Deer, Elk, and Aspen, Part 2

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The remedy described in Part 1 is effective but it is not an overall solution.

 It is essential to recognize that the enemy is multifaceted.  Here in Evergreen it is deer and elk; males and females; herds, groups, and single animals; seasonal differences in behavior, such as male mating/hormone aggressiveness in the fall; seasonal foliage differences; and perhaps many other influences.

 Over the summer during periods of heavy leaf growth some trees were eaten almost entirely and/or cracked or eaten near the top.  The chicken wire cylinders remained mostly in tact but were bent or rearranged.  What caused the failure is that the trees were growing rapidly, became “rubbery,” and leaves drooped or grew through the fencing.  The animals are also quite capable of jumping up.  As described in Part 1, almost anything accessible will be reached and gobbled.  If the tree is not high enough or strong enough it will be pulled down.

 Not only does the overall solution require ongoing care, it needs additional strength and height in extreme situations.  The chicken wire cylinders continue to be effective, inexpensive, and easy-to-install protection for relatively mature trees.

Front grove in October 2004 with leaves still green.

The cylinders worked about as well as could be expected in the front grove.  All the completely enclosed (up to 6 feet)  trees survived and grew significant leaves.  This was despite some branches which grew to be accessible to the beasts.  The grove is also somewhat protected by a snow fence along the front of the hill; a small, very loose wooden fence along one side, and a car sometimes parked to the left.  Still, the trees grew skyward and became much, much stronger.  Three or four tress only partially wrapped did endure munching; these now need to be trimmed and protected in the method described in Part 1.

 Recently three of the cylinders were ripped off--two were removed entirely and another was lifted halfway up a small tree.  This seems to have been done by deer that appear to dig more aggressively at the base as there was new growth there.  Deer have been in the area for the past week or two, including several large males.  Still, the severity of the “attack,” as well as the markings/damage to the grass, suggests elk, and perhaps, large aggressive bull(s).  Regardless, the cylinders proved vulnerable.

The cylinders that failed did so for two reasons:  the fencing material and the ties were not strong enough.

October, 2004.

The picture on the left shows this additional step.  The ungulate “browsing” is extremely efficient—by the end of the summer the wrapped trees survived but other new growth was eaten; what was left were noticeable “clumps” of trees.  Each of these groups of 2-5 trees is wrapped in an additional chicken wire cylinder up to approximately 6½ feet.  A 6 ½ foot high metal t-post is placed in the ground at the base of each group of trees and the second wrap is secured to the post.  When installing the t-post it is important to place it to avoid crushing roots.  It is expected that as the trees grow each individual “pillar” will become increasingly sturdy.  It is also anticipated that this additional protection will be temporary.

The photograph on the right shows the top of one of these additional cylindrical wrappings.  This one contains two trees.  Even at this height—over 7 feet tall—the tops were pulled down and eaten.  The overall structure is now secure enough so that this would appear to be unlikely.       It is worth repeating that the original wire cylinders did help even in the frequently ravaged, very accessible side grove.  Each of the fledgling trees did survive—which ordinarily would not have happened—although they all were eaten to some extent.  At the time the additional wrappings were installed (the first week of October), leaves were beginning to turn and fall and a large group of deer was frequently in the yard.  This further step appears to have saved the trees from much more severe damage.

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