Pam Webb

Oh, deer—such vandalism

They had been at it again. Just outside my window while I slept they wreaked havoc in my yard. Half-chewed apples lay scattered on the ground, a bed of sunflowers stripped of their leaves, petunias, cosmos, and other assorted flowers deprived of their blooms. The solar fountain lay wounded on the grass with its bitten supports scattered on the grass. The birdfeeder emptied.

I won’t go into specifics but the garden marauders left evidence of their feasting in little pellet piles all over the yard.

Yes, the deer gang had been at it again. Terms of endearment on my part are being withheld.

Considering we’ve lived for nearly thirty years in a suburban pocket surrounded by woods we should be used to wildlife ravaging our garden from time to time. Admittedly, the animals are appreciated for their beauty and we still are mesmerized when they pass by the window, and we are even honored they feel safe enough in our yard to hang out with their babies, and yet it is so vexing that they terrorize my garden. Without accusatory fingers pointing too harshly, the deer are mainly to blame. I have yet to catch the moose, bear, and raccoons in the act of destruction, although they often leave evidence of their presence, which I see as a blatant “Ha, ha–been here and didn’t get caught” message. The deer have become my scapegoats because they are absolutely shameless.

Counter-deer terrorism strategy is to plant that which is not tasty to deer palettes such as day lilies and lavender. However, I do favor the annual punch of summer colors such as cosmos, petunias, and pansies though. Unfortunately so do the deer.

My neighbor had the same problem, even putting up a six foot cyclone fence around her veggie garden. Her hostas also took a hit. Probably the deer did so in retaliation for being separated from their salad needs.

Another neighbor resorted to one of those movement sprinklers. We inadvertently activated it on an early morning walk. I wasn’t even looking at their flowers.

My current deer deterrent strategy involves a spray mixture of Irish Spring soap. It works if I am diligent. If I forget, well, I guess the plants will grow back.

I have to take down the birdfeeder at night and rig a cage lid for the solar fountain.

Yet for all my grousing I still get happy when I spot a deer in the yard, as long as they are passing through.