How ‘invisible fences’ can make Oregon rangelands more resilient against wildfires

Wildfires in Oregon have burned a record-breaking swath of land this season – much of it in Eastern Oregon. Those fires have also scorched miles of fencing that kept livestock on the pasture. And replacing that fencing can be expensive.

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To remedy that, the district is trying something different — virtual fencing. The conservation agency secured about $275,000 from local ranchers and government funds to install a set of reception towers and put GPS-enabled collars on cows. That will allow four ranchers participating in the pilot project to control where their cattle can graze.

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Virtual fencing has been around for decades, but in recent years it’s become more cost effective. Another project, in Wallowa County, is testing how virtual fencing can protect a community forest that supports grazing, recreation and sensitive plant species.

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