Hmmm ... These aren't in my Audubon field guide

First squirrels ... now deer!

Deer can empty a feeder in one night. Controlling them is not always easy.

A platform feeder hanging from a pole or tree is an open invitation for deer. They will even use their tongue to suck seed from the small ports of tube-style feeders. Cracked corn and black oil sunflower are especially favorite foods.

Keep in mind that a whitetail deer when standing on its hind legs can reach a height of 8 feet. More about that later.


Safflower seed

Several folk remedies have been used in the past. Try hanging human hair, pungent Irish Spring bar soap, noisy chimes or aluminum pie plates around your feeders. These techniques sometimes work; on other occasions deer ignore them out of hunger.

A simple solution is to replace your regular seed mix with straight safflower seed. Safflower has a bitter taste that most mammals avoid, yet most backyard birds eat readily. (Two exceptions are starlings and blackbirds; for some reason they won't eat safflower.)

Another option is to add hot pepper solution to your seed. Mammals find the hot pepper distasteful but birds won't notice they difference. They have few taste buds (and apparently a cast-iron stomach). The Bird House carries Cole's Flaming Squirrel Seed Sauce, which should work against deer too.

Hot pepper sauce

Deer have habits. You may wish to stop feeding for a week or two. Deer will look elsewhere for food. However, they do have good memories. They may return to a feeder just in case the food is back.

Yet another possibility is to raise the height of the feeder. The deer may be unable to reach the seed. The disadvantage, though, is that refilling the feeder may present a chore for you. Make sure any pole is strong and anchored deeply into the ground. Otherwise a deer could lean against it to reach the seed. (Bears are notorious for this technique.)

Some people hang their feeders on a cable between the house and a tall pole—a system similar to wash lines in the past to dry the laundry. Place the pole well above the deer's reach. Use the pulley to bring the feeder to the house to refill.

One final option is to take your feeders indoors at night. Remove any leftover seed that has fallen onto the ground during the day. That way, there will be nothing of interest for the deer.

And keep in mind that time takes care of itself. The snow is disappearing and green shoots soon will emerge. With any luck, your problem with deer may lessen.