The Fund for AnimalsThe Fund for AnimalsThe Fund for AnimalsThe Fund for AnimalsThe Fund for Animals • 200 West 57th Street, NY, NY 10019200 West 57th Street, NY, NY 10019200 West 57th Street, NY, NY 10019200 West 57th Street, NY, NY 10019200 West 57th Street, NY, NY 10019 • (212) 246-2096(212) 246-2096(212) 246-2096(212) 246-2096(212) 246-2096 • FAX: (212) 246-2633FAX: (212) 246-2633FAX: (212) 246-2633FAX: (212) 246-2633FAX: (212) 246-2633www.fund.orgwww.fund.orgwww.fund.orgwww.fund.orgwww.fund.org

��������������

FUND FACTSCoexistingwith WildlifeFact Sheet #7

MMMMMore and more of the environment isbeing engulfed by urban sprawl.

Some species, such as deer, adapt amaz-ingly well to our human-created envi-ronments. The short-cropped lawnsand tasty flowers in our suburban land-scapes provide exactly the kind of suc-culent food that deer seek out in the“edge” habitat they prefer.

Once rarely seen, deer now abound,often achieving high densities. Somepeople relish the sight of a doe withfawns on their lawn, while others re-act with frustration at the thought ofmore browsed plants. All are con-cerned about increased levels of deer/vehicle collisions.

Controversy erupts when a cry fordeer hunting goes up in communitiesaround the country. Those who favornon-lethal alternatives argue againsttaking the lives of deer. Hunters claimthat they can solve the problem withbullets or arrows. Politicians form deeradvisory committees in an attempt toreach consensus. Newspaper headlinesreport spirited debates at town meetings.The scenario is all too familiar.

The following information discusses thesource of a variety of deer problems as wellas misconceptions that lead to exaggeratedfears about the presence of deer. This isfollowed by a description of variousnon-lethal techniques that homeownerscan use to resolve deer/human conflicts.Repellents and scare devices tend to workbetter for low to moderate browsing prob-lems, yet fencing works better for moresevere problems. Therefore, it is importantto analyze your deer situation before choos-ing your deterrence plan.

SOLVING CONFLICTSIn most cases, the presence of a “nui-

sance animal” is just the “effect” half of a“cause and effect” scenario. The “cause”half is where our answers lie, and is almostinvariably a food source or an attractive bitof habitat. The trick is to fix the cause.Merely removing animals doesn’t work —as long as attractants remain, more animalsfrom the surrounding area will take theplace of any removed. It can be a vicious

cycle and is the reason why animal removalrarely works to solve a nuisance problem. Abetter approach is to modify the habitat so it

provides less food and shelter, which in turnencourages the animals to go elsewhere.

PLANTS:PLANTS THAT DEERWILL TEND TO AVOIDOR PREFER

Deer taste buds varygeographically and seasonally, andare largely dependent on what al-ternative plants are available.Check your local garden store forinformation on what types ofplants seem resistant in your area.You can also contact your localCooperative Extension Servicefor this information. To find a Co-operative Extension specialist, seethe directory for your state on theweb site <www.reeusda.gov/statepartners/usa.htm> or call yourlocal state university’s School ofAgriculture. Many CooperativeExtension Services have web sitesthat give this kind of information.

The following charts contain a general description of plant species that tend to be deerresistant and those that you should NEVER plant in deer country!

TABLE 1:DEER RESISTANT/ PREFERRED PLANTS

DEER-RESISTDEER-RESISTDEER-RESISTDEER-RESISTDEER-RESISTANTANTANTANTANT PLANTS PLANTS PLANTS PLANTS PLANTSAnnuals and BiennialsAnnuals and BiennialsAnnuals and BiennialsAnnuals and BiennialsAnnuals and Biennials

AgeratumAlyssumAnnual PeriwinkleBlanket flowerBlue salviaCalifornia poppyCornflowerDahlia*Dusty millerFlowering tobaccoForget-me-notHeliotrope

LobeliaMarigoldMelampodiumMorning gloryNasturtiumParsleyPansy*Plectranthus (fuzzy leafs)Polka-dot plantSnapdragonSpiderflower

Sweet basilSweet peaThorn appleTickseed (Coreopsis)VerbenaVincaWax begoniaZinniaZonal geranium

Groundcovers/VGroundcovers/VGroundcovers/VGroundcovers/VGroundcovers/Vinesinesinesinesines

BittersweetBugleweedCarolina jessamineCherokee roseDead nettle

HoneysuckleMyrtlePachysandraPeriwinkleSweet woodruff

Trumpet vineVirginia creeperWild gingerWisteria

Pho

to: T

exas

Par

ks &

Wild

life

Dep

artm

ent

Adam’s needleAlyssumAmaryllisAmerican bittersweetAmericana mountain mintAngelicaAniseAnise hyssopAstilbeAvensBaby’s breathBalloon flowerBarrenwortBasket-of-goldBearberryBee balmBergeniaBishop’s weed*Bleeding heartBlue starBluebeardBolton’s aster *BugbaneButtercup*Butterfly weedCalamintCardinal flower*CatmintChristmas fernCinnamon fernCinquefoilClematis

Perennials/BulbsPerennials/BulbsPerennials/BulbsPerennials/BulbsPerennials/BulbsColchicumColumbineCommon dillConeflower*Cranesbill (Geranium)Crinurn lilyDaffodil garlicDaffodilDame’s rocketDaphneDelphiniumDropwortEuphorbiaEvening primroseFalse indigoFernsFeverfewFoam flowerFour o’clockFoxgloveFritillaryGaillardiaGarden sageGarlic chivesGas plantGerbera daisyGermanderGlobe thistleGloriosa lilyGlory lilyGoatsbeardGolden ragwort

GoldenrodHay-scented fernHeathHeatherHelleboreHen & chicksHerb of graceHungarian speedwellHyacinthInterrupted fernIrisJack-in-the-pulpitJacob’s ladderJoe-pye weedLady’s mantleLamb’s earLantanaLarkspurLavenderLavender cottonLenten roseLily leekLily-of-the-valleyLungwortLupineMayappleMeadow sageMintMonkshoodMontauk daisyMontbretia

Moss pinksMulleinNew York fernOreganoOriental poppyOrnamental chivesOrnamental grassOrnamental onionOrnamental rhubarbOstrich fernPainted daisyPartridgeberryPennyroyalPerennial blue flaxPerennial sunflower*PinksPlumbagoPoppyPrimroseQueen of the prairieRhubarbRibbon grassRock-cressRose championRosemarySageScarlet sageScillaSensitive fernShasta daisy*Siberian Iris

SilvermoundSnakerootSnowdropSoapwortSociety garlicSpiderwortSpike gayfeatherSpurgeSquillSt. John’s wortStar of BethlehemStar of PersiaStaticeStella de Oro daylilySummer snowflakeSundropsSweet CicelySweet WilliamTansyThymeTiger lilyToadflaxTurtleheadTussock bellflowerWild indigoWindflower (Anemone)Winter savoryWintergreenWormwoodYarrowYucca* (Adam’s needle)

SHRUBS/TREESAllegheny serviceberryAmerican bittersweetAmerican Holly*AndromedaAustrian pineBald cypressBanana shrubBarberryBeautybushBlueberry elderBottlebrush buckeyeBoxwoodButterfly bushCaryopterisCherry laurelChinese holly*Chinese junipersChinese paper birchColorado blue spruceCommon buckthornCommon lilacCommon sassafrasCorkscrew willow

CotoneasterCranberryCrape myrtleCreeping wintergreenDawn redwoodDeodar cedarDeutziaDouglas firDowny serviceberryDragon lady hollyDwarf sweet christmas boxDwarf YauponEastern white pineEleagnusEnglish hawthornEuropean beechEuropean privetEuropean white birchFalse cypressFirFirethornFlowering quinceForsythia (border)

GardeniaGinkgoGoldenbellsGordoniaHeatherHeavenly bambooHeritage birchHoney locustHoneysuckleInkberryJapanese andromedaJapanese cedarJapanese flowering cherryJapanese hollyJapanese PierisJapanese roseJapanese wisteriaJohn T. Morris hollyKousa dogwood

Leatherleaf mahoniaLeucothoeLeyland cypress*Lydia Morris holliesMountain laurel*Mugo pineNorthern bayberryNorway spruceOleanderPaper birchPanicled dogwoodPaw pawPitch pinePlum yewRed mapleRed osier dogwoodRed pineRedvein enkianthusRiver birch

Rose of SharonRotundaRussian oliveSan Jose hollyScotch pineScots pineShadbushShallonSpireaSpruceStaghorn sumacSweet mock orangeSweetgumSweetshrubVibernumWeigelaWhite spruceWinter daphne

*Deer damage on these plants show regional differences*Some plants listed may be both annual and perennial

