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To effectively keep animals out of your yard with a fence, choose a fence that anchors to the ground to deter digging. Also, consider adding a barrier below the fence to prevent burrowing. 

To make your yard less desirable to animals, eliminate food sources like a vegetable garden, and ensure your garbage cans are sealed and tamper-proof. Installing motion-activated devices like lights or sprinklers will startle animal intruders. Also, a fence won’t work well if you forget to keep gates closed and secure. If you still face persistent animal intrusion issues, contact a wildlife control expert who can offer specialized solutions.

Who pays for a new fence between neighbors depends on its location relative to the property line. If you build the fence entirely on your property, you are solely responsible for the costs of installation, maintenance, and repair. If the fence is built directly on the property line, both neighbors are typically responsible for the costs. In this case, it is essential to consult with your neighbor beforehand to agree on a plan for payment. While you should always inform your neighbor of your plans in advance, you generally cannot force them to contribute financially unless there are specific local laws, such as in California, where both parties might be responsible for costs unless a different agreement exists. It's a good idea to get a property line survey to know the exact boundaries before building.

Knowing how close to the property line you can build a fence is an important planning step in your fence installation project. In many U.S. states, you are allowed to build a fence directly on the property line as long as your neighbor signs off on the plan. But check with your state government because some states and municipalities require a couple of inches before your property line.

How long a wood fence lasts depends on the type of wood and its style. The design of a shadow box fence makes it more durable than other fence types because the alternating pickets disperse the weight across the rails. As a result, you won’t have to worry as much about sagging or failing pickets. However, remember that the hollow design of a shadow box fence makes it more difficult to apply the sealer, which is crucial to extending its life.