Re: bd method for deer problem?

[Thomas Giannou]

Hi Virginia,   Mycorrhiza applied to the roots of trees will certainly help the trees... especially if nutrients are balanced out in those soils, but that wasn't what kept the deer away from the fruit trees I was writing about.  I think it was the plastic streamers hanging down from the limbs of those trees that were treated with mycorrhiza.  The orchard was in a windy location and the orange plastic streamers flapping in the wind were the only thing that distinguished treated and untreated trees.  I think the reason the deer didn't bother those young treated trees was because of the plastic streamers.  I think those streamers were spooking the deer.  Those were all young trees that were planted.  I doubt that it was because the trees were treated with mycorrhiza that kept the deer from eating them.  If anything, those trees would have a lot more nourishment to them for the deer.  Again, I think the reason was the orange streamer hanging down and blowing in the wind that spooked the deer.  As I recall, every other tree had a streamer on it.    You might try putting streamers on every other tree with the hope that the deer will go after the trees that don't have streamers hanging down.  I would also do a row or two of trees that had streamers hanging down on every tree to see if that worked.  I'm thinking that if you leave some trees for the deer to eat they might go to those trees and leave the ones with the streamers alone.  If all the trees have streamers, it might not work.  If this really works, then if half your trees were covered with streamers or 2/3's of your trees were covered with streamers and the deer would make a decision to go only to the trees without streamers to eat, then half or 2/3's of your trees might be spared.  It would be better to have them stay away from half your trees than to eat all of the trees.  As I said before, this might be worth checking out.  I have observed this effect once in an orchard that was newly planted and located in an area where the wind was frequently blowing.   I can also relate to your idea of burning hides from deer.  I have a friend who traps in Canada and he will shoot a raven and hang it near his coyote traps to keep the birds from eating the bait.  Perhaps some raw hide strips hanging in a tree might deter the deer?  Hard to say.   Best Regards, Thomas Giannou http://www.tandjenterprises.com     ----- Original Message ----- From: Virginia Salares To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, December 28, 2001 8:00 AM Subject: bd method for deer problem? (Thomas, trees that were treated with mycorrhiza were not spared, but I can try again.  I plan to start using BD preps next year.)   I have not tried hanging human hair nor sprayed rotten egg or commercial preps, which require frequent re-applications.  For personal reasons, dogs are not an option.   I understand that peppering works for mice and other pests.  Should the same method not work for deer?  I have gotten this far with the charred hide (to the amusement of everyone who has heard about it).  On with the experiment....   Virginia Salares