Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by JENIFER on May 14, 2009 at 11:30am

Yuck! On the Nutria, we really do enjoy seeing the deer. I just dont like seeing them nibble the plants.


Su Elliott said:

Sigh - I only wish I had deer to repel. My biggest visitors are raccoons and nutria.

Permalink Reply by rosealie Sendler on May 27, 2009 at 8:50pm

This is what you do. Use Coyote or Cougar urine and spread it around the plants which the deer are attracted to. I tried this but I couldn't get a Coyote to stand still and the Cougar was not around. Obviously thee are draw backs to this plan. In fact I know of anyone had some success. Because of this one can purchase such urine from somewhere. Maybe it was a zoo. Another friend uses her sprinkler to defend her plants. It is set to go on every minute or so. She says it keeps the deer away. It may be easier to get deer resistant plants or get a dog. Forget the dog; if it is a cougar I don't think a dog is a good idea. Another friend suggested moving to Sioux Fall, South Dakota as they do not allow either deer or big cats in Sioux Falls. I hope I have been of some help.

Permalink Reply by rosealie Sendler on May 27, 2009 at 8:58pm

I forgot to mention that I love the deer. They are so comfortable living here in Port Townsend, WA with us. When ever I see them I feel good. They do not come in my back yard which is fenced - maybe they smell DaisyMae. The front burn is different. They are very good at pruning my camellia bush. In fifteen years it has grown and has a beautiful shape; but only one flower.

Permalink Reply by Harry Larsen on August 17, 2009 at 1:32am

Hi Jenifer,
Hi Rosalie,
Hi Su,
Hi anyone else who's curious,

You could try one of those plastic owls on a stake. Especially, one of the light-up-eyes and makes a hooty-owl noise variety. (Hmmm...come to think of it, that may have been squirrel and crow repellent...I'm not sure.)

Here's a better idea. You could try one of those yellow balloons with a smiley face on it. You know, big black eyes and silly grin? Try Party-City, or some drug stores.

I had one outside tied down to a workbench and it drove a particular dog crazy. The dog would stay far enough away, but barked continuously at that helium-filled balloon as it gently wafted back and forth in the slightest breeze.

Or you could try a scarecrow. Especially one dressed to look like a cougar. Or dressed like a dog? Maybe one with a twitching tail that moved in a breeze?

Hmmm...maybe I should be patenting these ideas instead of giving them away for free?

Oh well...cat's out of the bag, now...big cat...bob cat...mountain lion variety...twitching tail and all.

If any of these ideas actually work, please attribute the "original" idea to the source... ME. Thanks for your patience, it's way past my bedtime.

Permalink Reply by Kathy Anderson on February 10, 2010 at 9:08pm

get a dog. We have 2 dogs and never ever see deer. We live where there is Forest Land in front and behind us and nobody lives for miles. So we have wild animals all around.

Permalink Reply by Mara Lambert/USDA Z 8b on February 24, 2010 at 11:38pm

There is a product called 'Liquid Fence' that is supposed to work well. My neighbors tried it and say it did the trick. You can probably find it at any garden center or box store. Good luck!

Permalink Reply by Liz Ozselcuk on March 4, 2010 at 8:02am

What works in El Cerrito, CA: spray 3 parts water, 1 part sour milk on your yummiest plants and flowers. It makes your yard smell like stale school lunch boxes for a couple of hours, but by the next morning the smell is gone away and the deer hate it. I haven't noticed much damage to the plants. I do this several times in the spring, and then when ever something new and delicious starts to bloom, and the deer pretty much stay away for the season. This might not be as effective in a place where there are lots and lots of deer, but we just have some neighborhood "regulars" and the few of them decide my stinky garden is not worth the trip down my street.

Permalink Reply by Liz Ozselcuk on March 4, 2010 at 6:43pm

Let me know if it works.....this formula was passed on to a neighbor who was admiring the flower garden in a park up in our hills, and up in our hills it's crawling with deer. But I'm not sure if it works on all kinds or just our kind. And maybe if they are hungry enough they would eat things anyway. I've always been afraid to tell this to too many neighbors in case the deer get used to it and just go back to eating all of our plants. :-)

Permalink Reply by Darlene Sunseri on April 3, 2010 at 9:43am

I've used Bobbex another really stinky rather expensive repellent. I think our deer have acquired a taste for it, and the dog loves to roll in it. As for the dog and deer, I really believe my dog thinks they are a special goat breed and they belong here. We have four very prolific Black-tailed does that visit almost daily and the occasional buck, and Oh Yea soon we'll be seeing a new crop of babies. recently I saw two radio collared White-tail that ODFW decided to release in our local farmland so it is easier for them to study the Chronic Wasting Disease that has hit that species. Thank you ODFW! We've started setting posts to run a deer fence.

Permalink Reply by Lori Millard on April 25, 2010 at 11:06am

I have tried several deer products, but the one I found works the best to date is Bobbex. www.bobbex.com it will not wash off in the rain, you only have to apply when you have new foliage. its main ingredients are putrescent egg solids,cloves and garlic oil. it smells awful but works great. A friend told me he had trouble with it burning some of his red leafed maples, but I haven't had that problem so far.
Hope this helps Jenifer

Permalink Reply by Karen Corpuz on May 22, 2010 at 11:30am

Anyone want to go on a urine hunt. LOL

rosealie Sendler said:

This is what you do. Use Coyote or Cougar urine and spread it around the plants which the deer are attracted to. I tried this but I couldn't get a Coyote to stand still and the Cougar was not around. Obviously thee are draw backs to this plan. In fact I know of anyone had some success. Because of this one can purchase such urine from somewhere. Maybe it was a zoo. Another friend uses her sprinkler to defend her plants. It is set to go on every minute or so. She says it keeps the deer away. It may be easier to get deer resistant plants or get a dog. Forget the dog; if it is a cougar I don't think a dog is a good idea. Another friend suggested moving to Sioux Fall, South Dakota as they do not allow either deer or big cats in Sioux Falls. I hope I have been of some help.

Permalink Reply by Liz Ozselcuk on May 23, 2010 at 9:25am

Some garden writer, a man, in a book I read long ago, describes peeing along the perimeter of his garden one night in hopes of repelling deer. I don't remember the result. Having walked the streets of San Francisco, I can tell you that urine is definitely a HUMAN repellant! (Apologies to SF, it's only certain streets that smell that way. If you live there you know where I mean.)