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Laramie, Wyoming Real Estate: Wyoming is a Fence Out State . . .

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming WY #12296

Wandering cow When it comes to cattle, Wyoming is a  FENCE OUT State.  That means if you live in rural Wyoming and you do not want cattle to roam freely on your land, then it is your job to fence them out!  Isn't that a funny concept?!

Sheep, goats, swine and elk(?!), on the other hand, are required to be fenced in.  Though, permissions are given that allow herds of sheep to be crossed from one grazing area to another by going through someone else's land if necessary.  However, that is "only as long as the animals are not allowed to stop and de-pasture the enclosure."  Good luck telling the sheep that!       

sheep eating flower

Someone wrote an in depth summary about the origin of this law from which I borrowed the "de-pasturing" quote at: http://wlsb.state.wy.us/LE/fencelaw.htm. 

To find out more about this curious custom but quickly and painlessly, Cole Ehmke wrote an excellent short article called "If You Fence It, They Will Stay Out" at:  http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/cesfrm/IfYouFenceIt.pdf.

Lastly, you can follow a lively, online discussion from 2007 at:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/rural-small-town-living/772201-help-neighbors-cows-trashing-my-yard-4.html#ixzz1EMJd0aFi

"Fence Out" is a concept I never heard before I got into real estate, but now that I know what it is, it explains A  LOT  about the gates and fencing we encounter in the public wilderness areas around here!

 

 

 

Posted by

Brenda Whitman, Broker/Co-owner                                                Office Phone: 307.460.3298

Live in Laramie Real Estate                                                                Cell Phone: 307.399.5477

302 S 2nd Street, Suite 206                                                      E-mail: brenda@liveinlaramie.com

Laramie, Wyoming  82070                                                       Office Website:  www.liveinlaramie.com

Comments(14)

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Steve Hoffacker
Steve Hoffacker LLC - West Palm Beach, FL
Certified Aging In Place Specialist-Instructor

Brenda,

That's what gated communities are all about across the country - fencing strangers out. :)

Steve

Feb 18, 2011 02:45 PM
Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate
Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming - Laramie, WY
Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming

I never thought of it that way!  Their own little "gated" communities..... very funny!

Feb 18, 2011 03:29 PM
Tim Bradley
Contour Investment Properties - Jackson Hole, WY
Commercial Real Estate Expert in Jackson Hole, WY

"Fence out state" or not, the neighbors in the subdivisions get mighty upset when cows move in, eat the landscaping, and fertilize the yard! Although they don't seem to mind as much when the deer, elk, and buffalo do the same...

Feb 18, 2011 04:49 PM
Gary Coles (Coaching)
Venture Realty International - Las Vegas, NV
Latin America Real Estate


Brenda, Interesting law which is familiar because I grew up on a Wyoming ranch, but it is very unusual to someone new to the area or who has always been in a town or city.  This post will be very helpful.  By the way, I couldn't get the first link to work -- it could be my connection tonight though, but you might want to check.

Feb 18, 2011 04:53 PM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Brenda, that is very interesting. We certainly don't have those laws here.. when the cows get out around here people get very upset.... to say the least.

On our ranch in AZ there was a sheep ranch next to us. On the side that bordered that ranch we had to make sure the fences were high enough from the ground to allow the sheep to pass underneath to get to water. Cows don't like to be where sheep have been as sheep pull up grass by it's roots....

Fences make for great neighbors... 2 legged and 4 legged!

Feb 18, 2011 11:50 PM
Joe Kenny
Realty Executive Midwest - Darien, IL
Better Than Your Average Joe

Brenda, Steve just stole my thunder.  Ok maybe not steal but definitely beat me too it.  Have a great Saturday.

Feb 19, 2011 03:15 AM
Wanda Thomas
Montana Homestead Brokers, Broker, CRS, GRI, SFR, RN - Billings, MT
Billings Montana Real Estate

We're a fence out state as well.  For the most part, this isn't a problem.  The problem comes with cattle on the road and the resulting accidents.  Not good for the cattle, and not good for the people.  Thankfully, most people keep their cattle fenced in!

Feb 19, 2011 02:16 PM
Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate
Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming - Laramie, WY
Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming

Hi Tim!  Yes, I noticed when I was looking into the background of this article that everyone is DEFINATELY not thrilled with this concept!

Hi Gary - Thanks! I've tried fixing the link and hopefully it works now, it is very interesting if a person has the time and desire to read it ...

Hello there, Andrea! - Interesting you would mention the access to water situation.  That was one of the situations that was described in the research I went through for this post! 

Joe- I will have a great Saturday and thanks for stopping by anyway - thunder or not! :-)

Feb 19, 2011 02:21 PM
Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate
Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming - Laramie, WY
Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming

Hi Wanda - You are right on target there - By the time something tragic happens, it doesn't really matter whose "right of way" it was at that point!

Feb 19, 2011 02:26 PM
Gary Coles (Coaching)
Venture Realty International - Las Vegas, NV
Latin America Real Estate

Brenda,  I tried the link and it worked great.  I enjoyed the article.

Feb 19, 2011 04:45 PM
Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate
Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming - Laramie, WY
Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming

Yay!  I'm glad it worked his time!  Just think, I never would have know if you hadn't told me....thanks a million!

Feb 19, 2011 04:56 PM
Liz Lockhart
Riverbend Realty, Cape Girardeau, MO - Cape Girardeau, MO
GRI, Cape Girardeau Real Estate

Brenda~ We midwesterners are completely unfamiliar with fencing out. What a shock it was to my family when we drove through open range territory one summer on vacation. Seeing signs that said things such as "Livestock on road next 78 miles" was frightening.

Feb 19, 2011 05:03 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Interesting information. Those of us in urban areas don't know much about "fencing out" practices! You'll have to continue educating us.

 Life is good when there are flowers to photograph!

 

Feb 20, 2011 01:57 AM
Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate
Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming - Laramie, WY
Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming

Hi Liz, I  had always known that there were places where cattle might be on the road, especially dirt roads, but I had never thought it strange...

Hello, Roy - On the flip side, I don't know much about "urban" practices!  LOL

Feb 20, 2011 02:09 AM