DEER-PREFERRED PLANTSDEER-PREFERRED PLANTSDEER-PREFERRED PLANTSDEER-PREFERRED PLANTSDEER-PREFERRED PLANTS(Avoid planting these in deer country)

Annuals andAnnuals andAnnuals andAnnuals andAnnuals andBiennialsBiennialsBiennialsBiennialsBiennials

DahliaEnglish daisyFibrous begoniaGeraniumHollyhocksImpatiensPansySunflower (Mexican)Violas

Perennials/BulbsPerennials/BulbsPerennials/BulbsPerennials/BulbsPerennials/BulbsBishop’s weedBlack-eyed SusanButtercupCandytuftCardinal flowerCrocusDaisyDaylilyEnglish ivy

Garden phloxGolden sunflowerGrape hyacinthHibiscusHosta (Plantain lily)HollyhockJapanese painted fernJerusalem artichoke

LiliesPerennial sunflowerPeriwinkleRoseRose mallowSedum “Autumn Joy”Shasta daisy

Solomon’s sealSpring-flowering crocusStockTrilliumTulipWallflowerYucca (Adam’s needle)

American arborvitaeAmerican hollyApple/crabappleArborvitaeAtlantic white cedarAtlas CedarAucubaBalsam firBlackberry & RaspberryCatawba RhododendronCherriesChinese hollyClematis (vine)

Shrubs/TreesCommon winterberryCornelian cherrydogwoodCornelian dogwoodCrabappleDeciduous azaleaEastern red cedarEastern redbudEnglish yewEnglish/Japanese hybridyewEuonymusEuropean mountain ash

Evergreen azaleaEvergreen hollyEvergreen rhododendronFlorida azaleaFrazer FirFringe treeGoldenrain treeHemlockHighbush blueberryHybrid roseHybrid tea roseHydrangea

Indian HawthornJapanese mapleJapanese yewJuniperLeyland cypressManchurian lilacMerserve hollyMountain laurelNellie Stevens hollyNorway maplePearPink shell azalea

Pinxterbloom azaleaPlumQuinceRedbudRhododendronRoseSaucer magnoliaWestern yewWhite pineWinged euonymusWintercreeperYew

These tables of “deer-preferred” and “deer-resistant” plants are a compilation of information from the following sources: Reducing DeerDamage to Home Gardens and Landscape Plantings by Paul D. Curtis and Milo E. Richmond <www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/chdp/reducingdeerdamage.htm>; Limiting Deer Browse Damage to Landscape Plants by Jeffrey Ward, Connecticut Agricultural ExperimentStation, New Haven, Bulletin 968: Nov. 2000; Resistance of Ornamentals to Deer Damage by Jonathan Kays, 1999, Maryland CooperativeExtension Fact Sheet #655; Deer Tolerant Ornamental Plants by Jeff Jackson and Gary L. Wade, as listed under “Timely HorticultureTips” Publication H-97-032 of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Cooperative ExtensionService <www.ces.uga.edu/agriculture/horticulture/deer.html>. We also used deer-resistant plant species lists given to us by CarolynSinger of Foothills Cottage Gardens in California <www.fcgardens.com>, and the Deer Resistant Nursery in Michigan<www.deerxlandscape.com>.

REPELLENTSRepellents are products that are meant

to disrupt and reduce deer browsing. How-ever, deer are very adaptable and may varytheir taste preferences. Therefore, the ef-fectiveness of repellents will vary and willdepend on a number of factors:* Seasonal changes in plant palatability* Local deer taste preferences and nutri-

tional needs* Availability of alternative foods* Time of year* Deer density* Type of repellent and concentration of

active ingredients* Durability of the repellent and how of-

ten it is applied

Plants are most vulnerable in winter,when snow cover or extreme cold reducesfood availability, and in early spring whenyoung, succulent spring growth on orna-mentals may occur before native plants. Inaddition, most repellents require reappli-cation at regular 3-4 week intervals andafter heavy rains. This is why people mayconsider repellents to be labor-intensiveand not always cost-effective, particularlyover larger acreage. On the more positiveside, repellents are easy to apply and in-visible, thus having much aesthetic appeal.

What Makes Some Repellents MoreEffective than Others?The most effective repellents tend to bethose that produce sulfurous odors and areconsidered “fear-inducing.” These repel-lents depend completely on detectionthrough odor. It is believed that deer asso-ciate a sulphur smell with the presence (or

carnage) of a predator. (Some deer re-pellents and homemade recipes con-tain animal-based ingredients, andtheir discussion here for educationalpurposes does not imply endorsementby The Fund for Animals.) Not all sul-phurous odors are equally effective, how-ever. For example, compounds containinggarlic seem to be less effective than sul-phur compounds in urine.

Aside from fear-inducing odors, repel-lents use other modes of action (some re-pellents combine several modes of action)which include:1) Taste: these include bitter ingredients

that presumably create a bad flavor.These must be continually applied to thegrowing parts of plants.

2) Pain: these include ingredients like hotpepper (capsaicin) or ammonia, whichcause irritation on contact with the mu-cous membranes, eyes, mouth, nose orgut.

3) Conditioned aversion: these productscause animals to form an association be-tween the treated item and a feeling ofsickness, usually gastrointestinal.

There are two kinds of delivery systemsfor repellents: topical (repellent placed di-rectly on the targeted plant) and area (suchas scent packets, where the protection zoneis meant to extend beyond the immediatearea where the repellent is present). Ingeneral, topical repellents appear more ef-fective than area-based ones and odor-based repellents tend to outperformtaste-based repellents. Taste receptors inanimals are different than those in humans.

Some chemical compounds which are ex-tremely bitter to humans tend not to botherdeer at all (Lutz and Swanson).

Tips for SuccessfulRepellent Application:1) All repellents work best if applied be-

fore the deer’s feeding pattern becomesestablished. This means applying repel-lents before bud-break and as newgrowth appears. You don’t want to breaka browsing habit, but rather prevent onefrom forming!

2) Because rainfall washes off repellents,you’ll need to reapply repellents afterheavy rains. We recommend routine re-

Pho

to: L

aura

Sim

on

A wide range of repellents are available at gardenand hardware stores.

application at least every 3-4 weeks sothat new, growing plant parts are pro-tected as well.

3) Deer may become accustomed to thesame repellent and ignore it over time.Alternating repellents may help to keepthe deer confused and more wary.

4) At the height of growing season, youmight consider choosing an odor repel-lent over a taste-based one. Taste-basedrepellents need to be constantly appliedto any new growth to keep the wholeplant tasting bad.

5) The longevity of some repellents can beenhanced by adding a “sticker,” whichis an adhesive product that literallymakes the repellent “stick” to the plantlonger! Some commercial “stickers” areWilt Pruf, Vapor Gard and Weathershieldand can be purchased at garden stores.Some repellents already contain asticker as part of their formulation.

How Do I Choose a Repellent?Many repellents are stocked by your

local garden, farm supply or hardware store,and it’s a good idea to ask what seems tobe working best in your area since the ef-fectiveness of repellents varies locally andregionally. Ask your neighbors what worksfor them. Overall, the one repellent thatseems to score highest most consistentlyis Deer Away Big Game Repellent. Table 2gives sources for certain repellents that youmay not be able to find locally.

Have There Been ComparativeStudies of Repellents?

There have been some published stud-ies that compare various repellent productson the market. A recent study (Wagner andNolte) reported that the most effective re-pellents (out of 20 tested) were Deer AwayBig Game Repellent, Plantskydd, Bye Deer,Deer Away Deer and Rabbit Repellent (nowmarketed as Get-Away Animal Repellent)and Deerbuster sachets. All of these prod-ucts reduced deer browse damage for all18 weeks of a winter study, with 2 (BigGame Repellent and Plantskydd) outper-forming the others by repeatedly, and quiteeffectively, protecting plants for 6-8 weekswhen directly applied. Interestingly, thesachets were effective only when theywere placed so that any product dissolvingin rain could drop onto the plant surfaces.Another earlier study (Lutz and Swanson)reported that Deer Away Big Game Repel-lent, Hinder (mixed 1/1 ratio with water),and Miller Hot Sauce (mixed at a ratio muchhigher than the labeled concentration, toachieve a 6.2% product /100 gallons waterratio) were the most effective repellentsin several field trials.

A note of caution: Studies vary widely inthe types of repellents they tested, whichplant or food was used as a carrier, repel-lent concentrations, test duration, experi-mental design, and criteria for success.Overall, many factors influence repellenteffectiveness, including: a) relative palat-ability of the plant to be protected, b) avail-ability of alternative forage, c) weather, d)amount and concentration of repellentused, e) size of the deer herd, and f) testduration (El Hani and Conover). Therehave also been less formal, consumer-based assessments, such as one publishedin Consumer Reports magazine which re-ported that 5 of the most effective repel-lents (out of 11 tested) were Hinder,Bobbex, Irish Spring soap, Repel Bye Deersachets, and a homemade egg and hot pep-per spray (see homemade solution #2).

