Tips To Keep Your Garden Free Of Deer Play This Summer

I don't know about antelope, but this time of year as we get our area gardens started, deer may be attracted to you growing plots to snack and play. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources says that despite the increased vegetation in the mountains from our record snowpack, wildlife may still migrate in to neighborhoods this summer in search of food and water.

If you want to try to save your plants — and also minimize any property damage from wildlife visiting your yard or garden — the DWR has some tips for you. Building an 8-foot fence around your garden or yard is the most effective method, and is often the only reliable way to keep deer out of your garden. Another fairly effective technique is to install a motion-activated sprinkler. You can also try planting unpalatable vegetation around the perimeter of your garden to deter deer from eating additional plants.

The DWR website is full of deer-friendly landscaping ideas if you live in an area frequented by big game animals.

While some people may want to prevent deer and other wildlife from eating their lawns or gardens, others may be looking for ways they can help hungry and thirsty animals this summer. While it may be tempting to provide feed or water for these animals, it can lead to unsafe situations for the animals and people. It is not illegal to feed wildlife — except for in certain cities that have enacted no-feeding ordinances — but there are several reasons that feeding wildlife is highly discouraged.

Among those reasons are concerns for public safety, the possibility of the spread of chronic wasting disease among deer, elk and moose along with potential harm to wildlife by introducing foods that are not in the diet of the wildlife.

The DWR reminds people that the best way you can help wildlife is by letting the animals stay wild.

You should also visit the DWR website to learn about common wildlife scenarios where you should contact the Division of Wildlife Resources.