Back to Gardening Chapter 6, Dealing With Pests - Part A: Mammals (cont...)

In this section I discuss how to identify and deal with a deer problem.

Deer

Deer are majestic creatures, and I enjoy watching them in their natural habitat, but when a deer finds a vegetable garden it can be a real problem. It might just walk on by, or it might keep coming back until every edible thing is gone. Wild deer learn about garden vegetables gradually, by simply tasting things and seeing how they go down. Urban and suburban deer are much more familiar with gardens, with each generation teaching the next where to find an easy meal. Regardless of the setting, a deer problem can mean the complete loss of a season in some cases, and since deer follow deer - one deer can mean many deer. If deer are visiting your garden, the situation must be dealt with immediately.

I know - you just want to take it home and be its best friend forever - but this little deer will take everything you have, and come back for more if you replant. [source]