Deer Damage? Are you sure?

Before we start talking about deer control, let’s make sure that the damage you are seeing is deer damage.  There are a few things to look for when determining whether or not your damage is from deer. Lets start with two tell-tale-signs.

Torn Foliage and Twigs vs. Clean Cut - Deer have no front  incisor teeth so they strip bark by raking their incisors upward, making two-inch gouges. When they eat foliage, they tear it off, leaving ragged edges and surfaces on twigs, stems, and leaves.   Rabbits,rodents, and woodchucks, leave a clean-cut edge.  A rodent will leave a clean usually angled cut.  

Damage Height - Rodents eat lower parts of trees, up to the height they can reach standing on their hind legs, which is much lower than deer damage. Deer will also eat plants up the level they can reach on their hind feet, so the height at which plants are damaged should eleminate most other suspects.

These are two signs and we will cover a few more next blog.
If you can’t wait, there is a complete list with pictures on http://www.Deer-Departed.com/deer-damage

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