Living with Deer

Deer highway leading past garden shed to my house

They don’t sleep here every night but it is in an L formed by my house and my detached garage that is sheltered from the wind. At least four of them there at a time.

Here is where they are stomping down the snow to get at plant material to eat.  A lot of work for a few calories.

In the winter their digestive systems convert to being able to eat this past year’s twig growth and buds. That is why they are so destructive to new tree plantings and why I have to shroud my azaleas so I can get blooms next spring.

If this winter keeps up like this for another month the stress on the deer population could  cause a large drop in numbers.