White-tailed deer are capable of clearing fences more than five feet in height. But landing safely on the other side does not necessarily mean the deer will be able to get back out again.
This type of behavior is just one reason why wildlife professionals in Michigan are paying close attention to how the fencing used for solar farms affects wildlife.
As Michigan expands its renewable energy sector, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has issued voluntary Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Solar Energy and Wildlife.
The BMPs address how fencing can affect wildlife movement across the landscape and between different habitat areas.
One major concern is not always entering the area but being able to leave it.
Why are Michigan solar fences creating problems for deer?
Michigan’s expansion of its solar development capabilities has raised a new wildlife question. To provide safe access and prevent unwanted intruders onto their properties, solar farm owners typically use some sort of fencing.
However, this barrier can also disrupt normal wildlife movement patterns in areas where they live and travel.
According to Michigan DNR’s guidelines, fencing is one factor developers should take into account when looking for ways to minimize the negative impacts of their developments on wildlife.
This document was successfully produced to assist Michigan in achieving sustainable energy while helping regional developers incorporate wildlife conservation values into their local project planning.
White-tailed deer are one of the most abundant large mammals in Michigan. Deer move throughout their territory, crossing roads, streams, and private property boundaries in search of food and shelter.
White-tailed deer would encounter a somewhat unusual situation when approaching a fenced-in area at a solar farm.
What happens after a deer gets trapped inside?
Deer are very likely to see a fence while they are on the outside and, when they view the apparent open field on the opposite side of the fence, they will readily leap across it. In contrast, however, leaving the confined or enclosed space may not be as easy as entering it.
Fencing has been identified by wildlife guides published by the State of Michigan as being one of the environmental elements that can impact how wildlife travels through a landscape.
Deer often leap over tall boundary fences into solar enclosures.
Once inside, they frequently try to squeeze under or push through the wire instead of attempting to safely jump back.
Some large solar developments can create additional wildlife-management challenges, particularly when fencing affects animal movement across the landscape. Because solar facilities can cover hundreds or even thousands of acres, those considerations can become an important part of project planning.
Why can deer jump in but struggle to get back out?
The biggest concern is that deer will not exit from a fence in the same manner they enter the area. Therefore, Michigan’s guidelines place an emphasis on the design of solar-facility fencing.
The BMPs discuss wildlife-friendly fencing features such as one-way escape gates, passageways between fenced areas, and other approaches intended to reduce wildlife entrapment.
Facility operators may also be responsible for removing deer if they become trapped inside a fenced enclosure.
These considerations may influence the planning and construction of future projects as solar development continues to expand across Michigan. Michigan’s guidance also encourages developers to consider wildlife movement during the earliest stages of project planning.
Wildlife officials would like renewable energy projects to coexist with populations that were already moving through these landscapes long before the facilities were built.
These voluntary best management practices were created by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to help support that objective for solar projects.
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