A staple pulling plier of the type consisting of a pair of pivoting members having handles and jaws forming a head portion. The head portion has opposite side faces, and the jaws in a closed position define a substantially continuous post engaging top ridge. Pincer points are provided on the jaws adjacent the top ridge and are moved to a closed staple grasping position on closure of the handles. A fulcrum member is formed integrally with the head portion and projects from one of the opposite side faces of the head portion, the fulcrum member defining an upper edge extending in a plane substantially normal to the post engaging top ridge of the jaws. When the bight of a staple is held by the pincer points, the two legs of the staple and the joining bight are in a plane normal to the post engaging top edge of the head portion. When the staple has been driven into a post to secure a horizontal strand of the fence, its plane is usually vertically disposed. Thus, as the plier is swung in a direction coinciding with the plane of the staple, the upper edge of the fulcrum member engages the post, and pressure can be applied in an up or down direction to more effectively withdraw the staple.