The leaves are turning color, there’s a chill to the air and days are growing shorter. For deer, Fall is mating season. Over the summer the bucks have grown magnificent antlers, which are very attractive to does.
Typical tree damaged from deer rubbing.
The male deer rutting season can be very damaging to newly planted trees and shrubs. Rutting season starts in early September and can continue to mid-December. Their antlers have grown during the summer and are now covered with a soft velvety nap which they need to remove to sharpen and hone their antlers. They also have a strong desire to mark their territory by spreading their scent which is accomplished by rubbing their scent glands onto trees and shrubs.
Tree trunks are their preferred sharpening tool – great for the deer – but not so great for the trees. The tree’s cambium layer, a thin membrane just underneath the outer layer of bark, is the lifeblood of the tree. It is responsible for carrying water and nutrients from the soil to the leaves and vice versa. When deer rub against the tree, they shred, or even completely abrade, this layer. Should the damage go all the way around the trunk, the tree is girdled. A girdled tree will die. Of course, young trees, less than 5” in caliper, seem to work best for antler sharpening.
Now is the ideal time to protect your trees from deer damage. There are several ways to do this. Here are some of the suggestions:
Click Here for more detailed information from The University of Illinois Extension Service.
