The short answer: mostly, no — and you should be skeptical of anyone who tells you otherwise.
A standard residential fence is built to keep people and pets on the right side of a property line. Most South Florida wildlife either climbs over it, digs under it, or squeezes through it. A fence is a fantastic investment for privacy, pool safety, security, and keeping your dog in the yard — but if your only goal is keeping iguanas or snakes out, a fence alone won't get you there.
We get this question constantly, so here's the straight version most fence companies won't give you, because it means admitting the limits of what we sell.
Why most fences don't stop wildlife
Animals beat a fence three ways, and a typical fence leaves all three doors open:
- Over the top. Iguanas, raccoons, opossums, and squirrels are excellent climbers. A 4-, 5-, or 6-foot fence — wood, PVC, or aluminum — is a ladder to them, not a wall.
- Under the bottom. Iguanas, armadillos, rabbits, and rats dig. Most fences stop at the soil line, leaving a few inches of soft ground that an animal will tunnel through in a single night.
- Straight through. Snakes and rodents pass through pickets, lattice, chain-link diamonds, and the gaps under gates. If a head fits, the body follows.
This is why true wildlife exclusion is a specialty trade involving buried mesh aprons, climbing guards, and sometimes electric deterrents — not a fence install. We don't do that retrofit work, and we'll tell you honestly when it's what you actually need.
South Florida wildlife: does a fence actually help?
| Animal | Does a fence keep it out? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Green iguanas | No | Expert climbers and diggers. They go over picket and aluminum fences and burrow under solid ones. Exclusion requires buried mesh and climbing barriers — a specialist's job. |
| Snakes | No | Pass through pickets, chain-link, and gate gaps. Only a solid, flush-to-grade barrier with sealed gaps slows them, and even that isn't reliable. |
| Raccoons & opossums | No | Strong climbers with hands. A standard fence is no obstacle. |
| Armadillos | Sometimes | They don't climb, but they dig aggressively. A solid fence with a buried barrier helps; a standard one won't. |
| Rabbits | Sometimes | Can't climb, but slip through gaps and dig under. A solid bottom with no gaps and a buried edge helps. |
| Rats & rodents | No | Fit through almost any gap and climb almost anything. A fence does nothing here. |
| Coyotes | Partially | A tall (6 ft+) solid fence helps, but they jump and dig; full exclusion needs added height and a dig barrier. |
| Alligators (near water) | Helps — not a guarantee | A tall, solid aluminum fence makes it harder for a gator to reach your yard and keeps kids and pets back from the water. But alligators can and do climb fences, so treat it as a strong deterrent and added obstacle — never an absolute barrier. |
Where a fence does the most good: waterfront and canal lots
If you live on a canal, lake, or pond — and a lot of Broward and Palm Beach homes do — a solid fence is the single most useful safety barrier you can put between your yard and the water. Its biggest job there is keeping children and pets back from the water's edge, where the real danger is. It also makes it harder for an alligator to wander up into the yard. Be clear-eyed about that last part, though: gators are capable climbers, so a fence raises the difficulty and buys you time and distance — it doesn't guarantee one can't get over. Paired with a code-compliant pool barrier, this is the case where a fence does the most for your family's safety.
So what is a fence actually for?
Plenty — just not pest control. A well-built fence delivers:
- Privacy from neighbors and the street
- Pool safety and compliance with Florida's residential pool barrier code
- Keeping pets and kids in the yard and away from the road or water
- Security and a clear property boundary
- Curb appeal and resale value
Those are the reasons to buy a fence. “It'll keep the iguanas out” is not one of them — and we'd rather you hear that from us before the install than feel misled after it.
If wildlife really is your problem
If an animal is your main issue, the honest path is a wildlife-exclusion or pest specialist who installs buried mesh aprons, climbing guards, or deterrents — often onto an existing fence. Florida's wildlife rules also matter; iguanas, for example, are an invasive species with specific legal handling requirements, so a licensed professional is the safe call. That's not work we do, but knowing what you actually need saves you from paying for the wrong fix.
And if you need a fence anyway — for privacy, the pool, the dog, or the canal out back — that part we do well.
Frequently asked questions
Will a fence keep iguanas out of my yard?
No. Iguanas climb over standard fences and dig under solid ones. Keeping them out requires buried mesh and climbing barriers installed by a wildlife specialist — not a standard fence.
What kind of fence keeps animals out?
No standard residential fence reliably keeps animals out on its own. Solid, flush-to-grade fences with no gaps perform best against ground animals, but climbers and diggers still get past them without added buried or climbing barriers.
Will a fence keep snakes out?
Not reliably. Snakes pass through pickets, chain-link, and gaps under gates. A solid barrier sealed flush to the ground slows them but isn't a guarantee.
Does a fence help with alligators?
It helps, but it isn't a guaranteed barrier. A tall, solid fence between your yard and the water makes it harder for a gator to reach your yard and keeps kids and pets back from the water's edge. But alligators can climb, so treat a fence as a strong deterrent and added obstacle — not an absolute wall.
Should I get a fence or call a wildlife company?
If your goal is privacy, pool safety, security, or keeping pets in, get a fence. If your goal is keeping a specific animal out, start with a wildlife-exclusion specialist — then add a fence for the other benefits if you want one.
Need a fence for the real reasons — privacy, your pool, pets, or a canal-front lot?
XL Fencing has installed 7,000+ fences across Broward and Palm Beach County. Licensed (Broward U-22428, Palm Beach 20-F22100-R), 4.7★ across 260+ reviews.
Call (954) 482-0531 for a free estimate.
