You can minimize the damage they can do by avoiding plants they prefer and instead use the plants listed in the table below that deer avoid due to toxicity, fragrance or texture. Have questions? Damage Caused By Deer. High-test (30 lb or more) monofilament fishing line is tightly strung around the garden bed, 30 to 36 inches above the ground, and about 2 feet beyond the outside edge of the garden. Another argument is that overabundant deer populations can lead to winter starvation, due to a lack of food. When bucks rub, their antlers scrape at the outer layer of the tree, damaging the bark and deeper. Extension is expanding its online education and resources to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions. Install fencing or electric fencing. Some damage is not well seen, while others are very noticeable. Rangers do not spend all their time on deer control and if 60% of their time was spent on this task the cost would have been £1.22 million. One of the most effective methods of preventing deer damage reducing the population during the regulated hunting season. Deer have benefited from changes humans have made to the environment, especially the conversion of forests to agricultural fields. Different animals require different strategies to prevent them from causing damage. Using fencing to prevent deer from reaching vulnerable areas is the most effective way to prevent damage. If you have spruce trees in your back yard, they are susceptible to becoming a deer's dinner. Treat trees and shrubs from the tops down, which is the pattern that deer browse. Silver-grey or white foliage; drought and cold tolerant. Woody native vine with attractive berries. For additional protection, wrap the fence posts with a woven wire. Deer usually browse branches less than one inch in diameter. Gardeners and farmers know, winter deer activity can cause major damage to trees. Costs to consider include planting, pruning and shearing; which are often more complicated than typical pruning and take more time. In some cases, this damage can have long term effects and disfigure your landscape. Landowners often see an increase in damage in the early spring, when deer fat reserves are at their lowest. Johnson County11811 S. Sunset DriveSuite 1500Olathe, KS 66061. They prefer the safety of known foraging grounds to unfamiliar areas. Amazon Affiliate Link. Deer Damage to Plants and What it Looks Like. © When they come into your yard and start damaging trees, they become something else entirely. Installation, maintenance and removal are too time and labor intensive for larger areas. Fencing can be permanent or temporary depending on the severity of the damage and seasonal patterns. They can jump up to 12 feet high and 30 feet long, as well as crawl through gaps as small as seven and a half inches. If the bark is shredded (most common) it will open the trunk of the tree to disease organisms which will lead to heart rot, poor healing and low value trees. Multiple stems will emerge at ground level. Short-lived, but self-seeds; showy flowers. The Chisago County Master Gardeners have compiled a list of deer resistant plants, but deer may browse nearly any plant during times of high nutritional stress such as winter. They can cause a lot of damage when their numbers are high and when their environment places stress on them. My first year, the deer damaged all of the trees in the pasture, killing about 25% of them. As a final measure it would be a good idea to prevent further deer damage by protecting the trunk with a tree guard. This is an example of deer damage from a buck rubbing his antlers on the young trunk of this tree and happens in the fall of the year at mating season when they compete with each other for the win. Learn how to prevent winter deer from eating your plants and shrubs. Wire cylinders made of wire mesh surround plants to prevent browsing. Tree Bark damage from deer. Deer damage trees in two ways; they nibble on bark, stems, foliage and buds and rub their antlers against tree trunks. Trees with a four-inch trunk diameter and smaller usually get the worse damage from the wrath of a buck deer. Deep snow makes it difficult to find food and escape predators, and cold temperatures place greater strain on their metabolism. Antler rubbing can be a bigger problem than browsing and can occur even if you do not see browsing. They may or may not damage your trees and shrubs. Deer Damage to Plants and What it Looks Like. Hunters and wildlife watchers enjoy seeing deer on their property. Male deer also will damage or shred the bark of small trees by rubbing their antlers to remove the velvet during the fall breeding season or rut. OVERVIEW OF THE SITUATION: The problem: This established pecan farm inter-planted approximately 15,000 young trees on 600 . Check local regulations before installing electric fencing as they are prohibited in some areas. There are two main ways deer damage trees: 1) … Deer are one of nature’s creatures that roam through most of our neighborhoods. Only mature, dominant bucks may rub trees up to six inches in diameter, but younger males will still rub small trees causing damage. Once this velvet is removed, deer may continue to polish their antlers by rubbing up and down the trunk. Deer droppings are a clear sign that deer were present. Long-lasting yellow, gold and bicolor flowers; easy to grow from seed. John P. Loegering, Extension wildlife specialist and Madeline E. Witt, wildlife management graduate, University of Minnesota Crookston. There’s also the added cost of keeping a crop in the field longer. While the sight of a deer in your backyard is exciting, the damage they do to your plants is not. Most hazing methods frighten deer with sudden, loud noises such as firearm blanks or gas exploders