Wildlife

Anchorage Assembly bans high fences that can injure or kill moose

A proposal to outlaw metal palisade fences, singled out by biologists for goring moose, squeaked by the Anchorage Assembly Tuesday night.

The Assembly voted 6-5 to ban metal palisade fences shorter than 7 feet, unless the pales are capped or removed. The measure was sponsored by South Anchorage's Jennifer Johnston, who brought it forward on the request of constituents who were alarmed by reports and photos of moose gored on sharp pales.

According to area biologists, the fences are responsible for the goring of two to four moose a year.

Several Assembly members who voted against the proposal complained about government overreach.

"This is government running amok," said Assembly member Dick Traini of Midtown. "I'm sorry. There's no children hurt with this. And we don't represent the moose."

Anchorage area biologist Jessy Coltrane testified at the hearing, calling the moose gorings preventable and "a relatively traumatic ordeal for everybody involved." She said she has a scar on her leg from an episode involving a moose and a palisade fence.

The measure does not make exceptions for industrial or commercial areas. Existing metal palisade fences in Anchorage are grandfathered in, but the ban will apply if a fence owner seeks to make modifications.

Devin Kelly

Devin Kelly was an ADN staff reporter.

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