NON-COMMERCIALREPELLENTS:::::Soap Bars: Hanging a bar of soap, particu-larly Irish Spring, from a bush or tree willhelp protect it. Be sure to leave the soapwrapper ON and drill a hole through thecenter of the soap and suspend it with astring. The brand of soap you choose mustbe high in tallow fatty acid. Glycerin andcoconut-based fatty acid soaps do NOTseem to repel deer well. Disadvantage: thesphere of protection is limited to the im-mediate area around the tree/bush. Be sureto hang the soap bars no more than 3 feetapart, up to a height of 6 feet, all aroundthe tree/bush.

Human Hair: Although hanging sachetsof human hair costs very little, it does notconsistently repel deer. Hair can be ob-tained from beauty salons and barbershopsquite easily, however. Hair should bebagged in 1/8-inch mesh bags or nylonstockings, and contain at least 2 handfulsof hair apiece. Bags should be hung at least3 feet apart from each other and up to aheight of 6 feet if the tree/bush to be pro-tected has a wide diameter. Refresh thebags monthly with fresh hair. Some usershave found that periodically spraying thebags with cologne or aftershave enhancestheir effectiveness!

HOMEMADE SOLUTIONS:::::1) Mix 3 eggs well in a blender. Mix with 1

gallon of water. Spray on plants. Reap-ply after heavy rains. Disadvantage: thissolution may clog sprayer.

2) Mix 4 eggs, 2 oz. red pepper sauce, 2 oz.chopped garlic. Blend with enough wa-ter to make 1 quart. Strain and applywith spray can. This is the ConsumerReports recipe.

A SAMPLING OF COMMERCIALREPELLENTS:Note: See Table 2 for more options and a fullingredient list. Some commercial deer re-Some commercial deer re-Some commercial deer re-Some commercial deer re-Some commercial deer re-pellent products contain animal-basedpellent products contain animal-basedpellent products contain animal-basedpellent products contain animal-basedpellent products contain animal-basedingredients, and their listing here for edu-ingredients, and their listing here for edu-ingredients, and their listing here for edu-ingredients, and their listing here for edu-ingredients, and their listing here for edu-cational purposes does not imply endorse-cational purposes does not imply endorse-cational purposes does not imply endorse-cational purposes does not imply endorse-cational purposes does not imply endorse-ment by The Fment by The Fment by The Fment by The Fment by The Fund for Animals.und for Animals.und for Animals.und for Animals.und for Animals.Deer Away Big Game RepellentDeer Away Big Game RepellentDeer Away Big Game RepellentDeer Away Big Game RepellentDeer Away Big Game Repellent (BGR):This product comes in both a powder andliquid form (the product’s powder formseems more effective than the liquid form)and is considered by researchers to be themost consistently effective deer repellent.BGR is an odor-based repellent comprisedmostly of putrescent egg solids. It is usu-ally available in garden stores.Miller’s Hot Sauce Miller’s Hot Sauce Miller’s Hot Sauce Miller’s Hot Sauce Miller’s Hot Sauce and Deer Away DeerDeer Away DeerDeer Away DeerDeer Away DeerDeer Away Deerand Rabbit Repellentand Rabbit Repellentand Rabbit Repellentand Rabbit Repellentand Rabbit Repellent (now marketed asGet-Away Animal RepellentGet-Away Animal RepellentGet-Away Animal RepellentGet-Away Animal RepellentGet-Away Animal Repellent): Both ofthese products rely on trigeminal nerve ir-ritation in the mouth caused by the hotpepper sensation. For severe deer brows-ing, the Miller’s Hot Sauce manufacturermay recommend that the product be ap-plied at 10-100 times the labeled concen-tration and that a sticker, such as VaporGard, be added to ensure higher durability.The effectiveness of any capsaicin-based(hot pepper) product appears to dependlargely on the concentration of capsaicinused and that the product be reapplied ev-ery 2-3 weeks (or less) so that any newplant growth is covered. Taste-based repel-lents seem to have a shorter duration ofeffectiveness than odor-based. This may bedue to the lack of an associated odor cue,so deer continually sample growing plantsand quickly notice if the hot pepper flavoris absent from any plant parts. See Table 2for recommended applications and more in-formation about these two products.Hinder:Hinder:Hinder:Hinder:Hinder: This is an odor deterrent, basedon ammonium soaps high in fatty acid. Ad-vantage: This is one of the few productsthat can be used on garden vegetables. Itis usually available in garden stores.Milorganite: Milorganite: Milorganite: Milorganite: Milorganite: This human sewage-basedfertilizer is primarily an odor deterrent,available at most garden stores. Recom-mendation: Spread in a wide band aroundthe perimeter of a garden, reapply as di-rected and after heavy rains. It is usuallyavailable in garden stores. At this time, wecan’t say how effective this product is fordeterring deer.Plantskydd: Plantskydd: Plantskydd: Plantskydd: Plantskydd: This new product that origi-nated in Scandinavia is made from driedblood and vegetable oils. Many animals re-act to the smell of blood, instinctivelyknowing that if blood is found outside thebody, something is wrong. This productscored highly in deer repellency studies.

TABLE 2: COMMERCIAL REPELLENTSNOTES:

- Many of these repellents are available at your local garden store.- This list is not all-inclusive, but rather a representative sampling.- RTU means “ready-to-use” form (i.e. pre-mixed).

Products marked with an asterisk* include animal ingredients and their discussion here for educational purposes does not imply endorsementby The Fund for Animals.

TRADETRADETRADETRADETRADE ACTIVEACTIVEACTIVEACTIVEACTIVE COST OF ONECOST OF ONECOST OF ONECOST OF ONECOST OF ONE

NAMENAMENAMENAMENAME INGREDIENT(S)INGREDIENT(S)INGREDIENT(S)INGREDIENT(S)INGREDIENT(S) QUARQUARQUARQUARQUARTTTTT OF OF OF OF OF SOURCESOURCESOURCESOURCESOURCE COMMENTSCOMMENTSCOMMENTSCOMMENTSCOMMENTSREADYREADYREADYREADYREADY-T-T-T-T-TO-USEO-USEO-USEO-USEO-USE

*Deer Deer Deer Deer Deer AAAAAway Bigway Bigway Bigway Bigway BigGame RepellentGame RepellentGame RepellentGame RepellentGame Repellent(((((comes as aconcentrate, powder,or a RTU form called�Deer and RabbitDeer and RabbitDeer and RabbitDeer and RabbitDeer and RabbitRepellentRepellentRepellentRepellentRepellent�)))))

Putrescent eggs 4.63% inRTU, 37% in concentrate

Ready-to-useReady-to-useReady-to-useReady-to-useReady-to-use$17.99ConcentrateConcentrateConcentrateConcentrateConcentrate$9.95Powder: 1 lbPowder: 1 lbPowder: 1 lbPowder: 1 lbPowder: 1 lb$24.95

Intagra8906 Wentworth Ave. S.Bloomington, MN 55420(800) 468-2472www.intagra.com

This putrescent egg-based repellent scoresmost highly in repellentstudies. Powder form ofproduct seems mosteffective. Odor based.Reapply every 4 weeks.

*Deer Off*Deer Off*Deer Off*Deer Off*Deer Off .7813% egg solids; 0.0006%capsaicin and 0.0006%garlic in RTU

$18.99 Deer Off1492 High Ridge Rd. Suite 5Stamford, CT 06903(203) 968-8485www.deeroff.com

This product combinestaste (capsaicin) andodor (egg) for repel-lency effect. Reapplyevery 3-4 weeks.

*Liquid Fence*Liquid Fence*Liquid Fence*Liquid Fence*Liquid Fence Contains egg solids(co. won’t reveal %);3% garlic powder

$11.95 Liquid Fence Inc.PO Box 300Broadheadsville, PA 18322(888) 923-3623www.liquidfence.com

Odor and taste-basedrepellent. Reapply afterone week and thenmonthly.

*Plantskydd*Plantskydd*Plantskydd*Plantskydd*Plantskydd 87% edible animal protein(bloodmeal); 3% vegetable fat;5% salt; 5% water

$27.00 Tree World4466 StalashenDr. SecheltBC, Canada V0N 3A1(800) 252-6051www.plantskydd.com

A new product fromScandinavia, odor-blood-based ingredients. Scoredhighly in studies.

MillerMillerMillerMillerMiller’’’’’s Hot Sauces Hot Sauces Hot Sauces Hot Sauces Hot Sauce 2.5% capsaicin $98.00 per half gallon(not sold by RTUquart)

Miller ChemicalPO Box 333, 120 Radio Rd.Hanover, PA 17331(800) 233-2040www.millerchemical.com

* company will consult with youto make sure product fits yourproblem specifics

Be sure to add a sticker(ex: Vapor Gard). ThisThisThisThisThisproduct must be handledproduct must be handledproduct must be handledproduct must be handledproduct must be handledvery carefully due tovery carefully due tovery carefully due tovery carefully due tovery carefully due tocapsaicin (hot pepper)!capsaicin (hot pepper)!capsaicin (hot pepper)!capsaicin (hot pepper)!capsaicin (hot pepper)!

