White Tailed Deer

Deer

Deer damage to plants and gardens is usually the biggest complaint we receive here at Salthaven.  Deer will also damage young trees by stripping the bark off them for food or when bucks run their antlers on them to scrape off the velvet from their antlers.

If you are willing to exercise tolerance when the deer are visiting your property you can often expect some damage to shrubbery or gardens. However there are precautions that you can take to coexist with the deer in your neighborhood.

• Thoughtful landscape design where special consideration is given to plant selection can go a long ways to helping you peacefully coexist with deer.
• Some plants are very tolerant of deer browsing.
• Deer fencing can also be very helpful in keeping deer away from gardens. Electric fences are extremely effective against deer.

Tree protection by wrapping trees with corrugated plastic sleeves can protect trees from Buck Rubs.

Rescued or Abducted

 Every year Salthaven gets calls concerning “abandoned” fawns that they stumbled across in fields, backyards or roadsides. It is perfectly natural in spring to come across a deer fawn by herself in the woods. The mother is usually nearby within earshot of the fawn. The strategy deer have developed to deal with predators is to leave their young hidden except to feed them. If you encounter a fawn like this, leave her alone. Mom will often leave her fawn alone for 6 to 12 hours and in some cases much longer than that before she returns to feed her.

At that time she will move the fawn because now Mom’s scent is there.  If the fawn is wandering excessively and calling out, she may need help, but this is usually the exception rather than the rule. If in doubt call your local wildlife rehabilitator for help in deciding whether the fawn needs human intervention.

Above all else DO NOT attempt to feed the fawn.