Deer Control
Several Approaches To Effective Deer Control
The need for effective deer control has increased as our own population has grown. Deer in heavily populated areas are often seen as a novelty at first, but soon become a nuisance, and even a danger in some instances. Farmers have long experienced the need for effective methods of deer control, as the presence of the animal in any significant numbers, can be a major cause of crop damage. Many home gardeners have learned a painful lesson when attempting to grow tulips when deer are around and about. Numerous other garden plants, both vegetables and flowers, can provide a feast for deer. Fortunately, deer usually only raid gardens when their normal food sources are, for one reason or another, insufficient for their needs.
In some parts of the country, people will tell you, with almost a straight face, that automobiles are the most effective tool for deer control. Collisions with deer not only cause millions of dollars in damage to automobiles every year, but also account for numerous injuries to drivers and passengers, and occasionally, fatalities. A deer through the windshield is not a pleasant experience, nor is successfully avoiding a deer, only to collide with something more substantial.
Two methods of deer control for home gardens, orchards, and small acreage farms, are deer fencing and deer repellents. Both increase in cost as the size to be protected increases, and at some point the use of repellents, especially contact repellents, applied to individual plants, can become prohibitively expensive. For small family gardens however, contact repellents can be very effective.
Insofar as fencing is concerned, electric fencing is one option, perhaps the best one when several acres are involved. Woven wire fences, seven to eight feet high, are very effective for areas under 10 acres. A woven wire fence can appear to be almost invisible from a short distance, and is popular as a deer control method as it is effective and, at the same time, not terribly unattractive.
We all know that deer seem to be rather timid creatures. Careful, might be a better term. But scare methods, such as strobe lights, loud noises, even firecrackers, can be used as a deterrent. The problem with this type of method is, the deer eventually become used to the light show or the noise. You get to the point where you set of the firecrackers, and the deer hang waiting for the finale.
Shooting the animals is also an option which, though not widespread, is occasionally employed. In many places, farmers are allow to shoot deer on their property, but only if the deer are actually damaging crops. In some areas, limited hunting seasons have been put into effect, with either guns or bow and arrow allowed. We may all have a soft spot for Bambi, and who doesn't love the sight of a little fawn. Unfortunately, Bambi has a habit of growing up, and can at times become a nuisance, requiring implementation of one or another method of deer control.