Manufacturer suggestionfor heavy deer browsing:Apply at ratio of 1-2 quartsrepellent, 1-2 quarts sticker(ex: Vapor Gard), to 100gallons water.

*Deer Stopper*Deer Stopper*Deer Stopper*Deer Stopper*Deer Stopper Mint oil, rosemary oil,sodium chloride

Egg solids:1.52% in RTU,15.2% in concentrate

$16.99 Landscape PlusPO Box 122Chester, NJ 07930(908) 832-0711www.deerstopper.com

A new formulationcontaining herbal oils.

DeerBusters DeerDeerBusters DeerDeerBusters DeerDeerBusters DeerDeerBusters Deerand Insectand Insectand Insectand Insectand InsectRepellentRepellentRepellentRepellentRepellent

3.33% garlic $19.95 with hose-end sprayerattachment

DeerBusters9735A Bethel Rd.Frederick, MD 21702(888) 422-3337www.deerbusters.com

This garlic-basedrepellent doesn’t persistlong so it must be re-applied every 7 days andafter rain.

Get-AGet-AGet-AGet-AGet-Away way way way way AnimalAnimalAnimalAnimalAnimalRepellentRepellentRepellentRepellentRepellent

.625% capsaicin,

.21% allyl isothiocyanate(mustard)

$17.99 Intagra8500 Pillsbury Ave.Minneapolis, MN 55420(800) 468-2472www.intagra.com

This product scored fairlywell in a recent study.Taste/pain basedrepellent. Reapply every 2weeks.

*Hinder*Hinder*Hinder*Hinder*Hinder RTU: consists of .66%ammonium salts of higher fattyacidsConcentrate:13.8% ammoniumsalts of higher fatty acids

RTU24 ounce $12.99

$25.00 for one gallonof concentrate

E. M. Matson Jr. Co. Inc.PO Box 1820North Bend, WA 98045(425) 888-6212

One of the few productsregistered for use onedible plants. Reapplyevery 2 weeks.

*Deerbusters Deer*Deerbusters Deer*Deerbusters Deer*Deerbusters Deer*Deerbusters Deerand Rabbit Repellentand Rabbit Repellentand Rabbit Repellentand Rabbit Repellentand Rabbit Repellent

Concentrate: 13.8% ammo-nium salts of higher fatty acids

$33.95 forconcentrate

DeerBusters9735A Bethel Rd.Frederick, MD 21702(888) 422-3337www.deerbusters.com

This product can be usedon edible plants. Reapplyevery 2 weeks.

sive initial outlay of funds, yet awell-maintained fence should last 5-25years. There is a wide variety of fencingoptions now available.

Certain fences, such as the 8-10 foot tallwoven wire fence, provide an absolute bar-rier since they are high enough to preventdeer from going over them and solid enoughto prevent deer from going through them.However, most other fences, such as elec-tric fences, are considered more of a “men-tal barrier” since they are low enough tojump yet the use of electric shock (nega-tive stimuli) or slanted-construction (i.e.illusion of a formidable fence) teaches thedeer to stay away.

Full instructions for how to build or in-stall many deer fencing options are avail-able through the book Prevention and Con-trol of Wildlife Damage (Craven andHygnstrom, 1994 — see “Deer” Chapter)which is also available online via<www.wildlifedamage.unl.edu> (see “Re-sources” for how to access this text online).You can also consult with fencing suppli-ers (see Table 3) or your local farm sup-plies, garden, or hardware store.

ELECTRIC FENCESNote: Be sure to check your local ordinancesregarding electric wire fencing to find outwhat is permissible in your community.

Electric fences are among the most ef-fective deterrents. They can be con-structed in a variety of configurations suchas a baited, single strand or 5,7, or 9 wirespitched either horizontally or vertically.They are powered by high-voltage, lowamperage chargers that provide timedpulses of short duration. Deer quickly learnto avoid thesefenced-in areas.Electric fences aremore of a “behavioralbarrier” than an ab-solute barrier, whichmeans that if they’renot properly main-tained (see Tips),deer will learn howto get through them.

If you have a smallgarden or area to pro-tect, check with yourlocal garden storebecause many sellelectric fence kitsthat may suit yourneeds. Know thatdeer are quite resis-tant to electric shockdue to their hollow,

well-insulated hair, and the small, pointydesign of their hooves which lessens theelectrical impact. This is why they canoften get through the horizontal wiresof electric fences without feeling muchof a shock.

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFULELECTRIC FENCES:::::1) INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE:

Fences must be regularly inspected andmaintained to remain effective. Everyweek, check for broken wire and do avoltage check. Deer constantly testfences and if they get through once, it ismuch more difficult to recondition them.

2) MOWING: Vegetation must be clearedaway --- and kept away --- from the lowerwires or the wire may short out. Be sureto clear a minimum 10-15 foot buffer onthe outside of the fence so deer see itand don’t run through it.

3) BAITING: Many professionals believethat baiting with peanut butter or otherlure is vital to make electric fences fullyfunctional. Some fencing suppliers in-corporate bait holders into their fencekits (see Premier 1 Supplies andDeerBusters products, Table 3). Peanutbutter baits can be applied to aluminumfoil strips each week (see diagramA B e l o w b u t b e s u r e t o scrunchthe foil around the peanut butter so itdoesn’t flutter in the wind) or directlyonto the electric wire/ polytape. Youwant the deer to first taste the pea-nut butter, not to be scared of it. Whenthe deer make nose-to-fence contact,they get an unpleasant jolt that con-ditions them to avoid the fence in the

Single strand polywire electric fence. (From S. Craven andS. Hygnstrom's “Controlling Deer Damage in Wisconsin,” Publication No. G3083,University of Wisconsin–Cooperative Extension, Madison. Reprinted withpermission.

AAAAA

Two-strand polywire/polytape electric fence. (From S. Cravenand S. Hygnstrom's “Controlling Deer Damage in Wisconsin,”Publication No. G3083, University of Wisconsin–CooperativeExtension, Madison. Reprinted with permission.

BBBBB

SCARE DEVICES:Another way to deter deer is to scare

them. However, deer tend to habituate tomost scare devices over time. Their initialfear of a device that looks, moves, or soundsstrangely may even result in curiosity fol-lowed by rapid habituation as the deerlearns that the device is not harmful.

Scarecrow Motion Activated Sprin-kler: This is a motion sensor combinedwith a sprinkler that attaches to a sprayhose. When a deer comes into its adjust-able, motion detecting range, a sharp burstof water is sprayed at the animal. By com-bining a physical sensation with a startlingstimulus, this device appears to be moreeffective than other devices that rely onsights or sounds alone. This device report-edly is effective for other mammals thatmay come into gardens and sells for ap-proximately $99. Purchasing informationcan be obtained from Weitech Company at(800) 343-2659 or <www.scatmat.com.>

Havahart #5250 “Electronic DeerRepellent”: This highly portable “repel-lent” consists of 3 stake-like devices, cot-ton and a scent lure and is aestheticallycolored to blend into the environment. Thedeer are attracted to the lure and receive amild electric shock when they reach it. Theconcept is to train them, through aversiveconditioning, to stay away from gardens.This 3-post device covers 1200 square feetof garden, according to the company. Thecurrent produced by this device has verylow amperage and duration of only a fewmilliseconds. It costs $99. Look for thisproduct in the “Electrical Repellents” sec-tion under “Deer” on the Havahart website,<www.havahart.com>, or by calling (800)800-1819.

Ultrasonic Devices: There are severaldevices which supposedly repel wildlife byproducing high-frequency, short-wave ul-trasonic sounds that are inaudible to peoplebut are heard by animals such as deer, dogsand cats. One commonly sold “deer alertwhistle” is torpedo shaped and meant tobe affixed to car bumpers. How well thedevices work is not scientifically known.There is anecdotal information for andagainst them; therefore, we are not recom-mending the use of these products at thistime.

FENCING OPTIONS:When deer browsing is at moderate or highlevels, or a landowner isn’t willing to tol-erate even a limited amount of browse dam-age, fencing to exclude deer is the onlyoption. This will involve a more expen-

future. Clean off any old peanut butterso it doesn’t get moldy. [A recent publi-cation (Craven et al, 2001) suggests thatbaiting may not be necessary.]

4) LEAVE FENCE ON: Leave the electricfence ON at all times to prevent deerfrom testing the fence when it’s off.

