Deer are beautiful and fun to recognize, but they are also abundant and destructive. Deer damage plants and shrubs everywhere from suburban and urban areas to large conservation remediation sites. A native tree nursery offers plant-based solutions to mitigate deer damage. Here are a few methods of managing deer damage:
The Cost of Deer Damage
The damage deer make is costly. Because they are generalists, deer damage persists over a wide range of habitats. Landscape and garden plants are no match for hungry deer. Deer browsing trees and shrubs in orchards leave them dead or disfigured. Deer even consume livestock feed. They stunt forest regeneration by over-browsing seedlings of oaks, hickories, and other trees. Since deer lack upper incisors, they are not able to clip plants. Their twisting leaves jagged tears on the growing portions of plants. Deer browse can occur up to six feet in height, which makes young trees more vulnerable. They tend to do the most damage along property edges. Like all herbivores, deer prefer tender parts of plants. They target growing portions of plants, like shoots, buds, and sprouts.
Deer Damage Prevention Methods
Fencing, scare devices, plants, and repellents all have a place in deer damage control. Since deer are opportunists, the level of resistance needed will vary based on deer density. Forage and proximity to natural deer habitat also play a role. So, what are some options to manage deer’s negative impacts? Here are four categories of deer deterrents:
Deer-Resistant Plants
Making careful initial plant selection may be the most cost-effective way to prevent deer damage. While no plant is deer-proof, some plants are more resistant to deer damage. Deer-resistant plants share the four ‘STOP’ characteristics that deer find unattractive.
- Spiky: Plants that have physical irritants like prickles, spines, and thorns.
- Textured and tough: Plants with fuzzy or leathery leaves.
- Odorous: Plants that emit strong aromas.
- Poisonous or bitter: Plants that produce milky sap or other toxic compounds.
A native tree nursery will have more information on the best deer-resistant plants for your situation.
Exclusion
Fencing may be best if your deer damage is seasonal or constant. These fences can be permanent, six feet in height or more, or electric. Offset fencing uses two fences of electrified strands set three feet apart. They combine to make a barrier that has both depth and height. One fence provides a high-voltage shock to instill fear into the deer. Scent caps attached at intervals entice deer to touch the electric line with their noses. The second fence doesn’t need as much height because it takes advantage of deer’s lack of depth perception. Animals with side-of-the-head eye placement, such as deer and horses, have less depth perception.
Frightening Devices
A frightening device may use audio, visual, audio-visual, or biological methods to deter deer. Audio frightening devices rely on a scary noise to frighten deer, but deer often quickly learn that there is no threat and move on to also annoy neighbors. Ultrasonic sound devices have proven effective in deterring deer. Visual and audio-visual devices include laser lights, pyrotechnics, and plastic effigies. Biological frightening devices take advantage of deer’s response to biological cues, such as a natural deer alert or distress sound. Like with other audio-based frightening devices, deer soon learn these devices pose no threat.
Commercial Deer Repellants
These repellants, classified as pesticides, face regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They may also need registration with your state. Within this category are 25B products that the EPA has deemed to be low-risk. Their ingredients have low toxicity and/or can be found in food production. These ingredients include ammonium soaps and capsaicin. Scent repellants include coyote urine, dried porcine or bovine blood, garlic, rotten eggs, and thiram. Combining these ingredients can increase efficacy or staying power.
Visit a Native Tree Nursery
No solution works in every situation, but with work and innovation, you can reduce deer damage. One suggestion is to work with nature and plant native trees and shrubs. The root production method (RPM) offers superior survivability with faster growth so browsed trees can often recover. Robust rooting of RPM-produced plants also helps spur faster regeneration. Native species are important to restore Earth’s ecosystem. A native tree nursery can help you with agroforestry and specialty crop projects of any scope. They can give recommendations and information on native plant availability.
