Deer
Introduction
Deer are probably the most widely distributed
and best-recognized large
mammals in North America.The positive economic
value of deer through license
fees, meat, and hunter expenditures
for equipment, food, and transportation
can be measured in hundreds of
millions of dollars. With the additional
aesthetic value of deer to landowners
and vacationers, importance of deer as
a wildlife resource cannot be disputed.
Despite their economic and aesthetic
values, deer also have a variety of
negative economic impacts—they
damage crops and personal property,
and harbor diseases common to
humans and livestock. Unlike moles,
rats, and other species implicated in
damage, deer cannot be casually eliminated
when in conflict with humans.
But neither can landowners be
expected to bear the entire burden of
support for this valuable public
resource.
These factors often make deer damage
control a difficult social and political
problem as well as a biological and
logistical one. Control methods are
built around effective deer herd management.
Thus the various state wildlife
agencies are often indirectly or
directly involved through subsidy of
control techniques, direct damage
compensation payments, or technical
advice.
Scare devices, repellents, and shooting
all have a place in deer damage control.
Effective control for fields,
orchards, and other large areas, however,
usually depends on excluding the
deer with one of several types of
fences, discussed later in this chapter.
Toxicants, fumigants, and in most
cases, trapping, are not used in deer
control.
Food Habits
Browse (leaves, stems, and buds of
woody plants) is generally available all
year and is a staple food for deer. An
extensive review of food habits can be
found in Hesselton and Hesselton
(1982) and in Mackie et al. (1982). Plant
species vary considerably in quality
and regional availability, so a list is not
presented here. Forbs are eaten in
spring and summer when available.
Fruits and nuts (especially acorns) are
seasonally very important. Grasses are
relatively unimportant. Agricultural
crops--corn, soybeans, small grains,
alfalfa, vegetables, and fruit trees--are
readily eaten when available. Local
food habits studies are available in
most states--consult your local wildlife
agency.
Nutrient requirements and the amount
of food consumed vary with age of the
animal, season, and the reproductive
cycle. Daily dry matter consumption
averages 2% to 4% of live body weight.
For adult bucks, daily consumption is
greatest in spring and averages 4.4 to
6.4 pounds (2.0 to 2.9 kg) of air-dry
food per day. Consumption is about
half that during winter. For does,
greatest daily food consumption
occurs in early fall, just prior to the
breeding season.
Damage and Damage
Identification
Deer damage a wide variety of row
crops, forage crops, vegetables, fruit
trees, nursery stock, and ornamentals,
as well as stacked hay. In addition to
the immediate loss of the crop being
damaged, there is often residual damage
in the form of future yield reduction
of fruit trees or forage crops such
as alfalfa. Ornamental trees or nursery
stock may be permanently disfigured
by deer browsing. Under high densities
deer may severely impact native
plant communities and impair regeneration
of some forest tree species.
Besides vegetative damage, deer/
vehicle collisions pose a serious risk to
motorists, and deer have been implicated
in the distribution and transmission
of Lyme disease.
Damage identification is not difficult.
Because both mule deer and whitetailed
deer lack upper incisors, deer
often leave a jagged or torn surface on
twigs or stems that they browse. Rabbits
and rodents, however, leave a
clean-cut surface. In addition, deer
tracks are very distinctive (Fig. 5). The
height of damage from the ground (up
to 6 feet [1.8 m]) often rules out any
mammal other than deer. Deer often
are observed “in the act” of causing
damage.
Legal Status
Deer are protected year-round in all
states and provinces, with the exception
of legal harvest during appropriate
big-game hunting seasons. In cases
of severe or persistent damage, some
states may issue farmers special permits
to shoot deer at times other than
the legal hunting seasons. Regulations
vary on the necessary permits and on 2 1/2"
D-29
disposal of dead animals. The popularity
of deer as game animals and the
need to curb poaching have led to the
development of severe penalties for
illegal possession. No lethal deer control
can be initiated before consulting
your local state wildlife agency. By
law, some states provide technical
assistance or direct compensation for
deer damage. This is discussed under
the section on the economics of damage
and control.
Damage Prevention and
Control Methods
Exclusion
Where deer are abundant or crops are
particularly valuable, fencing may be
the only way to effectively minimize
deer damage. Several fencing designs
are available to meet specific needs.
Fencing installed to protect vegetation from consumption
Temporary electric fences are simple
inexpensive fences useful in protecting
garden and field crops during snowfree
periods. Deer are attracted to
these fences by their appearance or
smell, and are lured into contacting the
fence with their noses. The resulting
shock is a very strong stimulus and
deer learn to avoid the fenced area.
Permanent high-tensile electric fences
provide year-round protection from
deer and are best suited to high-value
specialty or orchard crops. The electric
shocking power and unique fence
designs present both psychological
and physical barriers to deer. Permanent
woven-wire fences provide the
ultimate deer barrier. They require
little maintenance but are very expensive
to build. Fencing in general is
expensive.
United Wildlife's Deer Control experts can you help you solve your deer problems. For pricing information, coaching, and technician services, give us a call now!
*The above information was taken from a University of Nebraska Web site with
express permission of Stephen Vatassel, wildlife damage project coordinator.
|
