Damage Control for Deer and other Animals

Deer, rabbits, squirrels and other mammals can enjoy a feast in your garden and yard. It is a common problem and people have been trying different remedies for years to stop this kind of damage. Deer feed on leaves, stems, flowers, and bark. They crush flowerbeds with their hooves and chomp off the tops of day lilies. Males often rub their antlers on tree trunks, causing bark to shed and trunks to splinter or even split. This type of deer damage often occurs during the fall season between the months of September and November. The one thing that has proven best to prevent this damage is a spray repellent which is easy to use, biodegradable, and non-toxic.

Deer Away Deer & Rabbit Repellent is designed to protect plants, trees and shrubs from browsing damage caused by deer, big game and other animals such as rabbits & squirrels. Deer Away contains a latex binder that resists washing off. It is designed so that under normal conditions, Deer Away will protect your trees and shrubs for up to three months. In some cases it has been proven to last even more than three months. This depends on the deer population density, the eating patterns of the animals and new plant growth. An example of one of these factors coming into play would be if the deer population was limited but the food supply was plentiful, deer would simply change their browsing area because of the repellent. More frequent application may be required if extreme conditions happen, such as continued heavy rainfall, or if there is rapid new growth on the trees, shrubs, and plants.

Because the repellent is non-toxic, it can be sprayed on fruit bearing trees, ornamental trees and shrubs, conifers, and plant seedlings. It is safe, efficient, biodegradable, and easy to use. It is a food-grade product, but since it is formulated for long-lasting repellency, it binds to the plant and will not readily wash off edible products and may therefore affect the taste. It is not recommended for use in vegetable gardens or on edible crops. However, it is listed for use on citrus and fruit trees in their dormant stages before the fruit is set.

Developed by the Weyerhaeuser Corporation for use in reforestation to protect Douglas Fir seedlings from deer browse damage, Deer Away became commercially available in the late 70’s. In the United States, it has been university tested and proven an effective repellent against deer, rabbits and elk. In Canada, it has been proven an effective repellent for deer and big game, as well as squirrels. It is used as a repellent by the U.S. Forest Service and is guaranteed effective by the manufacturer.

The active ingredient in Deer Away is putrescent egg solids. It repels by both odor and taste, so the deer do not even want to try to eat the foliage turning away first by the smell. A deer’s nose has hundreds of millions of odor receptor sites unlike the human nose which has only five million. The odor is mild and not objectionable to most people.

A knowledgeable tree service expert can look for the signs of which culprit is causing damage to your trees, shrubs, and plants. If it is deer, an expert will know and may suggest applying Deer Away. Apply only to dry plants and only under favoring weather conditions to insure prompt drying of spray, which would be lightly breezy, mild dry weather with low relative humidity. Protection may be only partial if spray is used on wet plants or in damp, cold, foggy and misty weather.

Health note: Another reason to keep deer away from your property is that they are host to deer ticks, which may carry Lyme disease. Transmittable to humans through tick bites, Lyme disease is a bacterial disease that you do not want. Signs of Lyme disease include a ring-shaped rash, flu-like symptoms and muscle aches. Contact your doctor for diagnosis if you have any of these symptoms.

About the Author: Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading Austin Texas tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas). Central Texas Tree Care offers services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management and fertilization. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.