...to be really pissed that my neighbour had put up electric fence?

[NiniLegsInTheAir]

Our neighbours (a mid 30s couple, no kids, no pets) have just had their 100ft garden 'landscaped'. Since they moved in 2 years ago they've left what was a gorgeous little space to ruin as they don't like gardening, and now they've had it redone to be as little maintenance as possible.

But as they've had their garden done, they've realised that all our gardens are frequently visited by badgers (and currently a family of foxes). It's a big deal having the animals as we're actually on the outskirts of a town centre so wouldn't expect to have such an abundance of wildlife. It doesn't bother me massively that the badgers sometimes dig holes in our lawn but our neighbours have taken massive offence to the possibility of badgers digging in their pristine lawn so have started trying all sorts to stop them gaining access.

They tried blocking holes - the badgers dug bigger ones in different places. They tried filling the holes with stones, they got moved.

Anyway - went out in the garden tonight to find they've put FUCKING ELECTRIC FENCING ALONG OUR BOUNDARY against the hedging that separates us. To say I'm livid is an understatement. I have a cat, as do many other neighbours, and a small DD who could easily gain access. They DIDNT EVEN TELL US THEY'D PUT THE ELECTRIC FENCING UP and I can't even ask as they've done it and gone abroad for 2 weeks!!!! FFS - if you don't want wildlife BUY A FUCKING FLAT!!!!!!!!!

Seriously, is it me overreacting or is this a massive overreaction on their part to a small problem?

It's post's like those ^ that remind me why I'm on MN!!

Pee on it.

It's not very nice, but your cat won't touch it and your child won't touch it twice (unless they are Bart Simpsonish).
DS touched one a few months ago (after being told over and over and bloody over not to touch it). He cried for 5 mins or so and then spent ages telling US not to touch it. To be honest it was one of the funniest things I've ever seen and I think he cried more about the fact that I couldn't stop laughing at him than he did about the shock itself.

It's better than having them poison the lawn invaders, so I wouldn't sabotage their efforts.

Bubbaluv that's funny! mean!

If the badgers tunnel under the fence, won't they continue to do so, thereby making a ploughed field of the lawn not touching the fence?

I have a feeling the badgers will just burrow under it too.
LOL at the suggestions not to get some wire.
I gave a friends cat a good shock with one of those fences. They had it high up for the horses, hidden by the wooden rail. Cat walking along the wooden rail, also touching the electric fence was fine till I stroked it and grounded it. The noise was terrible, I got a small jolt too, we nearly peed ourselves laughing after. She was so sorry she forgot to tell me about the fence they had just put in to stop the horses pushing on the wooden rails.

Even if you haven't bought the copper wire, providing it is bare it will form a film of verdigris and camouflage itself. Just saying like

I really, really hope they get moles.

I bet you can buy moles on ebay-

Have you ever touched an electric fence? It doesn't put thousands of volts through you and fling you across the garden. It is a rather unpleasant "buzz" that makes you never want to touch it again.

Secondly, are you sure it is an electric fence and not a sonic one?

As an aside, my parents had badgers in their garden. It cost them over £2000 to have the sett fenced in, one way gates put on it and then the whole lawn re-turfed.

I'm not quite sure why you are so outraged?!
The fence is in
their garden, why on earth should they have told you/asked your permission?

If you happened to touch it, it feels like someone's snapped a rubber band on you and you won't do it again... But seeing as its in their garden, why would you touch it?!

And while they are still away you do not want to, maybe, pop some food out for the poor badgers - in their garden obviously.

Oh and when you don't put the copper in the ground do wear gloves.

Can't see the problem.

My garden is surrounded by electric fence from my neighbours - although to be fair it's to keep the cows in their fields. My DS used to touch it every single year without fail, was told not to touch it and would then insist on touching it, he's still here today. The cats have never touched it. The dog peed up against it the other day, now that was funny.

I think if it's in their garden it's not going to cause you that much trouble. I don't see what you would gain from earthing an electric fence that was in someone else's garden, it's not cheap stuff and they obviously want to keep animals out of their garden. A badger can do lots of damage to a pet or even a person if it feels threatened, I'd be more worried about my DCs disturbing one in the garden than the electric fence to be honest.

I live in the country and I go mad about moles digging up my lawn, I really wouldn't be happy if a badger came in and dug great big holes in it.

Well tbh I think YABabitU

I wouldn't want badgers digging holes in my lawn.

I can understand your concern about the fence because if you don't know a lot about them, the idea of 'Electric Fencing' is scary.

However they do not electrocute or harm. They give a small shock, generally no worse than those received in science lessons when learning about electricity. No damage done but Unpleasant enough to put you off touching it again.

These fences are not illegal, but a warning sign must be displayed in public areas. Though assuming it runs entirely around their own side of the fence then that's not public.

Well I can honestly say I did not click on empress's link or listen to any related advice given by others, and will not be taking a trip to Maplins later

I would be a bit peeved if it actually bordered on my land (and hence we would not be able to enjoy our garden to the full because we're constantly keeping away from that border). However, we've all touched the electric fence at our local stables by accident and got an unpleasant buzz, and survived without any damage. What I could imagine might be more seriously injurious is if anybody with heart irregularities touches it - would it mess up a pacemaker, for instance? I wouldn't want my 76yo DM with heart insufficiency/leaky valve/artificial other valve to go anywhere near it, just in case.

I think you might be forced to completely ignore what flippingcheek's DH on no account recommends you never do.

Why not mind your own? You seem peed off they left the garden for two years and now you are snippy with your 'landscaped' . So what if they hate gardening. Foxes are terrible and not cute little animals, and enccoouraging them is silly. If you are found damaging the electric fence it will lead to some awful long running neighbour from hell saga. Plus, you have hedging your side. Who cares?

Why is this a problem? They've taken a sensible and humane approach to dealing with the destruction of their garden that they've spent lots of money having done

I think you're letting your dislike if them colour your response

Fwiw we've got an electric fence in our suburban garden to jeep the chickens safe. We've also got dogs and small children. They all exist harmoniously together and it doesn't keep the neighbours bastard shitting everywhere and murdering everything cat out

Honestly I don't think you should worry about it

I think it's legal as my grandfather put one up after being visited by badgers every night for months and losing all their veg - he tried everything else first.

I can't really see how it affects you tbh

I'd take it down while they are gone, and leave it on their doorstep the tossers.

Why are they tossers?

Couldn't they have let her know in case her child touches it? There should at least be a warning sign.