Clover Valley Fence Removal on May 26. Photo by Irene Smith

PLACER, CA (MPG) - Friends Aiding Wildlife in Nature (FAWN) was founded in 2024 by Irene and Roger Smith that resulted in a trip the couple took, where on the front page of the local newspaper was a photo of two dying bull elk caught up in barbwire.

“That was sore of our first awareness of the problem. And then we began to think what’s being done about the problem.  When we returned home to California from our trip and we have five acres in Newcastle. We were walking around our property just checking things out and what did we find? A dead doe hanging by her ankle from our own fence.  It was like we were being given a message.  That something has to be done about the problem,” Cofounder of FAWN Irene Smith said.

FAWN’s mission is to help “re-wild” areas used by wildlife by identifying and removing obsolete fencing, which is fencing that has fallen from their posts that lies twisted and rusted on the ground that creates deadly traps and obstacles for wildlife each year.

It is essential that wildlife be mobile so they can have access to food, water, shelter and mates.

Obsolete fencing cuts across historic migratory routes, causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of wild animals because they are unable to access seasonal grazing and fresh water.

If wildlife are left with fewer safety routes, they are forced to take alternate routes which include creeks and roadways.

Family separation is also a concerning factor in the safety of wildlife. In Placer County, a local fawn rescue group takes in upward of 200 fawns each year. The doe can easily jump over the fence, but her baby cannot. The fawn is often left curled up by the fencing and can die of predation, dehydration or starvation.

“We started reaching out to conservation groups and service clubs and government agencies to see if anything was being done by any of them. We couldn’t find anything that was being done about removing obsolete fencing. We were determined to go ahead and start our own group,” Smith said.

Irene and her husband, Roger began giving presentations to different organizations in order to recruit volunteers. FAWN now has over 100 hundred volunteers working in Placer County, El Dorado County, Nevada County and Plumas County each year.

“We made arrangements with the land trust in each of those counties to do what we call a demonstration project, and they have to provide the volunteers.  And we provide the tools, the knowledge and the techniques on how to remove obsolete fencing.  We’re trying to spread the word of our mission as broadly as we can. So we’re reaching out to other counties,” Smith said.

In areas like Auburn, FAWN volunteers works to remove obsolete fencing at the Placer Land Trust’s Canyon View Preserve. They also coordinate with groups such as the Placer Resource Conservation District to complete massive single-day property cleanups. They also work with Sierra College’s ECOS Club, and local Rotary clubs to mobilize volunteers.

In a span of four hours, volunteers can remove of up two and a half miles of fencing. Since 2024, volunteers have successfully completed a dozen projects and removed about 20 miles of fencing.

Placer County was once home to pioneer ranches. The most common fencing seen is grid fencing topped with two strands of barbwire. Volunteers are asked to leave the posts because they define a boundary that can sometimes be historic.

Old fences are only part of the problem.  Modern fencing such as iron, spiked and wooden plank fencing seen in residential neighborhoods can also restrict wildlife movement. FAWN hopes to educate homeowners, government agencies and the public about the effects of fence placement and design, while promoting wildlife-friendly solutions for fencing.

Now, the Smiths hope to turn those experiences into action by removing forgotten hazards, educating property owners and encouraging residents to consider how something as ordinary as a fence can affect the animals that share Placer County’s landscape.

For more information visit www.fawn4wildlife.org or email [email protected].