Virtual Fence Technology

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Achieving a wide range of conservation measures with range tech.

Virtual fence technology has multiple conservation benefits. These include (but are not limited to) the ability to implement grazing rotations without additional physical fencing, the ability to control livestock grazing intensity, duration and location, the ability to restrict livestock access to surface water to improve streambank stability and overall water quality, improve wildlife habitat, and potentially restrict livestock-wildlife interaction.

THE PROBLEM

Physical fences are hard to alter or adapt to changing conditions.

Hard fencing is not easily altered, customized, or modified, and can be costly to replace. This limits ranchers’ ability to implement adaptive management when grazing. Until recently, an economic alternative has not been available, especially in “fence out” states like Wyoming — where property owners must maintain their fences if they wish to keep cattle from trespassing.

THE SOLUTION

Fit individual animals with GPS-outfitted collars.

GPS technology makes virtual fencing (VF) an alternative to barbed wire. Collars that transmit their location to the rancher are placed on animals. If an animal reaches a set boundary, a tone or small electric shock is emitted, signaling the cow to stop. VF has the potential to allow ranchers and other property owners to remove thousands of miles of barbed wire fence in the West, and still keep track of their animals, move them within a pasture, and allows ranchers to use livestock as a tool to enhance or maintain watershed health.

The Ricketts Conservation Foundation’s VF Conservation Partnership works with ranches in the region to provide financial incentives for achieving conservation goals with VF.