Discussions

Has anyone else experienced problems with deer eating trees and shrubs within the city? I live within a block or so [to the north] of the Victoria and 26th St area and for the first time this year the deer have eaten 2 dwarf apples that were only planted about 2 years ago and a young high bush cranberry. They also ate some of a well established rose but it's not as damaged and I'm sure it will be fine. Should I prune off the chewed branches? Does anyone have ideas on how to prevent this from happening again? It would be interesting to hear if anyone else has noticed increased deer activity within the city this past year – or maybe there's just more in the way of deer delicacies in my yard?

I have seen deer tracks going down the sidewalk past our house in the area south of Victoria and west of 18th. No damage yet that I've seen.

Most years by this time they will venture further, but how far into town varies year to year. If they aren't finding food because it's scarce or too much work to dig out, they will eat your tasty plants.  
 
If the nibbled parts don't regrow, trim the back. We sometimes wrap vunerable plants in burlap to overwinter for this reason.  
 
Edit to add: I've seen deer tracks in the area of 18th & Vic. They are definitely venturing in far this year.  
 
Edited by Abbysmum, 2023-02-15 16:39:33

i live in the east end ,victoria and 11 area , we had a idiot actually feeding a herd of them right out his front door , authorities new this , but not much done about it/ they were actually un afraid of humans and i witnessed them actually stop and intimadate cars , crazy  
 
Edited by al, 2023-02-15 19:30:37

Less hunters, more deer. Deer numbers are up, hunters are down. Only going to be more of a problem as this trend continues.

Try using burlap wrap or the tree wrap to protect your tree bark and rose bushes. I wrap our tree trunks and cover rose bushes .  
Contact or go to one of the local nurseries / Livingstone-Alternative or Greenspot they should have products to use .

I actually live right near you. And yes, they have all the sudden appeared in the last year. We’ve lived in our house for over 20 years and have never seen one around here, till last summer. Then they became a daily occurrence. We even witnessed a horrific scene outside our house in November, when a cab hit one of the deer on 26th st just after 1am. It was awful. But then I heard from a few people in our area and Valleyview, that there are people actively feeding them and leaving food in green spaces for them. One was even staying in one persons yard and had a baby there according to another friend. So that could be a reason they are sticking around.  
I just know, I never want to witness that kind of scene again. They scare me when crossing 26th (although quite often they do use the cross walk ironically haha).