Oh, deer

Jill Severn

On our neighborhood street, it’s not uncommon to see deer – sometimes does with fawns – strolling down the sidewalk, snacking occasionally on shrubs, trees and flowers. It’s impossible not to admire their grace and that the wild world comes so close to us.

There is, however, at least one neighbor who despises deer, which he calls “rats with hooves.” That’s because he had a vegetable garden in his front yard that deer mistook for a buffet.

Conflicts between deer and people – gardeners in particular – are not uncommon. But we should count our blessings; our problems are tiny compared to some areas of the Eastern U.S.

Dana Milbank, a columnist for the Washington Post, reports he has bought a gun and plans to hunt deer. In a recent column, he explains why:

“The Nature Conservancy several years ago argued that deer might be a bigger threat to Eastern forests than climate change.  And things have only worsened. Doug Tallamy, an entomologist and wildlife ecologist at the University of Delaware, tells me that white-tailed deer in the East are now ‘about 14 times over the carrying capacity,’ meaning the ability of the ecosystem to sustain the species.”

“In the part of the Virginia Piedmont where I have a home, there are between 40 and 50 deer per square mile — compared to only 27 people per square mile. To get things back into ecological balance, Blossey estimates, we would need to get the deer population down below 10 per square mile.”

“Deer gobble up native flora so fast that the plants are disappearing, leaving a vacuum for invasive species (that deer don’t enjoy) to fill.”

“Walk into the forest here, past the edge between field and woods where invasive vines now dominate, and you will find a manicured scene: all mature trees and no understory — none of the seedlings, saplings, flowers and shrubs that once covered the forest floor. The insatiable deer have eaten it all.”

This eliminates food and nesting sites for many birds, and has devastating impacts for bees, butterflies and many other animal and plant species. And it means young oak trees don’t have a chance to grow up and produce acorns, which are a vital food source for many creatures.

At the beginning of the 20^th century, East Coast deer populations had plummeted. But efforts to save them over the next few decades were spectacularly successful, partly because the predator species that might have helped control their populations had been eradicated, but also because of bans or strict restrictions on hunting.

Many cities and suburbs now struggle to address the deer overpopulation problem. Some have tried deer birth control without much success; others have hired sharpshooters, recruited bow hunters, or encouraged and educated a new generation of hunters.

Matthew Blankenship, a Wildlife Conflict Specialist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, says we don’t really have deer overpopulation problems here – at least not now. Our conflicts mainly arise because we’ve moved into their territory rather than the other way around.

Blankenship says conflicts with deer – sometimes car crashes, but more often garden munching, are “not an uncommon thing.” But, he notes, “conflict is in the eye of the beholder,” and though “some people want something done” when a deer eats their plants, he advises them on how they can solve the problem themselves.

First, there are repellants – most of which rely on spraying things that smell or taste bad to deer.

Years ago, I walked past the home of a woman who was out pouring her own urine, which she had decanted in a big jar, around her rose bushes, because she had read it was an effective deer repellent.

Fortunately, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has plenty of alternatives to urine in this document, along with a recipe for a homemade mix that includes tabasco sauce, cinnamon and cloves.

But repellants are not foolproof. Some work for a limited time; others work for some deer but not others. And all of them have to be reapplied often.

Fencing is more durable – but a lot more expensive. Plus, my deer-hating neighbor probably doesn’t want a tall fence in his front yard.

Another neighbor has a better solution: his yard is surrounded by a five-foot tall hedge that is about three feet wide. Deer won’t jump it because they can’t see a safe landing spot on the other side. That’s a good thing to know about them: it also means they won’t jump over a solid wooden fence – which is more suited to a backyard – if they can’t see where they will land.

But Blankenship has yet another idea: make peace with deer. Protect the plants you treasure most, and share what you can spare.

We’ve learned that our gardens should be hospitable to bees, other pollinators, and various birds and insects. Maybe it’s time to acknowledge that we can also provide some habitat for the deer whose homeland we occupy.

Jill Severn writes from her home in Olympia, where she grows vegetables, flowers, and a small flock of chickens. She loves conversation among gardeners. Start one by emailing her at  jill@theJOLTnews.com