Living with deer
If you live in Â鶹ӳ», then you are probably familiar with mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and the pressures that they can put on your yard or garden. Mule deer can be found throughout the state, from the Mojave Desert to the Sierra Â鶹ӳ»s, and when they are hungry, deer can decimate plants. They especially like to munch your favorite plants with delicate and juicy foliage. It’s enough to drive a gardener mad!
However, before we get into how to manage this conflict, we do want to point out that you may live in a historic mule deer migration zone and winter habitat range. (You can view major deer migration mapping on the .) If you have moved into their habitat, we ask that you consider treating them with respect as a native wildlife species instead of as just a pest.
Even though it may seem like there are abundant deer in your yard, mule deer populations are in decline in Â鶹ӳ». They have seen steady population decline over the past 30 years due to drought, wildfire impacts, invasive species and habitat loss and the declines are concerning enough to spark the .
Tips for managing deer
Here are three simple integrated pest management (IPM) techniques that you can consider for managing deer damage in your yard or garden while still protecting this important wildlife species in our state.
Tip #1: Keep them out
The first and best line of defense is to exclude deer from your yard. You can use fencing that excludes an entire area or put individual cages around special plants. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Go at least 6 feet tall and possibly higher.
- The fence must be maintained; deer will find gaps or breaks.
- Speaking of maintenance, electric fencing can be less expensive to install initially and could be used for temporary applications, but it requires more maintenance.
- Consider migration corridors and give deer and other wildlife a place to pass through your property if needed. For more information on wildlife-friendly fencing designs, see this .
- If you use individual cages around plants, you may need to raise them as the plants grow until they reach a height above deer-browse levels.
Tip #2: Try deer-resistant plants
There is no such thing as a deer-proof plant. If deer are hungry, as they often are in the winter, they will eat anything. If you were starving, you wouldn’t be picky either! However, if given better options, deer will usually avoid plants that aren’t as palatable. Here are some basic characteristics to look for:
- Avoid plants with tender buds and foliage, such as hostas (Hosta sp.), tulips (Tulipa sp.) and daylilies (Hemerocallis sp.).
- Try plants with strong smelling foliage, such as catmint (Nepeta sp.) and lavender (Lavendula sp.).
- Try plants with prickly or tough leaves, such as Oregon grape (Mahonia repens) or red-hot poker (Kniphofia sp.).
- Deer generally avoid plants with thorns, such as wild rose (Rosa woodsii) and barberry (Berberis, sp.).
Tip #3: Consider using repellants
No repellant is 100% effective. Just as with deer-resistant plants, repellants aren’t a foolproof method. If you are going to use a repellant, always choose the least toxic option. Also keep these factors in mind:
- Fear works better than pain as a repellant. Look for products that have either putrescent eggs or pig’s blood as active ingredients. These scents stimulate fear, so the deer don’t touch the plant.
- Products that cause pain, such as chili powders that contain capsaicin, are not as effective. The deer must sample the plant to experience the pain, and at that point, your plant is already damaged.
- You may need to reapply repellants after rain.
- Repellents work better if there is another food source available. Basically, give them something better to choose instead.
- Having a dog in your yard can also work as a repellant without using any chemicals. However, keep in mind that it is illegal to use dogs to hunt deer in Â鶹ӳ».
Additional resources
Want to dive deeper into controlling deer and other pests, such as voles and woodpeckers? Check out our factsheet, , and this .
Â鶹ӳ» the author
coordinates ’s and . She has a unique background in landscape architecture and environmental education.
She’s a Â鶹ӳ» Licensed Landscape Architect and has a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies with an emphasis in education from San Jose State University. She has over 15 years of experience working for non-profits and environmental consulting firms, providing project management and community environmental education programming, including on water conservation, watershed management, weed education and urban runoff prevention.
Extension is a unit of the University's College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources engaged in Â鶹ӳ» communities, presenting research-based knowledge to address critical community needs. It is a county-state-federal partnership providing practical education to people, businesses and communities.
