The post below was originally published on September 25, 2010.
I decided it was a good one to reprint, especially after a phone call I
received a couple of weeks ago.
A neighbor called to say that she saw a coyote walking down the
street. YAY!!!! A four-legged animal I do not mind finding in my
yard. They hunt and kill critters. Destructive critters. And
my latest issue of National Parks magazine had an article on coyotes
living in Los Angeles.
We fight a battle here with squirrels and chipmunks trying to
work their way into our homes by chewing through the wood siding or sneaking
under the vinyl. And what a smell when they die in a stack pipe on the
roof - let alone the expense of getting them out. Enough already! And the deer. Ugh!
The city of Ann Arbor hired sharpshooters to cull the
population. I no longer feel bad for the deer when I see a dead one on
the side of the road. I just hope the motorist if OK.
I blame all of this nostalgia over four-footed creatures on Walt
Disney. He made Bambi and rodents look cute and desirable while ignoring
property damage to one's home. Since 2010 I have fenced my entire back yard and moved
all desirable 'deer food' plants to the protected area. They still come
through the front and check stuff out and actually will nip at plants they
don't like - just to be mean!
"Bambi has to go" and she can take Mother Goose with her!
I just received the latest issue of National Wildlife Magazine. There on page 31 is a story titled 'Oh Deer!'. Oh, dear, indeed!
The National Park Service in Washington, D.C. is busy counting deer in Rock Creek Park. The November 2009 census showed 67 whitetails per square mile. Fort Washington National Park counted 200 deer per square mile. And at Gettysburg, they are shooting the deer, not reenacting battles. (Ahem, Rochester Hills).
Deer eat everything under four feet tall. They'd eat taller stuff, but they can't reach it. Shrubs and seedlings are rapidly disappearing in Rock Creek, with shrub cover down by 40%. This results in less habitat for smaller mammals and birds. Tree regeneration is being affected. But for the deer, it is a bonanza, and thanks to the food, they are now having twins, making the population increase even faster.
Rock Creek has a deer management plan to reduce the population to 15 to 20 deer per square mile using sharpshooters and euthanasia. Not everyone in the area is happy about the plan, but it was one local resident who said at a meeting, "Bambi, has to go".
So, I agree with the woman. And while we are at, let's get rid of Mother Goose too. Plant damage aside, I personally am tired of cleaning deer scat and goose droppings out of my yard. Yuck!
P.S. For those who say the deer were here first, I've lived in my home since 1972 and have only seen deer in the last ten years. I wonder if Mr. Big will be back this fall?
The National Park Service in Washington, D.C. is busy counting deer in Rock Creek Park. The November 2009 census showed 67 whitetails per square mile. Fort Washington National Park counted 200 deer per square mile. And at Gettysburg, they are shooting the deer, not reenacting battles. (Ahem, Rochester Hills).
Deer eat everything under four feet tall. They'd eat taller stuff, but they can't reach it. Shrubs and seedlings are rapidly disappearing in Rock Creek, with shrub cover down by 40%. This results in less habitat for smaller mammals and birds. Tree regeneration is being affected. But for the deer, it is a bonanza, and thanks to the food, they are now having twins, making the population increase even faster.
Rock Creek has a deer management plan to reduce the population to 15 to 20 deer per square mile using sharpshooters and euthanasia. Not everyone in the area is happy about the plan, but it was one local resident who said at a meeting, "Bambi, has to go".
So, I agree with the woman. And while we are at, let's get rid of Mother Goose too. Plant damage aside, I personally am tired of cleaning deer scat and goose droppings out of my yard. Yuck!
P.S. For those who say the deer were here first, I've lived in my home since 1972 and have only seen deer in the last ten years. I wonder if Mr. Big will be back this fall?
I particularly agree about the geese. We have Canada geese wandering all over the place and you just can't walk anywhere without treading in their droppings. I have friends who's back yard leads to the local river and their yard gets covered in droppings too. I would hate that.
ReplyDeleteYeah. Nothing like taking Charlie for a walk and stepping in goose poop.
DeleteMr. Big looks mighty tasty.
ReplyDeleteI am one of those who still gets excited when a deer comes into my yard. I love to watch them. They are so regal looking. But then again I don't have a yard that I have spent 'millions' on so it is okay if they want to nibble on my 'weeds'. I also love the squirrels. In fact, I make sure I put corn out for them every single day!! I wouldn't want geese droppings in my yard however.
ReplyDeleteMy husband saw a guy hit a deer last night on his way home. They're EVERYWHERE on this road. And it's against whatever laws to kill them. They looked into hiring sharpshooters or allowing hunting, but animal rights people went crazy. Same argument you mentioned--they were hear first, blah blah.
ReplyDeleteI just saw another dead deer on Saturday. No sympathy from me. He was quite big and I imagine did a good bit of damage to someone's car.
DeleteDo Coyotes eat cats & dogs as well as critters? I only ask because I can imagine the uproar if they were ever to turn up in the UK (Coyotes that is) most people here have some kind of small animal as a pet. I’m afraid I’m a bit soft when it comes to squirrels and deer, but then I’ve never had to put up with any problems from them. As for Chipmunks – I’ve only ever seen them on TV. It’s interesting to read about these things from someone else's perspective.
ReplyDeleteThe studies going on in LA have had sightings of coyotes ignoring domestic animals. I am guessing they would eat one if hungry enough. I've had the leavings of ground hogs and rabbits that were likely killed by them. Saves me $50 that I would have to pay the trapper. I cheer everytime I see the hawks overhead, knowing that they love chipmunks.
DeleteBy the time my mother in law finally sold her suburban New York City home last year,deer and wild turkey sightings had become common. She gave up her garden years ago in total frustration. It isn't as bad where I live - yet, but the squirrels have decided to wage total war on all my hanging baskets and I fear this is only their initial salvo in what may become a long and frustrating war. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThey deer have again come right up to the house to eat despite the fact there is a huge park behind me with plenty of food. The red ground squirrels keep pulling on the screens trying to get in. It is very frustrating when the law tells me I can kill a coyote on my property without a permit, but cannot trap a squirrel trying to invade my house.
DeleteYes, the deer were here before us...but so were wolves that people have decimated which resulted in the deer exploding and be everywhere. When one gets rid of their natural predator one upsets the balance. Now speaking of Bambi getting his just desserts, please go to YouTube and put in Bambi meets Godzilla(1969). It's less than 2 minutes long...enjoy:)
ReplyDeleteI talked to a young man yesterday who luckily survived a car crash with a deer on the highway three years ago. His car was totaled. Better several dead deer from hunting or hired sharp-shooters than the ten people who lost their lives in Michigan last year after hitting a deer.
DeleteJust catching up from the Last FlashBack Friday. Your post is interesting and I've had the same conflicting feelings about who takes priority, us or the critters. I've got a flock of Canada Geese that visit me. Beautiful to look at, especially in the Spring when they bring their family, but a real intimidating nuisance in many ways.
ReplyDeletehttps://meinthemiddlewrites.com/2016/09/30/me-in-the-middle-turns-one-year-old/
Well, when folks pay for a lake front home and incur ginormous tax bills, the last thing they want is to have their beach covered in goose poop. Or, as it happens here, to have non-native swans attack them when they try to go in the water. I am sure in my mind as to who takes priority.
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