Snow is Not a Deer Deterrent

Over the course of the past month a large amount of snow has accumulated in New England towns. We don’t know about you- but we are ready for spring! Although many plantings on properties are now buried under feet of snow, those planted investments are still at risk of being ruined by deer.

Continuous, deep snow cover during late winter will cause deer, already with depleted fat reserves, to go into survival mode. This means that the need to survive will override the deer’s natural instinct of being afraid of humans.

By Mid-February most of the deer’s naturally occurring food supply has been depleted and deer will be more likely to search for food on residential properties. Deer will start their feeding by browsing on plants that are above the surface of the snow and will browse up to six feet above the ground.

When above surface resources are gone deer will resort to digging through the snow in search of more plantings to consume. The best way to deter deer from digging up plantings under the snow cover is to treat any trees or plants above the snow in the area with deer deterrent. This will stop the deer from wanting to come and look for food sources in that area.