Re: Marking Territory (was deer food)

Gary A. Griffith (brdnsum@dpnet.net)
Sat, 07 Feb 98 07:36:14 PST


Hadn't thought about this one, and the book I'm about to cite is currently on loan (I hate to admit it, but to a friend who wants to plant stuff to FEED the deer), but I recall from the 1983 publication "White-tailed Deer:  Ecology and Management" that many people have had success by collecting human hair, putting it in bits of old nylons (like little bags) and hanging around the yard.

Perhaps this would help minimize the deer impact on whatever might be planted in the yard.  Apparantly the hairs smells like us (duh...) and the deer figure we're lurking about waiting to snuff them.  Now, if my recollection of how this type of evolution works is correct (and it is almost always at least 1% so) perhaps eating several of the neighborhood deer before cutting your hair would enhance this technique. Then you'd smell much more like a specifically deer-eating carnivore (and the population would be reduced as well)

Happy in Hummerland

Gary A. Griffith  (BrdNSum@dpnet.net)
The Hummingbird Society
Elkton, Maryland
(302) 369-3699  Society
(410) 392-4491  Home

----------
> Gary A. Griffith wrote:
> >
> > Sent this to HUMNET and here's a response for Andy (thought is was from
> Norm).  I'll post additional responses.
> >
> > Gary A. Griffith  (BrdNSum@dpnet.net)
> > The Hummingbird Society
> > Elkton, Maryland
> > (302) 369-3699  Society
> > (410) 392-4491  Home
> >
> > ----------
> > > Date: Thursday, February 05, 1998 18:46:27
> > > From: Dwight LeBlanc
> > > To: Multiple recipients of list HUMNET-L
> > > Subject: Re: Fw: Hummingbirds and deer
> > >
> > > Gary A. Griffith wrote:
> > > >
> > >
> > > >
> > > > Anybody got an answer to Norm's question ? (See below)  I'm at a loss.
> > > >
> > > > Gary A. Griffith  (BrdNSum@dpnet.net)
> > > > The Hummingbird Society
> > > > Elkton, Maryland
> > > > (302) 369-3699  Society
> > > > (410) 392-4491  Home
> > >  Are there any hummer friendly flowers that deer won't eat? Any
> > > > > suggestions would be appreciated.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks,
> > > > >
> > > > > Andy Rabin
> > > > > Gaithersburg, MD
> > > > > andyrab@wam.umd.edu
> > > > >
> > > > >Greetings all--there is a publication on the palatability of different
> > > ornamental plants to deer but i don't remember if it was put out by SUNY
> or
> > > Cornell.  If you email your mailing address, i will go through my files
> and
> > > try to find a copy to send to you.  Dwight LeBlanc--USDA/APHIS/Wildlife
> > > Services
> > > > >
> > > > >
> Hummingbirds love Maltese Cross (aka Ragged Robin) and Deer don't.  At
> least hummingbirds and deer in Montana express those preferences.
> The plant has the added advantage of being the most beautiful red of any
> perennial flower.
>
> Also, you can put blood meal on the ground around almost any low-growing
> herbaceous plant and protect it to some degree.  Or you can go out once
> a day and mark your territory.  I'll leave the specifics to you.