By Staff
Unless you live in the country and it's deer or rabbit season, you can't very well shoot them.
And a lot of people don't like or think killing them is the answer, either.
But if a herd of them were devouring your prize plants - the very same plants you spent all that hard-earned cash to buy and squandered all those back-breaking hours on - planting, watering, weeding and maybe nursing along, those very same plants that Bambi and Thumper at this very moment are smacking their lips on, well, how do you feel now?
But then again, some of us, me included, think they would look, well, more appetizing all brown and sizzling in the skillet.
Well, back to a maybe more non-violent solution.
I like to read, and from what I have read, if these deer are really hungry - starving-type hungry - nothing will deter them.
There are factors that will determine how successful your deer control methods will be, like how large the herd is, location of your yard and/or gardens to their normal food sources, are their normal foods abundant and is the quality good (lots of grasses, nuts, acorns), did we have a drought that would lead to scarce natural forage and was it a mild or harsh winter?
Also, if we feed the deer, it will also make the problem worse not only for ourselves, but for our neighbors, as well, as this will also attract even more deer and it will also reduce the animals' fear of humans.
So many factors, as to why these animals now find our gardens so appealing.
I was reading an article about deer and this guy said that "deer populations are at an all-time high."
Where he lives in the Northeast there are more than 3 million whitetail deer in his area alone.
He had also said that the deer population had grown from 600,000 deer in 1983.
It also pointed out that in this country before the European settlers deer herds averaged six to 10 deer per square mile.
Right now in this area there are 200 deer per square mile.
I don't know where he lives in the Northeast, but wow, I'm sure glad it's nowhere near me.
Next column will be about chemical repellents and fencing.
Following that will be a column about perennials, bulbs, shrubs, ground covers, herbs and trees that will have Bambi turning up his nose.
Bon appetit, Bambi and Thumper, but not for long.