5) CHARGERS AND WARNINGS: It isimportant to use a high quality energizer(or charger) that puts out 5000 volts.Chargers (also called energizers) areAC, battery or solar-powered. How wella charger performs is dependent on itspower output measured in “joules un-der load.” To effectively repel deer, agood rule of thumb is that one joule ofoutput from a charger will adequatelypower 3000 feet of fence wire. Checkwith your fence supplier to make surethat the charger is matched to the fencedesign and is appropriate for your needs(Kays 2001). And don’t forget to put upwarning signs.

6) REPELLENTS: For added deterrence,after deer have made initial contact withthe fence, you can take strips of cottonand soak them in an odor repellent(Table 2). Hang the strips at regular in-tervals and reapply the repellent everymonth. The odor will help reinforce thenegative impact of the electric shock.

SOME ELECTRICWIRE FENCE TYPES:Single-Strand “Peanut Butter Fence”:This single-strand fence design relies on apeanut butter (see “A” at left) or other “bait”being attached to the wire (usually throughstrips of aluminum foil hung from the wirewith cloth adhesive tape) to reinforce anegative message. This fence is only 2 ½feet high and most effective for small gar-dens and nurseries under 3 acres. Use 17-gauge smooth wire and attach to woodenposts (as illustrated, except be sure toscrunch aluminum foil around the peanutbutter so it doesn’t flutter in the wind). Thecost is under 15 cents per linear foot.DeerBusters sells a single strand, baitedfence kit for properties under 4 acres. Thiskit has aluminum caps built into the fencedesign to hold lure, which makes bait ap-plication easier and “less messy.”Polytape and Polywire Fences: Thesetemporary fences (see “B” at left) are highlyportable and best suited to home gardens,small nurseries, and orchards under 40acres that don’t have severe browsing pres-sure. Polywire is composed of 3, 6, or 9strands of metal filament braided withstands of colored polyethylene. Polytapeis wider and more expensive, yet fluttersin the wind more so it may not last as long

TABLE 3: SUPPLIERS OF DEER FENCING

Please note that this is a partial list of some mail order fencing suppliers.

FENCING SUPPLIERFENCING SUPPLIERFENCING SUPPLIERFENCING SUPPLIERFENCING SUPPLIER COMMENTSCOMMENTSCOMMENTSCOMMENTSCOMMENTSPremier Fence Co.2031 300th St.Washington, IA 52353(800) 282-6631www.premier1supplies.com

The catalog contains excellent electric fence tips and abroad variety of fencing options.Call to request a catalog and for free consulting andguidance. The 3-D Scented Anti-Deer Fence (a kit thatincludes scent lures built into the electric wire system),Intellirope, and electrified netting are some of thefencing products available from this source.

Kiwi Fence Systems, Inc.121 Kiwi Rd.Waynesburg, PA 15370(724) 627-8158www.kiwifence.com

The catalog contains a variety of fencing optionsincluding the relatively new five-wire electrified “spider”fence for farm use.

Forestry Suppliers, Inc.PO Box 8397Jackson, MS 39284(800) 647-5368www.forestry-suppliers.com

This company sells solid tube seedling protectors (i.e.individual 4-foot high cylindrical tubes) that protectseedlings and saplings during the early growth stages.

Gallagher Power Fence, Inc.PO Box 708900San Antonio, TX 78270(800) 531-5908www.gallagherusa.com

This company sells permanent and portable (tempo-rary) electric wire fence systems. They also carry thehigh-quality electric Turbo-tape.

Benner’s Garden, Inc.6974 Upper York Rd.New Hope, PA 18938(800) 753-4660www.bennersgardens.com

This black, polypropylene fencing is very lightweightand blends into the environment but may entanglewildlife due to its low visibility. If used, be sure to attachlight, bright streamers to the fence every 3 feet soanimals see it. This fencing is for short-term use only.

Kencove Farm Fence, Inc.344 Kendall Rd.Blairsville, PA 15717(800) 245-6902 or (800) 536-2683www.kencove.com

The website offers an electric fence manual on-lineincluding installation strategies for 7-wire deer fence.

DeerBusters9735 A Bethel Rd.Frederick, MD 21702(888) 422-3337www.deerbusters.com

This company offers a single strand, electric fence kitthat includes warning signs, posts, corner supports,polywire, a tester, and a “deer pop” bait system(aluminum caps filled with a refillable scent lure), thatattaches to the wire for easy use. Also carried isinvisible, lightweight black polypropylene fencing.

West Virginia Fence Co.US Route 219Lindside, WV 24951(800) 356-5458www.maxflex.com

This company offers electric fence and high tensilewoven-wire fences to exclude deer.

Margo SuppliesPO Box 5400High RiverAlberta, Canada T1V 1M5(403) 652-1932www.margosupplies.com

This company offers electric fencing: portable, hightensile and a galvanized cable electric fencing.

Live Wire Product, Inc.1127 E St.Marysville, CA 95901(800) 272-9045

This company offers woven-wire high tensile fencingsystems as well as electric fences.

Deer-Resistant LandscapeNursery3200 Sunstone CourtClare, MI 48617(800) 595-3650www.deerxlandscape.com

This company offers a nearly invisible 8 footpolypropylene fence. Be sure to attach light, brightstreamers to avoid entangling wildlife.

as polywire. It is best to purchase materialswith the least electrical resistance (ohms/1000 feet) to prevent loss of voltage due tolong distances. Polytape or polywire

fences are usually suspended 30 inches offthe ground by fiberglass rods at 2-4 foot in-tervals. It is recommended that a secondwire be added to increase effectiveness, so

that one is at 18 inches and the other at 36inches. These fences can last 15+ yearsand be installed for less than 25 centsper linear foot. Many kits,which include all materials, areavailable so check fencing sup-pliers (see Table 3) and your lo-cal garden store.3-D Scented Anti-Deer Fence:This new electrified rope system(see “C”) (sold by Premier 1 Sup-plies) takes advantage of the factthat deer have limited depth per-ception. Two electric fences arespaced 3 feet apart from eachother to create somewhat of a 3-D effect. The outer fence has onerope with scent caps attached(which contain cotton to hold an apple scentlure) to attract the deer. The inner fencehas 2 strands of electrified rope. Bothfences are electrified by the same ener-gizer. The whole system costs under 35cents per linear foot to install and will last7-10 years. The apple scent is sold sepa-rately for $5 an ounce, and a few dropsare used per application. It is recom-mended that the scent be refreshed ev-

ery 10-14 days.Electric–Bait Kit: Deerbusters sells asingle-strand electric fence kit that comeswith “deer pops” (aluminum caps that holdscented lure), posts, corner supports,polywire, a tester, and warning signs. Thekits come in either solar or plug-in designs.The plug-in is recommended because it’smore powerful. This kit is for small (under4 acre) gardens. Cost of kit ranges from$225-315 depending on size of area to becovered.Electric Spider Fence: This relativelynew fence is mainly used to protect domes-tic animals or crops. It contains a 5-wiresystem that is only 4 feet tall and uses alight 16-gauge wire (see “D”). It relies onfiberglass posts that maintain wire tensionand spacing. It does not require bracing butrequires wood posts on the corners. Itcomes with an electrified gate. Note: thisis a semi-permanent fence (lasts 10-12years), and not as durable or long lastingas woven wire. Baiting with peanut butter(as outlined above) is important to make

this fence fully effective. The cost is under50 cents per linear foot.High-Tensile Vertical Fence: Thesefences deter deer effectively as long as aheight of 8 feet is achieved and the wiresare correctly spaced so deer don’t gothrough them (see “E”). We recommend thedesign using 9 high-tensile wires (Cravenet al, 2001 — see diagram). Deer will tryto go under or through these kinds of

fences, so the bottomwire should be nomore than 2 inchesoff the ground(strung very tightly)with additional wiresspaced at 8-9 inch in-tervals. The materi-als include high-ten-sile, smooth wire, (12½ gauge) and an en-ergizer that puts out

5000 volts at a maximum pulse. This fencecan last as long as 25 years. Installation andmaterials range from 50 cents to $1.50 alinear foot. Some people run an additional,baited strand of hot wire (such as PremierFence’s Intellitape or Intellirope) outside thefence to ensure that deer encounter elec-trified wire and get a shock before attempt-ing to go through the vertical fence. Themain problem with vertical fences is thatdeer tend to get through them, which is whythis new design (9 high tensile wires, strungno more than 9 inches apart) replaces theolder recommendation of a 7-wire verticalfence, with wires 10-12 inches apart (Cra-ven et al, 2001).Slanted 7-Wire Fence: This 12 gaugefence is a variation of the vertical fence andgenerally more effective because it con-fuses deer. It must be slanted at a 30-de-gree angle to the ground. Because of theslanting effect, the deer see a much moreformidable barrier than really exists. Itmeasures only 5 feet high but 8 feet wide,and contains an electrical “incentive” which

increases its deterrent value. Thiskind of fence costs about$1.50-2.00 per linear foot. Thedisadvantages are that it’s moredifficult to maneuver around thisslanting fence to do maintenance(mowing, etc.) due to its wideberth. More importantly, far fewerpeople use this fence because it“requires strict adherence toconstruction guidelines concern-ing rigid fence corner assembliesand fence configurations (Cravenet al, 2001).”

