Electric Tape Keeps Raccoons Out Of Corn

Electric Tape Keeps Raccoons Out Of Corn MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Pest Animals 33-5-6 Electric fence tape - the kind often used on horse farms because it's more readily seen by horses - also works good to keep raccoons out of Kenny Thomas's sweet corn. The Taylorsville, Ill., man grows one acre of sweet corn every year. He uses two strips of 1/2-in. wide electric tape, positioned at 6 and 10 in. off the ground. He uses an ordinary fence charger in his shop to keep the wires hot. "I like electric tape better than ordinary aluminum fence wire because it isn't so brittle, and it's much easier to work with," says Thomas. "I take the fence wire down every year so I can get tillage equipment in. "Electric tape is so flexible, and I can keep using it year after year. Once a raccoon touches it he learns his lesson and won't return. I spray Roundup around the wire a couple times a year to keep weeds down." Some producers also use electric fence tape to turn away deer. Matt Millburg, Nokomis, Ill., says he's had good luck keeping deer out with electric tape because the deer can see it. Matt says he installs his electric fence tape about chest high. At that height deer will see it and not run into it. These animals don't easily see ordinary bare electric fence wire when they're running at full speed. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Kenneth Thomas, 902 E. 1250 North Rd., Taylorsville, Ill. 62568 (ph 217 824-3913).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.