Vertebrate: Deer damage

Biology

Deer selectively eat certain types of plants in a landscape, including roses, raspberries, strawberries, fruit trees, and lilies. Damage is usually to new shoots and tender leaves. Often, only leaf petioles (stems) remain after feeding. Characteristic tracks or actual sighting confirm diagnosis. Severe caterpillar damage and foraging by grouse can sometimes be misdiagnosed as deer damage.

Management Options

Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for successful plant problem management.

Non-chemical Management

Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!

• Grow deer-resistant plants, such as blueberries, dahlias, rhododendrons, and azaleas.
• Build a sturdy wooden or chain-link fence at least seven feet high.
• Mount a continuous electric-shock wire about one meter away from the fence to further deter the deer.
• Place patches of aluminum foil on the electric-shock wire, and spread peanut butter on them to deter them through behavioral response.

Chemical Management

IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides.

• None recommended

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