NON ELECTRIC FENCE TYPES:Woven Wire Fencing: The woven wirefence (see “F” top of next page) is consid-ered the most effective deer barrier. Itis very durable and excludes deer quite ef-fectively as long as it is at least 8 feet high.Woven wire fencing will last 20+ years. Itcan be a bit expensive initially (about $5per linear foot) and labor intensive to in-stall, but is well worth the effort!

Plastic Mesh: Netting provides protectionfor individual ornamental shrubs and fruitplants. The netting can be draped over eachindividual plant or an enclosure made ofnetting to “box off” an entire blueberrybush area. Netting can be inexpensivelybought at most garden or hardware stores.

“Invisible Fence”: (see “G” top of nextpage) Rolls of 8-foot high plastic netting canbe purchased to create an “invisible fence.”However, the advantages of this productElectric Spider Fence Photo: Kiwi Fence Systems, Inc.

High Tensile Vertical FenceCraven et al, 2001. Controlling DeerDamage in Wisconsin. Cooperative

Extension Publication 63083.Reprinted with permission

Pho

to: P

rem

ier 1

Sup

plie

s

3-D Scented Anti-Deer Fence

CCCCC

EEEEE

DDDDD

(blends into environment) is what make itpotentially dangerous for wild animals whomay get entangled in it. This type of fenc-ing costs less then $1 per linear foot. Arecent study (Rosenberry et al) reportedthat this material can be used to create por-table, inexpensive deer-proof fencing us-ing PVC pipes for corner posts. The net-ting used was 2.4 m, 8 foot tall plastic fenc-ing material with 2 x 2.75-inch mesh. A gas-powered auger was used to place PVCpipes underground into which corner postswere inserted.

A note of caution: if an invisiblefence is used, please be sure to hanglong (12-18 inches) white streamers,at least 4 feet off theground, at every 3foot interval so thatdeer, birds and otherwild animals see itand don’t plungethrough and becomeentangled.

Tree Shelters (alsocalled seedling protec-tors): Tree sheltersare individual corru-gated polypropylenetubes, 4 feet high,placed around individualseedlings so they cangrow quickly in a pro-tected environment un-til they are fairly well out

of the reach of the deer. Thetubes are supported by woodenstakes. The tubes function as a“mini-greenhouse” due to thewarmer and moistermicro-climate contained within.Tree shelters are fairly costly,averaging about $2.50 per tube.Tree shelters are most widelyused in commercial forestrypractices.

DISEASE:LYME DISEASEMISCONCEPTIONSLyme Disease is spread by Ix-odes scapularis, the black-legged tick. The actualdisease-carrying agent is abacterium (Borrelia burg-dorferi). It is carried in thebloodstream of hosts who getinfected when bitten by abacterium-carrying tick. Al-though the disease is transmit-ted entirely through tick bites,the disease can be transported

to new areas by birds who carry the ticks(Anderson et al, 1984).

The Ixodes tick has a 3-stage life cycle inwhich the tick transforms from a larvae intoa nymph and finally, into an adult. This lifecycle takes 2 years to complete. At eachstage, the tick attaches to a host and slowlytakes a blood meal over the course of sev-eral days. A blood-engorged tick then dropsoff the host and molts into the next stage.For some unknown reason, the tick seemsto prefer a progressively larger hostmoving through the larval, nymph andthen adult life stages. Although deer area preferred host for the adult stage of thetick, they are not the only host (the term

“deer tick” is a misno-mer!). The black-leggedtick is carried by 49 birdspecies and all mammalsexcept bats (Anderson,1984). Therefore, the re-moval of one host, thewhite-tailed deer, does notstop the spread of the dis-ease. In some cases, whendeer numbers have beenexperimentally eradicatedfrom an area, the ticks havebeen noted to switch toother hosts (Duffy et al,Mannelli et al) or occur athigher densities on the re-maining deer (Deblinger etal).

DEER AND LYMEDISEASE

The reason that hunting doesn’t controlLyme disease is because hunting does notsignificantly reduce the tick population. Inone study where as many as 70 percent ofthe deer were removed from an island,there was “no marked reduction in theabundance of the tick” (Wilson et al, 1988).In later years, the sub-adult tick numbersdeclined but the adult tick abundance ac-tually increased.

Another study found that a gradual re-duction of deer density (from 350 to 60deer) did not produce a rapid, precipitousdecline in immature tick abundance butrather, immature ticks declined 5-7 yearsafter the depopulation effort while adulttick numbers actually increased. Thethreshold of deer abundance below whichtick reproduction declines remains un-known (Deblinger et al). However, it ap-pears that well over 70 percent of a deerpopulation would need to be removed tohave an impact on the tick population (perscomm, Kirby Stafford). Yet a recreationaldeer hunt only removes 25-30 percent of adeer population at best, therefore huntingdoes not come anywhere near reaching thiscritical threshold.

There is another reason why huntingwon’t reduce Lyme disease. When lookingat the life cycle of the black-legged tick,one sees that the ticks tend to utilize deerin the adult stage, when they mate and takea final blood meal prior to the adult femalesdropping off and laying eggs. This occurs inSeptember through November. However,hunting season in the northeastern UnitedStates takes place in late November throughJanuary, after most of the ticks have matedand dropped off the deer already. Thus, hunt-ing season occurs too late to disrupt the tick’sreproductive cycle. Ironically, hunting mayactually increase the public safety risk by in-creasing the number of “questing” ticks whoare looking for a host after deer numbershave been reduced.

The bottom line is that Lyme diseaseis a serious, complex disease. An inte-grated approach is needed to curtail itsspread. Current research focuses on us-ing deer feeders that have vertical roll-ers coated with an acaricide (tick-killingproduct) called Amitraz. The concept isthat the chemical will rub off on thedeer’s neck when the deer comes tofeed, and thereby kill the ticks beforethey reproduce. Researchers are alsolooking at various ways to apply acari-cide treatments to the first host of thetick, the white-footed mouse(Peromyscus leucopus), so that the dis-

Woven Wire Fence. From S. Craven and S. Hygnstrom, “Preventionand Control of Wildlife Damage, 1994.” University of Nebraska,Cooperative Extension.

Invisible fence made of plastic mesh fencing. (From “Deer Damagea Problem?,” Benner’s Gardens, Inc. Reprinted with permission.)Do not nail directly to trees. Nail a 2x4 pressure-treated boardto the tree and then attach the fence to the board.

Pho

to b

y La

ura

Sim

on.

FFFFF

GGGGG

The town of Waterton, Canada sets amodel in living compatibility with deer, elk,and pronghorn sheep. Wrapping protectivedevices around trees is so common that ithas become part of the town aesthetic.

ease spread is curtailed in the earlystages.

STEPS TO REDUCE THERISK OF LYME DISEASE:Dress Preventatively: When outdoors,wear light colored clothing and tuck pantlegs into socks. Most ticks are picked upon the lower legs and then crawl up thebody seeking a place to feed. Also apply agood tick repellent (containing deet orpyrethrim) to clothing, particularly aroundlegs and pant cuffs. Check for ticks fre-quently. Studies indicate that it takes a tickseveral hours to attach to a host, and, onaverage, it takes 24-48 hours for Lyme dis-ease transmission to occur through a bit-ing tick. Therefore continual tick checksand a nightly thorough check after remov-ing clothing should reduce the risk. If a tickis found, pull straight out carefully with atweezers, being sure to get the mouthpartsout intact. Contact your local health depart-ment if you want the tick tested for thepresence of the Lyme disease bacterium.Save the tick (alive) in a small vial or jar.

Watch for Rash: After being bitten by ablack-legged tick, watch for reddish, some-times bulls-eye shaped rash, which is a clas-sic sign of Lyme disease onset. However,this characteristic rash does not occur inall cases, so consult your doctor if recur-ring flu, fatigue, or other symptoms developafter an Ixodes scapularis tick may have bit-ten you.

Alter the Habitat: Closely cropped lawnswith substantial solar exposure appear tocontain fewer ticks. Simply mowing thelawn and removing debris piles and anyother vegetative cover will discouragemice, which will reduce the tick population.

DEER POPULATIONS AND“MANAGEMENT” METHODS

Hunting deer will not significantly re-duce the incidence of Lyme disease nor isit an effective population reduction method.In fact, deer hunting actually increases deerpopulation size. When a deer population ishunted, about 20-30 percent of the popula-tion may be removed. This results in morefood being available for the remaining deer.Deer exhibit a physiological response totheir nutritional condition. Scientific stud-ies show that better-nourished deer havemore fawns, lower neonatal mortality, in-creased conception rates, and a higherprevalence of pregnancy in yearlings(Verme, 1969; Verme, 1982; Severinghausand Cheatum; Mansell). For example, inhunted populations, does are more likely

to have twins rather than a single fawn. Onestudy revealed that the incidence of twin-ning was 38% on a hunted site as comparedto 14% on a non-hunted site (Richter andLabisky).

