Conflicts With Deer
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 cedar trees, it is almost guaranteed that deer will be visiting for a snack.
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, resulting in drop of 30% in just a few years. The Ottawa Wildlife Collisions Prevention Initiative and the Ministry of Transport also developed a brochure to help reduce motor vehicle collisions involving wildlife. Here are some of the things they suggest:
Q: I have seen a fawn alone, does it need help?
A: Although young fawns are mobile they cannot travel long distances with their mom while she forages for food. Instead the 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, the mom is nearby. Fawns who are stashed will sometimes stand up and walk a bit, particularly if it is very hot or there are a lot of black flies, then curl up again to wait for their 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. Contact a wildlife rehabilitator for advice.
A: If you live near a natural area and have garden plants such as hostas (a deer favorite) or cedar trees, it is almost guaranteed that deer will be visiting for a snack.
- Select less desirable plants, such as variegated hostas and avoid favorites such as impatiens and cedars. Talk to local garden centres to get suggestions.
- Watch for early signs of deer browsing on vegetation as it is easiest to control when it first starts.
- Young plants are very susceptible since new growth is very palatable and wild vegetation has not "greened up" yet.
- 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, resulting in drop of 30% in just a few years. The Ottawa Wildlife Collisions Prevention Initiative and the Ministry of Transport also developed a brochure to help reduce motor vehicle collisions involving wildlife. Here are some of the things they suggest:
- Be aware of the danger of animals darting into traffic. Scan the road ahead from shoulder to shoulder.
- When you see wildlife beside the road, slow down as animals may suddenly bolt onto the road and often there will be more than one deer crossing.
- Watch for the yellow wildlife warning signs that indicate an area of increased risk, and slow down when traveling through these areas.
Q: I have seen a fawn alone, does it need help?
A: Although young fawns are mobile they cannot travel long distances with their mom while she forages for food. Instead the 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, the mom is nearby. Fawns who are stashed will sometimes stand up and walk a bit, particularly if it is very hot or there are a lot of black flies, then curl up again to wait for their 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. Contact a wildlife rehabilitator for advice.
STOP - DO NOT TRAP AND RELOCATE THE ANIMAL - Click here to find out why