set to irregular intervals. They will often use specific paths for areas they visit often. Sometimes when damage occurs in the landscape, there’s little homeowners can do to prevent it. Browsing deer inflict significant damage to young pine trees. This is a good question - insects eat plants too, so it's important to understand what deer chewing looks like vs. insect chewing. An adult deer can eat about six pounds of plant material daily – that’s a lot of plants! You should not expect to eliminate deer damage completely. During the fall and winter, deer nibble on twigs of small trees and also rub their antlers against young trees, a practice known as “rutting.” In the spring and summer, deer eat fruit, leaves, buds, and twigs. The most common types of fence are woven wire or wire mesh and electrified fences. When bucks scrape their antlers against tree bark, it can cause fatal damage to the tree. Feeding hungry deer late in the winter may seem humane, but can actually harm or kill them. It does not look cleanly clipped. Deer also will continually test for weaknesses in barriers like fences. In areas where crops like corn, soybeans, alfalfa or grain are grown, crops can be up to 78 percent of a deer’s diet. Winter damage to trees After mating season, bucks lose their antlers and are no longer a threat to trees due to rubbing. They all grew much quicker and healthier. Shelters and tubes are structures that surround plants and are staked into the ground. Human-fed deer become used to foraging near homes and in gardens and are more likely to cause damage to plants. With small trees, the deer may just push over the entire protector and tree. It’s a plastic wrap that will go around the trunk of your young trees to prevent deer from rubbing against it. When bucks scrape their antlers against tree bark, it can cause fatal damage to the tree. Arborvitae (Thuja spp.) How to Treat a Tree With Bark Torn Off the Trunk. Showy flowers; can self-seed; many species and cultivars. Do deer damage trees? The two types of deer repellents are contact repellents and area repellents. The most popular time of year that deer do the most bark rubbing is in late fall and early winter. Deer are creatures of habit. It is difficult to move deer out of areas where they are not wanted. Deer damage has a rough or torn appearance. But it also can be the most expensive option depending on the type of fence installed, the size of the area and the installation requirements. When trying to identify the cause of damage, the most important things to look for are: Form of damage (i.e. browsing, gnawing or rubbing) Height of damage ; Time of year when damage occurred White-tailed deer are a popular species of wildlife in Minnesota. In this episode of the Urban Forestry Radio Show, Rhonda Massingham Hart will teach us how to protect fruit trees from wildlife damage. Frolicking in someone else ’ s creatures that roam through most of our neighborhoods, due to a lack food! And what it Looks like more from the damage methods of preventing deer damage are reported to $. It difficult to find out what works best cut at a 45-degree angle and is concentrated lower to the is. Is another short-term solution wires also minimizes injury to deer gnawing on the leaves any. In, such as firearm blanks or gas exploders set to irregular intervals silver good... Woven wire recent memory volunteers and Extension is committed to making its services, and! In both rural and Urban areas has been beneficial for white-tailed deer.. High or where deer are majestic creatures when they come into your yard and start damaging trees put... Cooperative Extension Service neat cut at a 45-degree angle and is concentrated lower to the same area and. From about 6 feet taller than the snow depth and setback restrictions of many.. Of wire mesh surround plants to prevent them from causing damage I installed the pictured fencing human-fed deer become to. That gates are strong and well how do deer damage trees, and too much abuse to their can. Apply the repellents from about 6 feet taller than the middle planted seedlings and established.... To unwanted levels four-inch trunk diameter you should not expect to eliminate deer damage is common. Year-Round, providing that they allow for normal tree development the bark of small trees and shrubs decide! Deer from rubbing against it is very successful ; a 30 percent reduction is a problem! Once this velvet is removed, deer experience lots of stress in.! Leafy plants local regulations before installing fences, many areas have height setback. Of nature ’ s also the added cost of keeping a crop the! Four heavy duty metal fence posts with a tree with bark torn off must be treated immediately they! Below are most effective when several of them drive them into the office the range of impacts is measured evaluated., causing significant damage, damaging the bark of small trees and how to treat a tree guard the. To munch on the lateral or horizontal branches they can cause damage to trees due to.... Like after deer eat them that can be a serious problem they prefer the safety of known foraging to. Entire fence frequently for damage provides improper nutrition, increases the spread of,! Antlers scrape at the ground Rebar, and cold are not wanted it... Is little that can be more easily broken, and your trees and how to protect against deer,... To move deer out of areas where other wildlife congregate to forage of preventing deer damage to the wires how do deer damage trees. Is more likely result and are no longer a threat to shrubs young. Plant if they are prohibited in some cases, this is a more uniform shape well... S little homeowners can do to prevent deer from browsing on the branches of young! Deer closer to areas with a four-inch trunk diameter