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Wednesday, March 22, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Draw the lide agaidst deer
By Kym Pokorny
Oregon State Extension Service
CORVALLIS — A gar-
den is like a box of bonbons
to deer, and homeowners fill
it with the candy they love
most.
“Deer are looking for the
highest quality food, and our
yards often offer the best
smorgasbord,” said Dana
Sanchez, a wildlife specialist
for Oregon State University
Extension Service. “When
taking loving care of our
plants — watering well and
and fertilizing — we’re pro-
ducing a really superior plant
compared to what’s in the nat-
ural environment. They are
more tender and have more
nutrition and water content.”
In the wild, deer and native
plants evolved together, so
plants developed defenses
like waxy leaves or prickles
that make them more adapted
to surviving grazing. Even
when they do get nibbled,
natives are more likely to sur-
vive than the succulent plants
in our gardens.
“We’re often select-
ing plants from other parts
of the world that didn’t get
to learn through evolution
about the herbivores in our
ecosystem,” Sanchez said.
“They’re ‘naïve.’ Even roses
that have prickles don’t have
them around the beautiful
blossoms, which the deer just
snap off. They easily take
what they want.”
Choosing native plants –
or other plants less attractive
to their palate – helps deter
deer.
Deer explore our yards
for more than just plants.
They’re delighted with sup-
plemental food provided
deliberately by humans who
believe they’re being kind; a
practice Sanchez strongly dis-
courages. Feeding deer gives
them more motivation to
wander into suburban, some-
times even urban, yards.
The feeling of safety
once they arrive makes them
want to stay. The large car-
nivores that prey on them
aren’t around and humans
aren’t hunting them. Deer
even become desensitized to
dogs unless there’s a close
confrontation, which usu-
ally ends poorly for the dog,
Sanchez said.
“Places where humans
live are a great place for deer
to hang out, which makes it
difficult to keep
them away,” she
added.
But it’s an
effort important
to make. As more
deer congregate,
there’s potential
for parasites and
disease to spread
among them-
PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK
selves and pos-
sibly to humans. They sure are cute – until they eat all the blossoms off your tomato plants!
For instance,
in some Midwest and East barrier around the entire applied frequently during
Coast states deer carrying yard. However, deer fencing, rainy periods or when plants
the ticks that pass on Lyme made of a robust mesh mate- have been watered with an
disease pose a significant rial, is an expensive initial overhead sprinkler. Even
health issue. Plus, the large investment. Another option summer sunshine or extreme
carnivores they’re trying to is a single strand of electrical heat can degrade the prod-
escape may follow them into wire extended from a regular ucts. It’s also a good idea to
vary the types of repellents
neighborhoods, setting up a fence.
Some people use motion- you use because deer become
dangerous situation.
“We don’t want large controlled scarecrow sprin- sensitized to the same one
plant eaters or the meat eat- klers, which blast water when used repeatedly. And remem-
ber, don’t spray them on any-
ers that prey on them hang- activated.
“That’s more of a shock- thing you might eat: The odor
ing around,” Sanchez said.
“Keeping wildlife in the wild and-awe deterrent,” Sanchez and taste is just as unpleasant
is best for humans and the said. “It protects a limited for us as it is for the deer.
area, though. Deer are notori-
No matter what you do,
animals.”
But thwarting the high- ous for figuring out the spray don’t be surprised if you dis-
jumping animals takes quite pattern and getting around it. cover munched plants in the
an effort. Eventually, many They’re helpful for a corner garden.
“Deer are determined and
homeowners plagued by deer of the yard or a bed up against
persistent when it comes
resort to fences, whether an the house.”
Deer repellents can be to filling their tummies,”
enclosure around a prized
rosebush or an 8- to 10-foot effective but need to be Sanchez said.
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