Secure Backyard

[russianhenry]

So right now Lola is living in an indoor enclosure as I am in an apartment. However, I am moving to a new place with a small backyard! I need to properly secure they yard so she can be out there. Of course she will come in at night and when weather doesn't cooperate. Any suggestions besides the attached photos??

 

[Tom]

You wil still need a smooth visual barrier along the bottom. 12" high plywood will work. Russians can climb fences like that.

 

[lynnedit]

Digging a trench is a lot of work. But burying 1/2" galvanized wire down and backfilling with the soil, or even gravel, is a good way to secure against predators AND your tortoise digging out.

Perhaps you want to build a smaller enclosure within your yard so you don't have to dig as much? Or create a raised bed, attach wire to the bottom, flip it over and back fill with soil?

My enclosure is up against a cyclone fence on one side. I did pound 12" rebar down every 4 inches (bye bye, elbows, which is why I can't imagine hand trenching out the edge of a back yard!) and have lined the edge with pavers.
I also used 16" pieces of wood along the sides to block the view, just as Tom mentions.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Lynne, do you have any photos of the pavers that line your enclosure?

 

[russianhenry]

Ok thanks guys!

 

[lynnedit]

Heather, I thought you would never ask! I was able to find a couple.
I got the idea from Yvonne.