Hercules Fence has been doing its part to save the whooping cranes. Read on to learn more.
Whooping cranes are an endangered species. Fences have long been used as enclosures to protect vulnerable animals. Hercules Fence has been doing its part to save the whooping cranes. Read on to learn more.
What Was the Project For?
The National Zoo has been committed to saving the whooping cranes. Specifically, the Smithsonian Biological Conservation Institute (SCBI) in Front Royal, Virginia wanted a new environment in which to keep the animals safe. So Hercules rose to the task. With fewer than 900 birds left, the cranes needed a refuge somewhere to find safety and slowly rebuild their population numbers. With the assistance of Kee Construction of Winchester, Virginia, five enclosures were built for the cranes.
Enclosures
Five enclosures were built to protect the cranes. They are 50’ by 150’ and rectangular. This shape and size was chosen to give the cranes enough space to move around but not allow them to escape. The enclosures would also help keep predators from getting in to attack the cranes. Each enclosure holds three pens, each of which are 50’ by 50’ and include double gates to allow handlers to access the pens. Door hinges were used on each pen to minimize the size of the gaps between the frames and the posts.
Materials
The enclosures combined several different materials. Each pen featured a twelve foot high chain link fence that was made to be dig-proof through a barrier that would discourage intruders. Netting on the top of each pen also help contain the cranes, so they couldn’t simply escape by flying away. Steel cables and corrugated plastic also help reinforce the structures, along with bracing and insulators. Wire insulators were also upgraded so that electrified wire could run along the outside fences and further protect the cranes.
Other Elements
Some ponds and plumbing were also added, although this was an addition that Hercules did not oversee. The plumbing allows fresh water to be pumped into the enclosures for all of the cranes. All in all, the project is estimated to have cost over $400,000 and took two months, or eight weeks, to complete.
HAVE QUESTIONS? ASK HERCULES CUSTOM IRON
If you are ready to install your wrought iron fence and add iron railings or you still have some more questions, we here at Hercules Custom Iron are here to help. We have many years of experience and will ensure that your chain link fence will serve you and your family for years. Visit us online or call us at 1-800-331-2590. For advice, updates, and to see what we are up to, be sure to follow us on social media on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Google+, and Pinterest.