In other words, after hunting season,deer have more young and breed at an ear-lier age. The result is a quick rebound inpopulation size. So as illogical as it sounds,hunting, in essence, increases deer popu-lation size. This is why hunting is more ofa “temporary fix” rather than a real solu-tion to deer problems.

But state fish and game agencies haveseveral powerful motivations for not allow-ing deer populations to fall too low. First,agencies are largely funded by the sale ofhunting licenses. The federal Pittman-Robertson Act apportions monies to statesbased on their land area and number ofhunting licenses sold. Thus, the more li-censes sold, the more revenue generatedfor the state. Second, most fish and gameagencies have a dual mandate, written intolaw, which presents contradictory de-mands: 1) to manage deer for recreation,i.e. to keep the deer population high enoughso there are enough deer for hunters toshoot and 2) to keep deer numbers com-patible with other land uses, i.e. to keepdeer numbers low enough so they don’thave a negative impact on landowners.This mandate presents an impossiblechallenge for agencies since they arebeing pressured to both increase anddecrease the deer herd at the same time.However, because the agency’s fundingbase is so dependent on hunting licenserevenue, there is irresistible incentiveto prioritize managing for a large deerherd.

DEER/VEHICLE COLLISIONSThere are reports around the country

of increasing numbers of deer/vehicle col-lisions. It is estimated that there are 1.5million deer/vehicle collisions in the U.S.every year resulting in 200 human fatali-ties and approximately 1.4 million deerdeaths (Conover et al). Public officials fre-quently attribute these collisions to an in-creasingly large deer population, but fail tosee the greater impact of more roadwaysbeing built, more people driving, and moreroadways bisecting wildlife habitat and mi-gration routes. In addition, human activi-ties such as frequent mowing of roadsides,along with road salt use in winter, regularlyattract deer to roads. Collisions are influ-enced by the weather, the time of year(spring and fall are peak collision times),amount of roadside shrubbery which canreduce visibility, and the palatability of

roadside vegetation, among other factors.

PREVENTION TECHNIQUES:The Wildlife Society conference* in

1996 devoted a full day workshop to seek-ing solutions to the dilemma ofwildlife-highway collisions (West andMessmer). Several studies revealed thatroad design, road condition, and speed trav-eled were the factors that most stronglyinfluenced the number of deer/vehicle col-lisions. Bumpier, narrower roads withtwists and turns, and slower travel speeds(under 45 mph), resulted in fewer collisionswith wildlife. Interestingly, the bumps andtwists and turns in the road seemed to slowdown drivers more than posted speed lim-its, which people tend to ignore.*For more information on this conference’sfindings, please write to:

Wildlife and Highwaysc/o Terry MessmerJack Berryman InstituteUMC 5210, Utah State UniversityLogan, UT 84322-5210

Crossing Signs: Attempts to alert motor-ists to the presence of deer through thestandard “deer crossing” signs have provenineffectual because people grow accus-tomed to the pretty yet static silhouette ofa running deer and no longer react to it.However, when signs are combined withflashing red lights, drivers tend to slowdown.

Fencing: One of the most successful butexpensive techniques for alleviating deer/vehicle collisions is to use fencing toprevent deer from crossing roads. At times,deer get over one fence and then aretrapped on the road, creating a serioussafety hazard. To counter this, some statesuse crossing structures, such as one-waysteel return gates and earthen ramps, toallow deer to leave the roadway and notre-enter. Most effective are earthen rampswhich are constructed to be easy to climbon one side (i.e. the road side) but have asteep 5 foot drop-off on the other, therebydiscouraging the deer from coming backonto the road.

Over/Underpasses: Deer overpasses andunderpasses, which provide safe tunnelsand passages over or under roadways, alsohelp avert deer/vehicle collisions. Thistechnique is being used by an increasingnumber of western states and parts ofCanada and is particularly popular in Eu-rope for species ranging from amphibiansto deer. However, this method is quite ex-

pensive and requires proper placementwhere deer are likely to cross (i.e. alongmigration routes/common crossing areas)and also requires fencing to funnel deer tothe crossings.

Strieter-Lite Wildlife Warning Reflec-tors: According to Strieter-Lite, more than50 communities in North America have re-ported a reduction in deer/vehicle collisionsby 60-100 percent by using this innovativereflector system. The concept is simple:the device reflects the headlights of oncom-ing vehicles in a way that creates a per-petual “fence” which deer along roadwayswill see at night. The dim light is not seenby drivers, but it appears to be moving andunnatural to the deer, thus preventing themfrom entering the road until the vehicle haspassed and the light is no longer present.Nationally, some departments of transpor-tation are experiencing the effectivenessof these reflectors firsthand. For example,on a test site in Kansas, a 68-100 percentreduction in collisions has been cited overa 10-year period. In a one-year period (theproject will be evaluated over a 2-year pe-riod), the New Jersey Turnpike reported asimilar decline in its test area (Strieter-Lite). Although some scientific studies onStrieter-Lite reflectors are inconclusiveand require further research, anecdotal in-formation points to their effectivenesswhen they are installed to themanufacturer’s specifications and main-tained properly. The reflectors cost ap-proximately $3,000 per mile (the price de-pends on the type of terrain) but the long-term benefits are promising (further stud-ies are needed), as the reflectors can re-duce property damage, can save insurancecosts, and can possibly last more than 20years when maintained properly. More in-formation is available at <www.strieter-lite.com> or by calling (309) 794-9800.

Motion-Sensing Flashing Warning Sys-tem: A new system currently being testedcombines a motion sensor with powerfulflashing lights that would be triggered onlywhen large animals come into the dangerzone along a highway. At test sites in Indi-ana and Yellowstone National Park in Mon-tana, warning signs are being installed inareas with large animal migrations. On theback of each sign is a microwave radar unitthat emits a beam for detecting the move-ment of large animals. When an animalbreaks the beam, flashing lights on thesigns are activated. This technology is simi-lar to security systems used at military in-stallations and prisons. The beauty of thissystem is that it provides a novel, scary

stimulus only when the deer are in a poten-tially dangerous area. Because the deviceis not continually operating, it is less likelythat deer — and drivers — will habituate toit.

SOME CURRENT RESEARCHResearchers at the Berryman Institute

in Utah are testing the use of temporarysigns in mule deer migration corridors. Thesigns are only used during migration so mo-torists will not habituate to them. Pilotstudies revealed that there was a 70 per-cent reduction in deer/vehicle collisionsusing this technique. Studies are also be-ing done to assess whether planting lesspalatable plants along roadways — or plant-ing grasses that contain a fungus that growsinside the leaves and produces alkaloids —would prevent deer from being attractedto roadsides in the first place.

TIPS FOR AVOIDING DEER/VEHICLE COLLISIONS:

There are steps motorists can take toreduce the likelihood of collisions:

1) BE VIGILANT: When you drive, makea habit of watching from side to side, es-pecially in areas of low visibility orwhere roadside shrubs or grasses areclose to the road.

2) WATCH FOR GROUP BEHAVIOR:Deer tend to travel in groups. If one deercrosses the road, watch for more to fol-low. Female deer tend to stay togetheras “doe groups” in winter and haveyoung fawns following them in thespring.

3) BE AWARE OF SEASONS: In the fall,bucks are on the move due to ruttingand hunting seasons. In spring (May-June), yearlings are seeking new terri-tories. Be extra careful driving at thesetimes of year.

4) BE AWARE OF TIME OF DAY: Deerare most active at dusk and dawn. Bewatchful, especially during early morn-ing and evening, when wildlife may bemoving across roads.

5) USE HIGH BEAMS: At night, use yourhigh beams to see farther ahead. Slowdown and watch for the eye-shine ofdeer near the road edges.

6) DRIVE STRAIGHT! If at all possible,do not swerve to avoid wildlife but brakefirmly and blow your horn. Animals areeasily confused. If you swerve, deermay run into the vehicle rather thanaway from it. And swerving could meandriving into another vehicle or off theroad into poles or fences.

RESOURCES:

Haddidian, John, Guy Hodge, and JohnGrandy, eds. Wild Neighbors: The Hu-mane Approach to Living with Wildlife.The Humane Society of the UnitedStates. Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publish-ing, 1997.

Deer Resistant Nursery is a mailorder company that sells a diversity offlowering plants that are generallyresistant to deer browsing:<www.deerxlandscape.com> or call (800)595-3650.

Foothills Cottage Gardens is a Califor-nia-based company that sells deer re-sistant plants to California state resi-dents (many other mail order compa-nies cannot ship plants to CA due tostrict requirements). They can bereached at <www.fcgardens.com> or (530)272-4362.

