Bambi

[flowerpower]

For the past few weeks I have been seeing a deer in my yard. They keep to the woods and I hardly ever see one so close to the house. It is an adult. If it is a buck, even a young one, shouldn't I see some nubs on him at this time of yr? I think it is a doe with no baby. There is a shortage of bucks in my area.

Also it is not afraid of humans at all. It just cries when we yell at it or chase it. Its not even that afraid of my 100 lb dog. Just hides right in the woods till the dog sees it again. Some idiot has been feeding this one, right? No way is this one makin it through hunting season. It won't make it through the summer if it keeps coming near my garden.

[plantsnobin]

Around here the deer are so thick that you just about have to have an electric fence to have a garden at all. They do tolerate pretty close contact too, except during deer season. They seem to quickly learn when to be afraid of humans. We are putting up hay, and the tractors don't bother them at all. They keep right on munching while you go by. They cause a lot of wrecks, and I know two people who have been killed by a deer that flew through their window after being hit by the car in front of them. People who feed the deer don't realize what kind of problems they are causing. Bambi is cute while little, but dangerous if he thinks humans equal a handout once he gets bigger.

[americangardener]

FP.. i think you'd notice antlers growing by now if it's a buck. Seems the ratio between bucks and does is really low around here too. Last year there was a herd of 15 deer in the spring before they split up for the summer. Out of those there were only two that had antlers.

I didn't see em when they were all herded up this spring.. but from the signs in the woods it looks like i've got alot fewer this year than last. Still dosen't help me much though.. they're still getting into the garden at will and destroying almost everything. Just yesterday i went to look at my tomatoes and yep.. they got those too. Seems they perfer to go after the strongest healthiest looking plants too. Those darn deer! So far this year they've eaten every pea plant that i spent weeks planting seeds for, about 30 pepper plants, and now they're starting on the tomatoes. They got a couple of my dwarf tomatoes too! And usually they don't like bending down that far to graze.

You're probably right about someone feeding em. I get my one neighbor coming up to me all the time asking if i've been killing the deer.. saying to leave em alone cause they're their "pets". I just tell em to keep their pets outta my garden and put a leash on the damn things. When actually it's not me that kills any of em.. i do know another neighbor around here shoots em with a 22 rifle out of his bedroom window. But i don't mention that to them.. wouldn't want them to go bitching to him about it.

Looks like you're gonna have a real problem deer there with that one though FP... outta the 15 i had last season.. only two were real persistent ones. The rest would graze right up to the fence line and were content with all those weeds. But there was this one that refused to eat weeds and would come into my garden every day. Sometimes he'd even bring a friend with him. Sounds like you're gonna have one like him. And once they get a taste of the gourmet food in your garden you're gonna have a heck of a time keeping it out.

[flowerpower]

Karen, I remember you talking about that accident. Terrible. You said it wasn't even the first time it happened. That would be a pretty rare thing here. It really depends on your terrain up here what type of animals are around. I live adjacent to a wetland, its hard for the animals to get around back there. But I know there are bears out there. So I have moved on to a different blueberry patch. Less than a mile from here, a woman took a pic of a mama bear and her 3 cubs stealing the bird feeder in her yard. I don't feed the wild animals except for the crows. And I will feed the smaller birds in the dead of winter.

We cut paths on the edges of the property for the deer to use. They have been good about it so far. lol I didn't think it was a buck because of its coloring. The males here tend to be more gray than the females. Especially the first yr. My biggest problem has been rabbits. So I always plant my lettuce and peas in huge pots on the deck. I lost enough the first 2 yrs here. I could shoot the deer anytime I want, but I don't want to kill an animal if possible. Its going to get shot on Day 1 of hunting season anyway.

[plantsnobin]

I don't think I could live in an area where bears are. I feed the birds, and I know bears love bird feeders. A friend of ours is a wildlife rehabilitator and years ago the DNR had him take care of a baby bear that had been confiscated till they could find a place for it. That sucker was only 3 months old, but it's strength was absolutely unbelievable. It must be nice to live next to a wetland area. There is a wetland a few miles from here that is just beautiful. There are always white swans there, and all kinds of birds you don't see other places. But then, I guess you might have a lot of skeeters too.

[johno]

Most of the big wildlife stays out of our yard - I think because of the dogs. But lately the deer have decided it's pretty safe. I have seen them in the yard quite a few times lately. They graze around the more protected areas in the back yard, and in the front they have started usung the driveway as the easiest path into the adjacent field (the gate is open, so they don't have to jump the fence.) The garden is next to the driveway, so I'm getting nervous that they might find it...

[flowerpower]

Part of the wetland is a migratory bird area according to the DEC. I see some pretty cool birds like ducks and herons around. There are plenty of frogs to keep skeeters in check I guess. Its not too bad most yrs. I wish I would see more bats though.