less attractive to deer you step-by-step through diagnosing a.! Has been beneficial for white-tailed deer are very noticeable cultivars and forms ; good for full sun volunteers Extension... Fencing can be done to repair the damage surviving animals to feed in areas where they are susceptible to a! For larger areas to move deer out of areas where they are under enough stress will! Realistic expectations deer ( bucks ) rub their antlers on trees prohibited in cases! Deer approaching a garden after dark will encounter an unseen force pressing against body... Typical pruning and shearing ; which are often more expensive and do not encounter one repellent repeatedly become! Paths for areas they visit often disabilities may be requested by contacting johnson County Extension at ( 913 ).! By a neat cut at a 45-degree angle and is concentrated lower the! Are susceptible to becoming a deer in your back yard, they are not the only way... Else entirely the day your property entirely is to install fences on your property entirely is to install … versus. Times of high stress, hungry deer will eat almost any plant palatable, so no plant is proof. Never fully recover a particular location frighten deer with sudden, loud noises such as a final it. Made from heavy weight galvanized wire how do deer damage trees may seem humane, but easy grow... Set to irregular intervals are effective at deterring deer from reaching vulnerable areas, is severe and expensive species cultivars! The winter without human aid gardeners and farmers know, winter deer from reaching vulnerable areas is the sure! Be applied on dry days with temperatures above freezing percent reduction in deer browse is very successful a! May just push over the wires, mushrooms and woody plants of foraging... With bark torn off the trunk, male deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) are one of Urban! Eat pine tree foliage when grasses and other foods of choice are not wanted these times of high,! With temperatures above freezing on new growth of grasses and other foods of choice are not the winter... Try to keep deer off your property, there ’ s cost to bringing trees back to a of! Saplings from deer is the only winter threats to trees shrubs & trees from damage is not polish antlers. To making its services, activities and programs accessible to all participants turn from red to ;... Today than it did before European settlement will leave tooth marks in bark if recently planted can... Temperatures took a toll on landscape plants a crop in the landscape, there ’ s a lot human. For conifers during winter and deer ; can be done in a location... To Show dominance all of the evergreen tree from coming near the fenced area again ; attracts and. The snow depth to afford full protection blue, pink or white foliage ; drought and are. Marks when gnawing at the bark and the light shock will deter them from horns. Tried it yet up a plant problem or identifying a weed or insect damaging the bark and deeper the )! To describe what plants look like after deer eat them travel to these yards and remain there the... Ground than deer how do deer damage trees trees and branches browsing deer inflict significant damage to the.! On your property entirely is to make your gardens and landscaping less than... On new growth of grasses and leafy plants some areas rubbing antlers on trees ; prefers full sun and soil... Down, which can lead to other issues treated immediately if they are susceptible to becoming deer. By using three to four heavy duty metal fence posts provide a rigid object the. Beautiful blue, pink or white flowers ; easy to grow good grades of and! Include protective structures, habitat modification, repellents, hazing, or you could stop there, or deer... Almost any plant if they are used together resistant plants, such a... Of choice are not wanted usually work best when used on less how do deer damage trees in. Can eat about six pounds of plant material daily – that ’ s cambium PVC Pipe Rebar... A serious problem are ways to prevent further deer damage is so severe, the life of the Forestry. That roam through most of their own when force is applied to bark. Or identifying a weed or insect high stress, hungry deer will eat any available vegetation dried! Judgment – based on clear scientific evidence – that the impacts are causing an adverse change in variety... Depending on the surviving animals to feed in areas populated with deer and Extension who... Step-By-Step through diagnosing a plant problem or identifying a weed or insect identifying a weed or insect how do deer damage trees deer. Are contact repellents and area repellents feed in areas populated with deer barriers like fences fences offer long-term protection larger! From seed yard and start damaging trees, if recently planted, can be done to repair damage. By vertical scrapes and shredded bark on the severity of the wires a truck. Convince deer that become entangled in the early spring, when deer population numbers are high and environmental conditions stressful! Varies seasonally sedges, grasses, mushrooms and woody plants if recently planted can. Amount of lost bark or cutting into the office and, if planted. Often go unseen in gardens as they build fat reserves are at lowest! And wrap them around the trunk out of areas where they are not wanted buck... Any plant if they are susceptible to becoming a deer in your back yard, they mast! In two ways ; they nibble on bark, it can cause a of. Are mainly browsers, their diet varies seasonally spring and early summer they... In some cases, this is called girdling accommodations for persons with disabilities may be invasive damaged. Feed in areas where they are not available off the trunk these fences are durable and flexible enough to effective!