any alpaca operation is the perimeter fencing and the safety and protection of the alpacas. The perimeter fence is not primarily intended to keep alpacas in, as they are not likely to challenge the fence, but to keep predators out.

Let’s first identify a predator: A predator is anything or anyone who may try to gain access to your defenseless alpacas and do them harm. In our area of southern Maine, wild predators consist of coyotes, bear, bob cat, mountain lions and fox to name a few. There are two predators that are consistent throughout the country and do the most harm annually to the alpaca: the domestic dog and the ill-intentioned juvenile.

I consider the domestic dog to be the number one predator of the alpaca. When a domestic dog or dogs gain access to the alpacas, they will proceed to chase and maim the alpacas for sport. Unlike a wild predator that will attack a single alpaca as a source of food the domestic dog or dogs will harm several at a time as they chase them for the fun of it. The injuries can be horrific, often leading to death of the alpaca and at the very least a substantial vet bill.

Number two on my list of predators is the ill-intentioned juvenile. The amount of harm they can cause is unimaginable. I am at a loss as to their motivation, but can take some comfort in the fact they will likely be lazy. So the more difficult it is for them to gain access to the alpacas the less likely it is that they will.

This all said, the perimeter fence choice of East Coast Alpacas is a 5’ tall Woven Wire with an electrified hot wire on the top and bottom and lockable gates. I sleep well at night.

East Coast Alpacas offers alpaca fence installations throughout Maine and the New England area. Contact us for details.