The Browser War – The Deer
A while back I talked about a prototype The Car Guy and his dad were working on. It was a response to an attack launched by a group of cunning Browsers. Yes, we are being invaded by a herd of White Tail Deer.
A Browser in my yard.
We have a fenced area behind our house. It is about half an acre in size, and I try to grow vegetables, ornamental trees and flowers. For many years, the White Tail Deer respected the fence, with only the occasional delinquent crossing into My Space to feast on the tulips in the spring, or the garden in the summer (beans are their first choice). Then, this winter, they decided that My Space is their space, and they have started to camp out in the backyard. They are browsing everything in sight.
They show no timidness, venturing right up onto the patio on many occasions. When I fly out the door and bear down on them like a crazed Banshee (the stunningly beautiful woman, not the ugly, frightening hag), the deer cast me a glance that says, “I dare you.” Which causes me to pause for a moment, and wonder what would happen if he/she turned on me. We stare at one another for a few moments, and then one or the other of us retreats.
We investigated the cost of Deer Deterrent #1 - raising the fence from 4 feet in height to 6 feet. $15,000 seemed a bit high for a fence that still might not be, well, high enough. That is when Car Guy started testing Deterrent #2 – the Motion Sensor Bright Glaring Light to ward off the evil deer at night. It may have worked at night, but it didn’t stop the day incursions. Next he put some energy into designing a solar powered, motion sensor, bright glaring light with siren. This project has gone from design phase to purchasing, but is now stalled on the work bench.
Deterrent #3 was a Paintball Gun. Loaded with white non-toxic balls, the Paintball Gun has been shot several times at the deer that were tasting the lilacs. Paintball Guns are not particularly accurate in the hand of a novice. Not a single deer has acknowledged it has been hit – yet. But the deer are a bit more motivated to move along when the Car Guy, a 6 foot 2 inch man with a weapon in his hand, bears down on them.
Recently arrived in the mail is Deterrent #4 – two sets of a product called Wireless Deer Fence. These work like a mild cattle prod. The Car Guy (and his friend Airplane Guy) will attest to the fact that a cattle prod isn’t something you test on a friend more than once…
These units were installed several weeks ago on the paths the deer frequent. So far there are no deer tracks in the snow around the units to indicate the deer have encountered them. But there are also no new deer tracks in the snow inside the yard. We hypothesize that perhaps other people in our neighbourhood also have used these devices, and the smell they give off is warning the deer to stay away. (The smell is supposed to attract the deer to the device and then give off a mild electric jolt when they touch it.) We are cautiously optimistic.
Deterrent #5 will probably be beefing up the chain link fence with electric fencing. I think the Car Guy is quite enthusiastic about this. He has always thought he would like to protect our house (from unwanted incursions by two footed mammals) with the judicious use of cattle prod technology.
A Deer - drawing by the Wild Child
Deterrent #6is a starters pistol. I have found that if I slam the screen door shut a few times, it makes a sound like a gun going off. If the deer are close enough, they take off. A starters pistol should do the same thing, and save the screen door from being destroyed. If the effect of the starters pistol wears off, then the person carrying it can resort to running after the deer, brandishing the gun, which seems to have some effect too.
Deterrent #7 has something to do with venison. I think the Car Guy was just joking about that. He knows our deep freeze is way too small.
I am very thankful to the Car Guy for all his efforts to keep My Space free of things that eat up everything I plant. Gardening in this part of the world is challenging at best. With 112 frost free days, but only 80 days of productive growing season, gardeners don’t have a second chance at a crop if rabbits or deer eat everything in sight!
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My Similar Animal Story: Moose on Parade
I read somewhere that leaving a radio on (outside so they can hear it) deters deer — for a time. Apparently everything eventually stops working, so you have to rotate your deterrents.
Apparently deer are a lot cleverer than we think. And very persistent. You are absolutely right – we will have to keep rotating our deterrents!
I’ve a similar infestation in my suburban garden. How many of those wireless fence devices do you think you’ll need for your space ? I’ve seen them priced at about $20 each. I was thinking of a do-it-yourself model using information about an
advanced electric shock taser type thing I found on the internet.
It would have to be baited with something similar to what the wireless deer fence requires.
I doubt that Red Green or the Possum Lodge boys could do better, eh ?
We have started with 6 of the wireless fence devices. The Car Guy has positioned them on the trails the deer frequent the most. We have a lot of wooded area, so the deer kind of funnel through some distinct paths.
Next up will be a strand of electric fencing – not sure what height, but we’ll have to use the same kind of bait as the wireless deer fence probably. Somewhere in this we’ll have to use the handyman’s secret weapon – duct tape.
I’ve alerted the car guy to the link you sent – I’m sure he will find it interesting.
Good luck with your discouraging your deer. “Remember, I’m pulling for you. We’re all in this together.”
Thanks for the reply Margie and keep us posted on your success in chasing the beasts. One of the local naturalists here suggests that peanut butter is a good fence bait being both fragrant, sticky & somewhat salty, which they crave. I’ll package the electronics & battery in a waterproof box and rig up something attractive & plant-like to hold the bait & the electrodes. Will post on how it works out.
Best,
Keenan
Pittsburgh, PA
I’ll be sure to report the success/failure of our deer deterrents. One thing I have found is that if the deer are within about 100 yards, and I slam the patio screen door a few times, the deer take off. Must sound like a rifle shot or something. The Car Guy also thought about getting a Starters Pistol to scare them off…
My landlord invested in the electric deer fence…here’s the result: http://writerwoman61.wordpress.com/2010/10/06/macho-deer-calzones-aggressive-squirrels-and-fallen-trees/
My 12-year-old wanted to get a toy gun to scare them off…I wouldn’t let her!
Wendy
I’m hoping we have discouraged our deer – with a herd of 70, we won’t have a single green thing left in the yard if they keep hopping the fence.