Electric deer fencing is effective because when the animal comes in contact with the shock, it then tries to avoid it in the future. To insure that the deer do come in contact rather than just leaping over the top, Mr. Rickertt says they install the fence at a 45 degree angle. Deer have poor depth perception and avoid a less vertical jump because they can't see what is beyond. Mr. Rickertt also said that this is the time of year to be particularly attentive to deer prevention as the deer are eating more. Days are longer, winter fat is depleted and many are pregnant with two or three babies.
Buds are out.
This, he says, is a particularly distressing time for trees. When the baby deer can't reach the buds, the mom helps by snapping branches. Homeowners who have sizeable landscape investments can have the same problem. Electric fences, he said, aren't for everybody. Certainly those in well populated areas with few deer don't need a fence.