Q: I have deer eating my garden plants and shrubs. What can I do?

A: If you live near a natural area and have garden plants such as hostas, a deer favorite, or shrubs, it is almost guaranteed that deer will be visiting for a snack. So protecting these plants early is vital. There are two options to do this:

1. If you have just a few plants to protect, bird netting works well. It is very inexpensive (usually under $10 for a large bag), and can be purchased from stores like Home Depot. It can be easily draped over plants, and secured with a few stakes. As the plant grows you may have to move the stakes out. This product is bareley noticeable and extremely effective.
2. If you live in an area with a large number of deer and have a substantial number of plants to protect, check out Deer Fence Canada Inc. This company makes a fencing product that is ideal for many properties because it is lightweight, easy to handle, easy to install, virtually invisible and relatively inexpensive for the protection it offers.

Q: How can I reduce the risk of hitting a deer with my car?

A: The City of Ottawa’s Speeding Costs You Deerly Campaign has proven that education about driving in deer corridors can significantly reduce deer/car collisions. After just two-years collisions have dropped 34%.

The Ottawa Wildlife Collisions Prevention Initiative and the Ministry of Transport developed a brochure to help reduce motor vehicle collisions involving wildlife. Here are some of the things they suggest:

1. Be aware of the danger of animals darting into traffic. Scan the road ahead from shoulder to shoulder.
2. When you see wildlife beside the road, slow down and pass carefully as animals may suddenly bolt onto the road.
3. Watch for the yellow wildlife warning signs that indicate an area of increased risk, and slow down when traveling through these areas.

Also remember many animals are more active at dusk and dawn, so reducing your speed can often give you the extra seconds required to avoid a collision.

Q: I have seen a fawn alone, does it need help?

A: Although young fawns are mobile they cannot travel long distances with mom while she forages for food. Instead mom stashes the young (if twins are born they are stashed separately) in tall grasses where they will be safe, until she returns.

If you find a fawn, leave it alone, mom is nearby. Fawns who are stashed will sometimes stand up and walk a bit, particularly if it is very hot or there are lots of black flies, then curl up again to wait for mom. If you are concerned because a dead deer has been seen nearby you can return off and on throughout the day. If it is orphaned it may be vocalizing, moving around or showing other signs of distress.