Animals caught in fences suffer agonising deaths. The struggle to survive is often long and futile. Particularly dangerous are neglected, unmaintained fences and pasture nets that are not checked daily.

Editorial Wild beim Wild — 13 November 2023

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Pasture nets can be dangerous for roe deer and others.

A survey conducted in 2020 by the Swiss Animal Protection organisation among the cantons confirmed what had long been feared. Each year, between 3’000–4’500 wild animals meet a painful death in fences. The number of injured animals is likely 3–4 times higher still. Among the frequent accident victims, alongside roe deer, are red deer, chamois, foxes, domestic animals, hares, mustelids, wild boar, mute swans and red kites.

Over 70% of the animals that perished died in agony in pasture nets. The animals attempt to free themselves from the pasture fence. They pull violently. The wire acts like a saw, and not infrequently the nets are also electrified. The mesh of the net can also wrap around the limbs of roe deer and others, restricting blood flow or causing bone fractures. An unspeakable act of animal cruelty! Knotted wire and strand fences are less problematic, but also responsible for fatalities. Barbed wire is entirely unsuitable. It poses a high risk of injury to humans, livestock and wild animals. Only the canton of Graubünden has a barbed wire ban. Incomprehensible!

Hundreds of kilometres of fences and nets are simply left standing throughout the year, left to rot and become overgrown. Yet there are provisions in animal protection law, building law, agricultural law, hunting law and nature conservation law that expressly prohibit this.

If an animal dies in an improperly installed or used fence, the fence owner can be held liable for violation of the Animal Protection Act!

Wild animals have a different colour spectrum

Roe deer and other wildlife have difficulty recognizing certain colors, as these are poorly visible to their eyes. Wildlife can barely distinguish red from green, and they quickly overlook orange-red nets. It is therefore recommended to use nets in blue-white or black-yellow colors, as these are wildlife more visible. Nets with woven-in (blue) warning bands or with flutter ribbons can also help wildlife more easily recognize fences and avoid them. It is important to consider these aspects when procuring fences in order to ensure the safety of the animals and to comply with legal provisions on animal protection.

Landi.ch has recognized the problem and no longer sells such nets.

Although retailers such as hauptner.ch, weidezaun-shop.ch, agrishop.ch, zinsli-ilanz.ch, hausundhofag.ch, faie.ch, rovagro.ch and others have known for years that they sell dangerous and animal-cruel pasture nets, they do not change their practices.

That needs to change! Send a pre-written email to these decision-makers and call on retailers to stop manufacturing or selling dangerous pasture nets.

Petition text:

Dear fellow human beings

Over 70% of the animals that perished died in agony in their pasture nets. The animals try to free themselves from the pasture fence. They pull violently. The wire acts like a saw, and not infrequently the fences are also electrified. The mesh of the net can also wrap around the limbs of roe deer and other animals, restricting blood flow or causing bone fractures. Unspeakable animal cruelty!

Roe deer and other wildlife have difficulty recognizing certain colors, as these are poorly visible to their eyes. Wildlife can barely distinguish red from green, and they quickly overlook orange-red nets. It is important to consider these aspects when procuring nets in order to ensure the safety of the animals and to comply with legal provisions on animal protection.

Nets in blue-white or black-yellow colors, as well as those with woven-in (blue) warning bands or flutter ribbons, are to be preferred over nets in orange, red, or yellow that are poorly visible to wildlife eyes, and over those without warning or flutter bands. This must be strictly observed for both initial and replacement purchases.

Landi.ch has recognized the problem and adjusted its product range.

Many thanks.

Kind regards

The petition is closed. Thank you for your commitment.

More on the topic of hobby hunting: In our dossier on hunting we compile fact checks, analyses and background reports.

Petition: Ban Dangerous Pasture Nets – Wild beim Wild