(ND Ag Connection) – Tom Kalb, a horticulturist with NDSU Extension, recounts his experiences and lessons in protecting trees from deer in North Dakota. The onset of deer activity, characterized by bark scraping and tree munching, poses a significant challenge to orchards and landscapes.

Kalb’s first encounter with this issue was at a college orchard in Bismarck, where deer pruned newly planted trees. Rather than getting frustrated, he sought effective solutions. While extermination is the most effective method, it is often limited by legal restrictions, especially in areas like college campuses.

The next best solution is exclusion through physical barriers. In orchards, options like tree guards and chicken-wire fencing may not be practical. For deer, an 8-foot-high electrified fence is recommended, but this isn’t feasible in certain settings, like a college campus.

This leads to the least reliable but still effective option: repellents. Research indicates that repellents producing a sulfurous odor and inducing fear are most effective. Products like Liquid Fence, Deer Out, and Bobbex Deer Repellent contain elements such as rotting eggs, garlic, and herbs, creating a sense of predator presence to deer.

In his approach, Kalb used Liquid Fence, spraying it on the orchard’s branches monthly from fall through winter. Despite the repellent’s unpleasant smell during application, it proved effective. A visit to the orchard revealed a herd of deer grazing around but not inside the orchard, indicating the success of the repellent in keeping the deer at bay.

These experiences underscore the importance of using appropriate strategies to protect trees and orchards from deer. Whether through physical barriers or repellents, there are viable options to manage wildlife interaction with agricultural landscapes.