Group programs for children and adults may be held at various park sites throughout the City.
Literature on deer-proofing your yard, including planting suggestions and techniques to keep them from eating your plants (see below).
Answers to wildlife nuisance questions about deer, raccoons, skunks, bats, groundhogs, and snakes.
For wildlife issues contact our Naturalist, Lance Devoe.
Information on Gardening with Deer
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Deer Feeding Habits
2009 Summer Study
Following are photos of three test gardens:
Garden 1
"Plants Deer Prefer"
(Untreated with repellents)
Garden 2
"Plants Deer Prefer"
(Treated with repellents)
Garden 3
"Plants Not Preferred by Deer"
(Untreated)
Garden Comparisons
Shows photos of the
three gardens side by side
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Barriers, dogs, fences, and various scent repellents can help to keep deer out.
REPELLENTS
COMMERCIAL SCENT REPELLENTS (available at many nurseries)
- Hinder
- Ro-Pel
- Big Game Repellent
- Bonide Rabbit-Deer Repellent and Bulb Saver
- Tree Guard by Nortech
Follow instructions carefully, some repellents need to be reapplied after rain. Some products can be mixed with an anti-transpirant such as Wild-Pruf, For Ever Green, Pro-Tec, or Vapor Gard to give it season-long effectiveness.
A combination anti-transpirant and pest repellent is Bonide Rabbit-Deer Repellent and Bulb Saver. Chew-Not also repels by taste.
HOME-MADE REPELLENTS
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Used cat litter sprinkled around plant
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Bloodmeal sprinkled around plants will deter deer and rabbits and will also supply the soil with nitrogen.
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Hang on wires 30" above ground bars of strong-scented deodorant soap (in their wrappers)
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Egg spray
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Tabasco sauce spray
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Garlic spray
FENCES
- Use a double fence two 4'-high fences approximately 5 feet apart with 2"x4" mesh deer are unable to jump both fences at once.
- Cover the most vulnerable plants with chicken wire.
- Wrap the trunks of very young trees with wire mesh.
There is no guarantee on any of these methods. What works for one person may not work for another. Be persistent and diverse. Plant flowers and shrubs that deer dislike.
Deer are not the only animals eating plants. Rabbits, groundhogs, and squirrels also eat plants. Mice, voles, and gophers will eat the underground parts of flowering plants and a wide variety of other roots, bulbs, tubers, grasses, and seeds. Chipmunks also cause plant and bulb damage.
Other control measures and fence alternatives are available in "The Pocket Guide to The Humane Control of Wildlife in Cities and Towns" (ISBN 1-56044-113-5).
LET'S ENJOY OUR WILDLIFE.
Likelihood of Deer Damage on Trees and Shrubs
Deer Resistant Native Plants
Per City Ordinance:
Sec. 14-91. Deer feeding prohibited.
No person may place or permit placement on the ground or within five feet of the ground any fruit, berries, grain, vegetables, nuts, salt or other edible material or bait which may reasonably be expected to attract or feed deer unless such materials are covered or protected in a way to prevent deer from feeding on them.
(Ord. No. 525, 1, 9-22-08)
