Seen in Print

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Or get yourself a pet bear.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Try a big block of salt from Agway. Give them something better to eat then your flowers.

Wouldn't they simply consider that a condiment to their main course

I used coyote pee, sprayed on copiously. I swear, I think they get high on it, and certainly are not offended nor deterred by it. I spray so much that you can stand several houses away from mine and get onehellofa stench, which lingers, drifting at ya'. I tried little containers of godknowzwhat that hang from and in the shrubs, but they seem to be of no avail, since the foliage is stripped from the branches right next to them!

[MurphOnMillerAve]

But the deer have an established route, which takes them from one yard to the next, with mine as a kind of hub, of sorts. It would do no good to sabotage my neighbors (not that I would) because the deer would have to pass thru my yard to get elsewhere, and they have never been able to pass up the treats.

Deer will change routes - they changed to find your house and dro by for a cup of tea and a nibble on your shrubs.

Change the route again to someplace with something they like better like at a nearby park..

Get them to change their routes? And how would I do that - read to them?
And concerning any nearby park, I've been told that is where they are headed after our blocks.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

But the deer have an established route, which takes them from one yard to the next, with mine as a kind of hub, of sorts. It would do no good to sabotage my neighbors (not that I would) because the deer would have to pass thru my yard to get elsewhere, and they have never been able to pass up the treats.

Deer will change routes - they changed to find your house and dro by for a cup of tea and a nibble on your shrubs.

Change the route again to someplace with something they like better like at a nearby park..

Get them to change their routes? And how would I do that - read to them?

You have to offer them something better, somewhere else.

Well, if you're not willing to try and just want to complain, you'll get what you have which sort of defines a lot of the country these days. I want something to change but I'm not willing to do anything except complain and blame others for my unwillingness to try....so, yes, go read to them - read Bambi to them and show it on a screen in the back yard.

Set up a salt lick there and you and deer can have a good time together.

And concerning any nearby park, I've been told that is where they are headed after our blocks.

Ok, their destination has something there they want. Where are they coming from to get to your neighborhood - origination & entry point. Have to divert them either physically or bribery.

I'm amazed that your local animal control folks are so inept - I'm pretty sure that you pay taxes for their help. Maybe you and your neighbors need to get together and push to get some local laws changed so you can have a controlled bow hunt. That did get done here and it worked enough, and the food banks got the food, so no waste there.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I used coyote pee, sprayed on copiously.

Probably will attract coyotes now, well maybe only the female ones feeling very friendly towards you

[MurphOnMillerAve]

I used coyote pee, sprayed on copiously.

Probably will attract coyotes now, well maybe only the female ones feeling very friendly towards you

Oh. Ah. Good point. Never thought of that. I'll have to cut-back on the peeing. Or maybe not.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

..
Ok, their destination has something there they want. Where are they coming from to get to your neighborhood - origination & entry point. Have to divert them either physically or bribery. ...

We are surrounded by woods, and an extensive forest runs alongside nearby Rt.80, all the way to Delaware Water Gap, and beyond, into Pennsylvania. The suburbs are pretty compact, but the trees are their pathway and refuge. Also, I have concluded my stand of trees along the whole length of the west side of my property, seen here, gives the deer the impression they are still in the woods, I' d imagine, and my trees are not going anywhere, since they afford us privacy and a buffer from the roadway.

The tree on the far left is the Blue spruce the deer never touch. In the foreground is the stick-garden of struggling variegated plants. The shrub immediately to the left of and alongside the house is the arborvitae which the deer have sheared to look like an ice cream cone holding a foliage treat on the top half.

In the green photo taken last September, that is the yard across the street from us, and you can see the start of the trees that continue and lead right up to the woods, just four houses away from us. As you can see, the deer have that neighbor's shrub in the foreground of the photo almost fully de-foliated, right up as far as they can reach. The stump next to it is of a bush they already destroyed, which was then cut down.

[Tom Dempsey]

So you have, in essence, decided to live in the woods, and are expressing consternation that the woodland creatures who lived there previously have refused to give up their digs?

[MurphOnMillerAve]

So you have, in essence, decided to live in the woods, and are expressing consternation that the woodland creatures who lived there previously have refused to give up their digs?

Yes.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

And to underscore your point, this neighborhood was an actual part of the nearby woods until not too long ago. In fact, my wife used to drive by this area when in college and knew it then only as a heavily wooded area.

However, there are people who kill and eat all such cuddly-wuddly little and large "woodland creatures." I do not. I just want them to leave my greenery alone. Woodland areas being cleared is the history of a significant part of the world. Manhattan was, at one time, a wooded island. Life goes onward. People move in. They build stuff. I have no particular pity for the animals that are lurking outside my door, pooping in my yard (which I do not mind), and walking through. Through would be the operative word there. Thru. As in, in one end and out the other, unmolested, I might add. So, I should accept their molesting me? Yeah, right. They are all lucky I do not take Rufus' suggestion and buy a gun and start shooting (which I couldn't do anyolways. )
See?
Life is complicated. Huh.
P.S. I believe Wayne could quote some Scripture regarding how humans may consider animals.
P.P.S. If I may ask, are you a vegetarian?

[Tom Dempsey]

Lordy no, I love me some meat, any kind will do. I merely point out that the world does move on, and deer eat green stuff that grows outside houses. If you are going to live in the woods and grow succulent looking food stuff for them, why complain when they avail themselves of what to them is a buffet set out by the nice man in the big house. Do you also expect dogs not to bark, birds not to chirp, fish not to swim?

[MurphOnMillerAve]

I expect nothing. But I do like to come here for a little abuse.
Poor me. (I wish you could hear my voice, the way I'm saying that.)

[HONDO74]

They are all lucky I do not take Rufus' suggestion and buy a gun and start shooting (which I couldn't do anyolways. )

New Jersey has some of the most restricted gun laws in this country. You might find out that you would not be able to buy one especial a hand gun.
Gun laws in New Jersey
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_New_Jersey

[Rufus T. Firefly]

[HONDO74]

Coyote Killed in NY Had Rabies, 2nd Remains at Large, Police Warn
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/R ... 44583.html

The coyote that was killed amid a string of attacks on people and pets in Westchester this week had rabies, police announced Saturday, warning that another coyote remains on the loose and is likely rabid too.

Residents are advised to stay out of wooded areas and keep their pets inside if possible