What to do about a dozen deers that ate all my plants? (multiple pix)
10-26-2006, 09:02 AM
#11
Typical Buck
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location:
Posts: 696
RE: What can I do about a big buck that ate all my plants? (the one in this photo below)
Here's another option. Commercial product you can buy in gradening stores I believe. ( consumner comment I found)
I definitely recommend Ropel spray, as an effective deer repellent.
When I discovered that the deer who roamed my neighborhood had a liking for my just-sprouted perennials, in addition to my maple trees, I decided to take action. After a web search, and several calls to gardening stores in my area, I picked up a bottle of Ropel - it claimed to repel deer, raccoons, and other animals. And, it was safe for plants.
I followed the directions, and sprayed my deciduous trees, which the deer had shown a liking for, and all of my (cropped) perennials. A week later, my perennials were growing nicely, despite the original gnawing they took. 2 months later, the deer have still not bothered them at all. My trees also, show no sign of deer grazing since they were sprayed.
The only casualty was one evergreen tree - I didn't spray the evergreens, because the deer had never shown an interest in them. I guess with the rest of the garden off limits, one of them decided to taste the spruce. A quick spraying of the rest of the trees took care of that problem.
The deer still roam the yard (we seem to be on a twice daily migration path), but they don't stop to browse.
When I discovered that the deer who roamed my neighborhood had a liking for my just-sprouted perennials, in addition to my maple trees, I decided to take action. After a web search, and several calls to gardening stores in my area, I picked up a bottle of Ropel - it claimed to repel deer, raccoons, and other animals. And, it was safe for plants.
I followed the directions, and sprayed my deciduous trees, which the deer had shown a liking for, and all of my (cropped) perennials. A week later, my perennials were growing nicely, despite the original gnawing they took. 2 months later, the deer have still not bothered them at all. My trees also, show no sign of deer grazing since they were sprayed.
The only casualty was one evergreen tree - I didn't spray the evergreens, because the deer had never shown an interest in them. I guess with the rest of the garden off limits, one of them decided to taste the spruce. A quick spraying of the rest of the trees took care of that problem.
The deer still roam the yard (we seem to be on a twice daily migration path), but they don't stop to browse.
10-26-2006, 12:22 PM
#13
Fork Horn
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Central Missouri
Posts: 360
RE: What can I do about a big buck that ate all my plants? (the one in this photo below)
This may not work considering your suburban location, but human hair clippings sprinkled around the plants should deter them.
10-26-2006, 07:18 PM
#15
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8
RE: What can I do about a big buck that ate all my plants? (the one in this photo below)
Thanks for all the replies... I'll try all the suggestions to see which one works best. 
I have added a few more pictures of the other deers. It seems unlikely that they'll all go away... My dog(a 3-year-old German shepherd) doesn't go out much... The deers always outnumber him by 8 to 1.(and outsize him as well) The local animal control also reports rabies in the deers and raccoons around here, so I'd rather not let the dog out...
I have added a few more pictures of the other deers. It seems unlikely that they'll all go away... My dog(a 3-year-old German shepherd) doesn't go out much... The deers always outnumber him by 8 to 1.(and outsize him as well) The local animal control also reports rabies in the deers and raccoons around here, so I'd rather not let the dog out...
10-26-2006, 07:27 PM
#16
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8
RE: What can I do about a big buck that ate all my plants? (the one in this photo below)
ORIGINAL: kevin1
5) Buy some motion activated solar lights and mount them in problem areas , deer hate eating with a spotlight shining on them .
5) Buy some motion activated solar lights and mount them in problem areas , deer hate eating with a spotlight shining on them .
I have montion activated spotlight at every corner of my house. Each has one 150W bulb... The lightscome on whenever the deers come out at night. Strangely, they don't seem to care about the lights at all.Maybe they got used to the lights?
It's too cold now to use the montion-sensing sprinklers... Definitely will get a couple of those in the spring.(unless I somehow get rid of all these deers by then!
) I did consult with the local animal control dept. They said hunting them is not really an option, as this is a residential area. They did say I can get someone to trap the deers and send the deer into exile somewhere else...
My home sits on a 3-acre lot and all the deers are on my property. Found a few "specialists" who offered to trap them.. but they wanted between $50 to $80 for each successful capture...
10-26-2006, 08:00 PM
#17
Fork Horn
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Central Missouri
Posts: 360
RE: What can I do about a big buck that ate all my plants? (the one in this photo below)
You said the deer run away when the fox comes so I would suggest buying a scent wick and fox urine to scare them off, make sure you keep the scent fresh.
10-26-2006, 08:09 PM
#18
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Hoosier Country, Baby!
Posts: 1,710
RE: What can I do about a big buck that ate all my plants? (the one in this photo below)
Just for the record, the deer will not harm your dog. I guarantee if you let that dog out while they are feeding, they will scatter! Deer are not lovers of dogs, they seem to get frantic when they are around and vamoose right out of the area!
