Never mind keeping the cats out...

smartie · #1 (**permalink**) 24-02-2007, 07:12 AM

What about these lovelies?

She was on her own this morning - left her chap to mind the little one - and consented to pose for a photo before sauntering off to see what's new in the flower beds. So the annual battle begins - and I always lose!!

Any helpful suggestions which don't involve harming the animals will be given due consideration.

Martin Wilson · #2 (**permalink**) 24-02-2007, 08:41 AM

A problem I do not get..living on an Island stops most migration of the four legged variety.
Birds two legs, and blessed with flight "mostly"

.
Have you tried one of those Japanese Deer Knockers, you see them in Oriental Water Gardens made of Bamboo and counter balanced so when they fill with water they drop down and make a loud "Donk" sound. I thought that they were designed for this purpose.
Good luck in whatever you do I sympathise with your problem...
....A beautiful animal not quite where you want it...

Martin

Is it a Musk Deer I have no Idea, I have only heard tell of them.

nightshade · #3 (**permalink**) 24-02-2007, 10:24 AM

Martin beat me to it ,the deer scarer,or cheaper, Video tape
stretched taut between posts or branches
I used to use them on my Kites (the string and sticks variety) Scary!

smartie · #4 (**permalink**) 24-02-2007, 10:57 AM

It's a muntjac, Martin. Smaller but no less deadly to the flowers and vegetables. Note how sleek and well fed it is

We've thought of a deer scarer, and I'm sure you are right we should give it a try - the problem is where to put it. Or maybe how many we need. Our boundary is leaky at almost all points and measures about 300m. Can't afford to reinforce all of it. They ooze through any hedge, however prickly, and have been observed to jump about 8 ft. We've tried hanging shiny or fluttery stuff round the border but they just got used to it. We put wire netting up across the most leaky places and they dug scrapes under it. Not tried the videotape idea - I've got plenty of redundant ones. I'll try it and let you know...

Martin Wilson · #5 (**permalink**) 24-02-2007, 12:52 PM

Going back many years, when I was a kid in Ghana my Mums garden was always attacked, mostly at night by all sorts of animals one of the main culprits was a Bush Dyker ( can not or do not remember its real name) very similar to the southern African Dik dik except it lived in the bush of West Africa and was smaller.
Point being she had a few Scarecrows fashioned out of palm fronds, a little like the Wicker Man and they used to stand guardian over her garden, they would rustle in the wind and at night could be seen by their sharp nocturnal eyes as well as being heard.
As nightshade has said a little VCR tape would do the same maybe on a willow frame but it what you require in your garden.
It could be quite rural and esthetically pleasing to your eye as well.
My God!! thats brings back memories, scarred me to bits at first.

Martin

badgerwatcher · #6 (**permalink**) 24-02-2007, 01:31 PM

Oh Smartie, how pretty, and certainly not undernourished!

What a difficult dilemma!
Are they afraid of snakes? Maybe a few joke shop snakes among the veg patches? Or an intermittant hose spray? Or bright lights on randomised timers? Or two sticks twisted with an elastic band and rested carefully here and there, so that they jump up and startle the deer?

Gaina · #7 (**permalink**) 24-02-2007, 04:29 PM

What about putting something irresistable in the opposite end of the garden to your flowers? A bit like putting some jam on a saucer away from your garden table so the wasps don't come on your food?

Or you could just bundle her into a trailer and send the little sweetie to me - I've got half an acre she can munch to her hearts' content!

Kayleigh · #8 (**permalink**) 24-02-2007, 05:26 PM

You could try electric fencing used for horses. Not cheep but very affective and you can treat a large area. It works off a car battery and has plastic poles that stick into the ground. Once the deer have touched it once they will not go near it again.

We used to test it was working by touching it with a blade of grass

Garden Carpet · #9 (**permalink**) 24-02-2007, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

You could try electric fencing used for horses. Not cheep but very affective and you can treat a large area. It works off a car battery and has plastic poles that stick into the ground. Once the deer have touched it once they will not go near it again.

We used to test it was working by touching it with a blade of grass

b****** the flowers.. give me the dear... she is gorgous!