Preventing Damage From Deer

The Deer Dilemma

According to the PA Game Commission, deer are one of the few wildlife exceptions to the existing rule which allows landowners to take action to capture or kill wildlife when “personal property - other than an agricultural crop - is being destroyed, or when a sick or diseased animal poses a threat to humans, farm animals or pets” (PA Game Commission 2003). Other exceptions include bear, elk, beaver, bobcat, fisher, wild turkey, migratory birds, threatened species, and endangered species.

Instead, the game commission has created the Deer Management Assistance Program, or DMAP, whose main focus is on the impacts of deer on the deer population at large, their habitat and other wildlife they come into contact with, and people. The PA Game Commission uses antlerless deer harvests each year according to very strict rules and regulations to manage the abundant deer populations and their resulting impacts. Although the deer program cannot guarantee personal satisfaction for all people, the Game Commission manages white-tailed deer as attentively, responsibly and responsively as possible (PA Game Commission 2003). Since the Pa Game Commission has this program in effect, capturing, harming, and / or killing deer by the average homeowner is strictly forbidden and alternative measure should be taken to prevent damage to property from deer.

Photo courtesy of Free Range Stock Photos

First, Stop Feeding the Deer

While intentional feeding is obvious to spot, you might even be unintentionally feeding deer. You or your neighbors might draw deer onto your property unintentionally by putting out birdfeeders. Deer can often be found eating fallen seed from beneath birdfeeders in neighborhoods. It is also not unheard of to see a deer walk up to a bird feeder and help itself by tilting the feeder over so that the seed spills out.

If you or your neighbors (and this is often the trickier part of the problem) are feeding the deer, they have no incentive to move on in search of a more stable or abundant food supply.

Once you are sure that the deer are not being encouraged to move in through feeding, you have some options:

A Powerful Fence

Many different people will suggest that you simply build a fence high enough to keep out the deer, but that would require building a fence 10 ft high that goes atleast 1 foot underground as well; an option few are likely to consider. A more resonable suggestion is an electric fence which can be picked up at any home improvement store. The key is to set up two seperate loops of fencing, one at about shin height along the outermost edge of the area and another about chest high approximately 2 feet in from the first line of fence. This double layer system prevents the deer from simply stepping over the first fence or jumping over the second. Make sure to clearly post the area with caution signs so that unobservant humans don't happen accross the fence unawares.

(Photo Courtesy of: Jon Sullivan)

Tubular Tree Protectors

Deer can often damage trees unintentionally by rubbing against them, removing the bark and ultimately killing the tree. You can purchase tree protectors from home improvement stores or you can make your own by cutting flexible corrugated drain pipes vertically (down the length of the pipe) and placing them on either side of the tree trunk.

Alter the Landscape

Deer generally prefer to avoid plants that are sticky or cottony in texture and are often willing to move on to a yard with more appetizing produce if these plants are planted around the yard.

Bamboo
Butterfly Bush
Quince

Holly
Juniper
Lavendar
Rhododendrons
Lilac
Rosemary
Some varieties of evergreens

For more plant suggestions, speak to someone at your local lawn nursery.

(Photo Courtesy of: US Fish and Wildlife and John Oberheur)

Lower Southampton Animal Control Advisory Board (LSACAB)

Per Resolution No. 2006-43, The Board of Supervisors established an Animal Control Advisory Board to review complaints, seek out resources for assistance, research regulations and recommend action to the Board of Supervisors.