A fence creates a boundary, provides security for our animals, and offers them additional protection from predators. These topics were discussed at the "Electric Fence Action Day" at the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein.

While barbed wire was once ubiquitous, today an electric fence made of wire or strands is considered modern. An electric fence is versatile: it can be used as a permanent boundary fence or for enclosures, but also for temporary barriers, depending on the requirements for security and protection against wolves or golden jackals. Compared to barbed wire, an electric fence poses a lower risk of injury to both animals and humans and is more cost-effective to install.

In the first presentation, Johann Kaltenegger described how an electric fence works and discussed common construction errors. Johann also emphasized that grounding is crucial for a functioning electric fence. Under expert supervision, visitors were able to immediately put their newly acquired knowledge into practice on a fence installation. The presentation of the latest products from fence manufacturers and an innovative electronic fence monitoring system provided visitors with firsthand information.

HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein as a livestock protection competence center

Reinhard Huber (HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein) explained to the audience how a livestock protection fence differs from a conventional fence for herding security. With four strands of wire spaced 20, 40, 60, and 90 cm above the ground and a continuous voltage of at least 3,500 volts at every point along the fence, it offers basic protection against large predators. For comprehensive information and as a supplement, the brochure from the Austrian Center for Bear, Wolf, and Lynx on technical livestock protection, containing detailed descriptions and instructions for construction and avoiding common mistakes, was available for free distribution.

Should an attack by a predator occur, farmers have the option of contacting a predator emergency team. How farmers can access this assistance and what such a team can do was discussed based on the deployments in 2021.

GPS trackers offer technical support for monitoring grazing animals, greatly simplifying the search for animals in complex pastures and alpine meadows. The tracker data can also be used to verify grazing activity in specific areas, and the herd's movement patterns can provide clues about potential attacks by large predators.

The wolf in the Liezen district

Albin Blaschka (Austrian Centre for Bear, Wolf, and Lynx) demonstrated the presence of wolves in the Liezen district using wolf distribution maps and cited two examples from the region. A wolf that first left its DNA south of Salzburg in March 2021 was identified as the culprit in sheep kills around the Grabneralm between July and September 2021 through DNA evidence. In January 2022, the same wolf (identification number 105M) was detected again in Hall near Admont based on its DNA traces found on wild animals. Furthermore, a wolf was confirmed on the Weißenbachalm in the Ausseerland region in 2021.

An analysis of the number of attacks shows that 40% of attacks occur on home pastures. These pastures could be protected with an electrified fence if needed. The speakers agreed that many alpine pastures cannot be fenced in their entirety. Further measures are required that are tailored to the specific pasture and feasible for the farmers. Since each pasture is different, these customized measures will always vary and require ongoing adjustments.