When I looked out my picture window I saw doe deer and fawn
in my yard nibbling in my spring bulb garden.
I ran outside and waved my arms in the air and the deer left my yard. But
I knew they would be back and I needed to take steps to protect my spring bulb
garden from the whitetail deer.
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| Whitetail deer doe and fawn in garden |
Every spring I have a problem with the whitetail deer
because I cannot convince them that my spring bulb garden was not planted to
nourish them. Every doe deer in the
forest finds its way to my spring bulb gardens.
Over the years I have tried to discourage
the deer with Contech Scarecrow motion-activated sprinkler s a natural way to scare deer. This water spray deterrent works well in the summer but is not a good deterrent during winter.
Other deer deterrents that I have had good results with is a potent pepper
spray and deer scam, however, these products need to be reapplied and depending on
your weather; snow or ice these products can get costly.
Last fall I put down a deer forage plot but that died back due to a cold snowy winter. I found in the past that if I proved the deer with their dietary needs that they will leave my spring bulbs alone.
Since it is whitetail
deer in garden season and I need to keep the deer out of my garden I went to Atwoods ranch and yard store and
bought 40lb bag of natural apple corn for $7.49 and a mineral salt lick. I set up a feeding station that was downwind
from my tulip garden.
My husband and I waited on the side deck and at dusk, we saw
the deer coming up the side yard path.
The doe deer come out of the woods to enjoy the corn and to lick on the
mineral block.
Notes by Sgolis:
- This wildlife compromise worked because the deer have stayed away from my spring bulb garden because their dietary needs are being met with the mineral lick and feeding station.
- When spring greens up the deer will no longer need to be fed as there is ample forage in the forest.
