How to Keep the Wildlife Away from Your Business with Chainlink Fencing

If you own a commercial property in a rural area, pests come with the territory. But you’ll have more on your hands than the usual rats and mice that can invade even urban commercial spaces. Instead, you will need to protect your property against bigger animals like rabbits, coyotes, and wild dogs.

Most animals are going to be more daring at night. Some of them are nocturnal. Others will be more daring under the cover of darkness and when there are fewer people around. Protect your property with the right fencing to keep them away. With a few additions, chain link fences are more than enough to keep pests and animals at bay. 

Follow these five tips to make it happen:

1. Install the chain link fence lower against the edge of the concrete slab.

If your property includes a concrete slab in the back, the edge of it is probably raised higher than the surrounding dirt. Even if that’s not the case now, erosion will soon sweep dirt away from the edge. Construct your fence so the bottom edge fits snugly against that exposed edge.

Rodents need less room than you think to squeeze their way under the fence, and constructing the barrier on top of the concrete can give them that room. But if the bottom is too far away from the concrete, they can also dig their way underneath the fence and onto your property.

2. Choose vinyl-covered chain link so there aren’t weak spots.

 Larger animals will search for weak spots in the fence if they think there’s a reason to get onto your land. Traditional chain link fences can develop corrosion and rust if there’s isn’t vinyl keeping water away. Then coyotes and dogs can more easily ram their way through. Also, avoid fences that will sag over time.

3. Add lighting to deter foraging and exploration.

No matter how strong your fence is, it can only do so much. The best way to keep dogs, deer, and other wildlife away from your property is to make them think that people are around. Add lights that illuminate the back of your property at night. Alternatively, install lights with motion sensors that can scare animals away. Lights deter human trespassers, too, and protect your fencing from any damaged caused by repeated attempts to get through it.

4. Enclose tempting targets like dumpsters.

If enclosing the entire property isn’t an option, raise a barrier around tempting targets. Dumpsters, trash compactors, and any sections with food or edible plants can draw in wild animals. If you have an area in the back for smoke and lunch breaks, fence in this area so animals don’t forage around it at night. Erect chain link fences around these areas so you can cut down on the damage. 

5. Line the bottom of your fence with chicken wire.

Chain links are small enough to keep larger pests out. But baby animals and smaller rodents can wiggle their way through the standard size gaps. So line the bottom of the fenced-in perimeter with more finely woven barriers like chicken wire. Anything with sharp edges will also deter animals from trying twice. Chicken wire is also a great choice because it’s thin enough to let you casually inspect the edges of your property for signs of potential intruders. 

Rural properties are more likely to encounter larger animal trespassers than their urban or suburban counterparts. You have to strike the balance between protecting your property and leaving it accessible to shoppers, especially if your store inventory outdoors. A chain link fence can help, and the professionals at Security Fence and Construction can help even more. Contact our team to learn more about our chain link specs and installation experience.