Deer Management
White-tailed deer play vital roles in the natural and cultural environment and are highly valued for their beauty and grace. However, the abundance of deer is causing increasing problems, particularly in suburban and urban areas. Common types of human-deer conflict include deer damage to landscaping plants and an increase in diseases carried by ticks that feed on them.
Deer are herbivores, primarily browsers, who feed on both woody and herbaceous plants. They consume leaves, shoots, twigs, and fruit. When favored vegetation is unavailable and food options are limited, deer will eat almost anything to survive. Deer damage is easily recognized; leaves and twigs are ripped from trees and shrubs, leaving a ragged surface. Damage to trees extends only to eight feet, the highest they can reach.
In dormancy, when the vast majority of damage occurs, the most common method to protect plants from deer browsing is the application of repellents. Repellents may work by odor, taste, or both. Odor repellents have a specific scent that deters deer from entering the landscape, while taste repellents are applied directly to plants that are prone to deer damage and serve to change the taste/texture profile of the plants themselves and conditioning deer over time to avoid those protected plants outright.
Deer browsing can cause excessive damage to landscaping plants. Therefore, we have designed an effective deer management plan and utilized deer repellents as part of overall plant health care.