I saw about 25 of these guys up and back from Lutsen on Saturday. I nearly hit two of them, one which was charging my car from the side. I now despise deer.
At least the bears aren't out yet. I always love the fall when bears are scrounging for hibernatin' fuel and deer are chasing tail! It's a battlefield in this city sometimes.
My friends outside of Duluth laugh when I talk about the Urban Gang Deer that roam my neighborhood without fear. They just stare at my barking dog with a look that says, "Dude. You are on a leash. My ass is protected within the city limits and everywhere else for most of the year. Kiss my white-tailed butt."
The thing that looks like a tree growing out of the street is a bird feeder hanging from our front window, lining up nicely with an actual tree across the street.
Can someone tell me what kind of fence and how high it needs to be to keep the deer OUT? I watch them clear the 5' fence in my back yard--they have a regular trail through here, like a walk-through McDonalds. Arrrrrrgh.
My mum said she counted a herd 17 strong a couple nights ago, stopping by to graze on her cedar bushes. She lives in the Denfeld area down near Grand Ave, and was rather surprised to see them that far removed from cover!
@Jude
Physical fences, to be absolutely deer-proof, need to be at least 8 feet high. Here's a garden company's take on deer-proof fencing: http://www.bennersgardens.com/info-deer-deterrents2.asp
The site is trying to sell a particular product, an alternative to physical fencing, but I agree with much of the description of the requirements for electric and physical fencing.
I have a photo of a fence at The Food Farm that I believe is designed to prevent deer from getting into an area they are trying to protect to regrow forest--the fence is easily 12 feet high!
The Minnesota DNR makes woven wire fences 10 feet tall (They call them 'exclusionary fences' in state park areas they are trying to protect from herbivores. You can see some along the trails in Gooseberry Falls, I think.
Here's a link to a Purdue University site that will tell you everything you ever wanted to know (and then some) about deer-proof fence building (and some details on deer and what deer like to eat). You have to scroll down past the info on the animal to get to the descriptions, diagrams and recommendations for fence building:
http://coldfuse2.agriculture.purdue.edu/entm/wildlife/profindust/animals/mammals/deer.cfm
@davids
Thanks SO much...exactly the info I need to make my fence decisions.
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There needs to be some kind of season on them here in Duluth, they ARE like rats only rats don't eat expensive hostas. The ones I have here on the east end literally swagger (8pt. bucks) through my yard.
And the herds of does and fawns I have now have ruined every bird feeder I have. I could seriously just walk up to them and hit them on the nose while they look at me, batting their eyelashes.
Those coyotes are hanging around for a reason.
Commercial hunting ... as a non-hunter who loves venison, I love to see it available in the stores. Food shelves would also benefit not to mention the environment and motorists.
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