Scarecrow motion-sensing device tohook-up to water hose, for gardens, isavailable at <www.scatmat.com>.

My Deer Garden is a site devoted toliving with deer:<www.MyDeergarden.com>.

Deerbusters is a mail order companythat has a comprehensive inventory ofdeer repellent products. Please notethat we endorse many but not all of theproducts in this catalogue and believesome to be ineffective. Web site:<www.deerbusters.com>.

For conference proceedings on thetopic of wildlife/vehicle collisionsand alleviation techniques, go to<www.deercrash.com> or The BerrymanInstitute at<www.ber r yman ins t i tu te .o rg /internetpubs.htm>.

“Reducing Deer Damage to Home Gar-dens and Landscape Plantings” can beaccessed online via <www.dnr.cornell/ext/chdp/reducingdeerdamage.htm>.This document provides a good list ofdeer resistant plants as well as informa-tion on fencing and repellents.

Continued next page.

Anderson, J. “Mammalian and Avian Reservoirs for Borrelia burgdorferi.” Lyme Disease and RelatedDisorders. Eds. J.L. Benach and E.M. Bosler. vol. 539. NY: Annals New York Academy of Sciences, 1988.Anderson, J.F. and L.A. Magnarelli. “Avian and Mammalian Hosts for Spirochete-infected Ticks andInsects on a Lyme Disease Focus in Connecticut.” Yale J. of Biology and Medicine 57 (1984): 627-641.Conover, M.R. and W.C. Pitt, K.K. Kessler, T.J. Dubow, W.A. Sanborn. “Review of Human Injuries,Illnesses, and Economic Losses Caused by Wildlife in the United States. Wildlife Society Bulletin 23(1995): 407-414.Craven, S. R. and S.E. Hygnstrom, P. Peterson. “Controlling Deer Damage in Wisconsin.” An Informa-tional Bulletin of the Cooperative Extension Service, Madison, WI. Bulletin G3083. Revised 2001. Alsoused 1993 version of this bulletin by Craven and Hygnstrom.Craven, S.R. and S.E. Hygnstrom. “Deer.” (1994): D-25-40 In Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage.Eds. S.E. Hygnstrom, R.M. Timm, and G.E. Larson. Cooperative Extension Division, Institute of Agricul-ture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska.Curtis, P.D. and M.E. Richmond. Reducing Deer Damage to Home Gardens and Landscape Plantings.Ithaca, NY: Cornell Cooperative Extension, 1994. Also, revised version available on web site:<www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/chdp/reducingdeerdamage.html>Deblinger, R.D., M.L. Wilson, D.W. Rimmer, and A. Spielman. “Reduced Abundance of Immature Ixodesdammini (Acari: Ixodidae) Following Incremental Removal of Deer.” Entomological Society of America 30(1) (1993): 144-150.Duffy, D.C. and S.R. Campbell, D. Clark, C. Dimotta, and S. Gurney. “Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae)Deer Tick Mesoscale Populations in Natural Areas: Effects of Deer, Area, and Location.” EntomologicalSociety of America 31(1) (1994): 152-158.El Hani, A. and M.R. Conover. “Comparative Analysis of Deer Repellents.” In Repellents in Wildlife Man-agement Conference Proceedings. (conference held Aug 8-10, 1995 in Denver, CO). National WildlifeResearch Center, Fort Collins, CO: 1997. 147-155.Fargione, M.J. and P.D. Curtis and M.E. Richmond. Resistance of Woody Ornamental Plants to Deer Dam-age. Publication 147HGFS800.00. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University, 1991.Hygnstrom, S.E. and S.R. Craven. “Electric Fences and Commercial Repellents for Reducing Deer Damagein Corn Fields.” Wildlife Society Bulletin 16 (1988): 291-296.Kays, J. “Managing Deer Damage in Maryland.” College Park, MD: Maryland Cooperative Extension, Uni-versity of Maryland, 2001.Kays, J.S. “Resistance of Ornamentals to Deer Damage.” A Maryland Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet#655. 1999.Lutz, J. and B. Swanson. “Comparative Analysis of Deer Repellents.” In Repellents in Wildlife Manage-ment Conference Proceedings. (conference held Aug 8-10, 1995 in Denver, CO). National Wildlife Re-search Center, Fort Collins, CO: 1997. 147-155.Mannelli, A. and U. Kitron, C.J. Jones, and T. Slajchert. “Role of the Eastern Chipmunk as a Host forImmature Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodae) in Northwestern Illinois.” Entomological Society of America 30(1) (1993): 87-93.Mansell, W.D. “Productivity of White-tailed Deer on the Bruce Peninsula, Ontario.” J. Wildlife Manage-ment. 38(1974): 808-814.Richter, A.R. and R.F. Labisky. “Reproductive Dynamics Among Disjunct White-tailed Deer Herds in Florida.”J. Wildlife Management 49 (4) (1985): 964-971.Rosenberry, C.S. and L. Muller, and M.Conner. “Movable, Deer-proof Fencing.” Wildlife Society Bulletin29(2) (2001): 754-757.Stafford, Kirby. Dr. Stafford is the Department Head of Forestry and Horticulture, Connecticut AgriculturalExperiment Station (New Haven, CT). Dr. Stafford has researched many aspects of Lyme Disease and therole of deer.Strieter-Lite. “Sites.” www.strieter-lite.com. (Accessed 21 Sept. 2001).Verme, L. “Reproductive Patterns Related to the Nutritional Plane of White-tailed Deer.” J. Wildlife Man-agement 33 (1969): 420-427.Verme, L. “Physical and Reproductive Characteristics of a Supplementally-fed White-tailed Deer Herd.” J.Wildlife Management 46(2) (1982): 281-301.Wagner, K.K. and D. Nolte. “Comparison of Active Ingredients and Delivery Systems in Deer Repellents.”Wildlife Society Bulletin 29 (1) (2001): 322-330.Ward, J. “Limiting Deer Browse Damage to Landscape Plants.” Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Sta-tion, Bulletin 968. November 2000.West, B.C. and T.A. Messmer, eds. Wildlife and Highways: Seeking Solutions to an Ecological and Socio-economic Dilemma. Logan UT: Jack H. Berryman Institute, 2000.Wilson, M.L. and S.A. Telford III, J. Piesman, and A. Spielman. “Reduced Abundance of Immature Ixodesdammini (Acari: Ixodidae) Following Elimination of Deer.” J. Medicinal Entomology 25 (1988): 224-228.Wilson, M.L. and J.F. Levine, A Spielman. “Effects of Deer Reduction on Abundance of the Deer Tick(Ixodes dammini).” Yale J. of Biology and Medicine 57 (1984): 697-705.“When Bambi Eats Your Flowers.” Consumer Reports October 1998: 32-33.

Resources continued

Full instructions for how to build or in-stall many deer fencing options are avail-able through the book Prevention andControl of Wildlife Damage (Craven, S.and S.E. Hygnstrom, 1994 - see “Deer”chapter) which is also available onlinevia <www.wildlifedamage.unl.edu>. Clickon the book icon (with that title) and go to“Mammals” and then “Deer-D-25.”Electric deer fencing installation instruc-tion and tips are given here. You can alsoconsult with fencing suppliers (see Table3) or your local farm supplies, garden orhardware store.

More information about Strieter-LiteWildlife Warning Reflectors is availableat <www.strieter-lite.com> or by calling(309) 794-9800.

SPECIAL THANKS:The author (Laura Simon) would like to

acknowledge certain individuals whoprovided assistance in the preparation ofthis document. Special thanks to Scott R.Craven (professor of wildlife ecology at theUniversity of Wisconsin and wildlifespecialist with Cooperative Extension) forsharing updated fencing information anddiagrams; Dale L. Nolte (project leader forthe National Wildlife Research Center,USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services) inOlympia, WA for sharing his expertise ondeer repellents; Larry Katz (AssociateProfessor of Animal Sciences at RutgersUniversity) for giving helpful repellents tipsand background information; and thefollowing company representatives forgiving a wealth of information about theirrespective fields: Gordon Shelangoski(Premier 1 Supplies), Jason Wiles(Deerbusters), Mike Fiery (MillerChemical), Joanne Engler (Intagra Inc.Necessary Organics). Also thanks to DaveJensen of the Deer Resistant Nursery,Carolyn Singer of Foothills CottageGardens, and the staff of Amity Gardens inBethany, CT for their advice on what plantshave proven to be most deer tolerant.Thanks also to Paul D. Curtis (CornellCooperative Extension) for creating one ofthe source deer-resistant plant lists and toTerry A. Messmer of the BerrymanInstitute (Utah State University) forcoordinating an excellent workshop onhighway and wildlife conflicts at TheWildlife Society’s annual meeting in 2000.And finally, many thanks to Debra Gode forher invaluable assistance putting togethertables and compiling the plant lists, andScott Kealey and Diana Norris for theirmost helpful editing.

Recycled Paper