Thanks to state management efforts, white-tailed deer populations have successfully recovered from near-extirpation. However, this success doesn’t come without its own challenges. As their populations grow, they expand their grazing to agricultural fields, gardens and landscaping, and roadsides. Unfortunately, this grazing is not insubstantial and results in serious financial impacts to both producers and individuals.
White-tailed deer cause significant losses on farms by feeding on the crops themselves. White-tailed deer will readily feed on soybeans, corn, cotton, sorghum, and peanuts. Much of the damage done to crops occurs in the first weeks of their growth. If deer can access natural forage, they may be less inclined to browse in farm fields. This means that crops are more vulnerable in times of low natural food availability – such as winter. Higher deer populations in an area can also increase the pressure put on crops by deer, because the deer are in competition with one another and may venture into farm fields for easy browsing access. The amount of damage varies and often depends on the number of deer in the area and access to other food sources. Deer often bite the tops of plants when they feed and will leave a jagged edge, which can be a helpful thing to look for when determining whether it is deer or rabbit damage. Fields that are close to forested areas or other suitable deer habitat are at an increased risk. There are many ways to prevent or reduce deer damage.
Deer in Field of Row Crops (Photo by Adobe Stock)
White-tailed deer can damage forests in a variety of ways. Acorns produced by oak trees are a highly sought-after food source for deer. Large populations of deer feeding on acorns can lead to a reduction in oak regeneration. Deer will also reduce the number of plant species in an area by feeding on them. The reduction in native species, along with their own grazing of non-native species, can facilitate the spread non-native species. Deer will also damage seedlings by feeding on parts of the plant. As with row-crops, damage tends to occur when deer populations are high.
In suburban and urban environments, deer populations will commonly rely on residential landscaping and gardens for their grazing due to the abundance of easily accessible forage and reduced pressure from predators, like coyotes. Deer often target flowerbeds and damage gardens as they browse. However, there are measures that can be taken to prevent damage, such as exclusion or planting deer-resistant plants and protecting their gardens through fencing and deterrents. There are also measures landowners can take to make their yards less hospitable environments for deer. This includes motion-activated lights and sprinklers, removing bird feeders, ultrasonic sound repellents, and owning dogs.
Deer in garden (Photo by Adobe Stock)
White-tailed deer tend to be shy animals that will flee when they encounter a person; however, people should be aware that confrontations with deer are not without risk. Injuries to hunters, hikers, and pets are not uncommon during both their breeding and fawning seasons. In 2022, SC DNR reported 24 hunting incidents - one of which was unfortunately fatal. Caution should be taken when approaching deer. The greatest risk to humans is through vehicle collisions. Deer collide with thousands of vehicles each year in South Carolina. Collisions with deer lead to vehicle damage, injuries, and potentially fatalities. In 2023, deer-vehicle collisions caused 412 injuries, 23 serious, and 6 deaths. Motorists who find themselves facing a collision with a deer are advised to maintain their course and avoid swerving, as it can lead to collisions with other vehicles or objects at the edge of the road.
Deer crossing street (Photo by Adobe Stock)
