Comparison of two repellents for reducing deer damage to Japanese yews during winter
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Published source details
Conover M.R. (1987) Comparison of two repellents for reducing deer damage to Japanese yews during winter. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 15, 265-268.
Published source details Conover M.R. (1987) Comparison of two repellents for reducing deer damage to Japanese yews during winter. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 15, 265-268.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Use repellents that taste bad (‘contact repellents’) to deter crop or property damage by mammals to reduce human-wildlife conflict Action Link |
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Use repellents that taste bad (‘contact repellents’) to deter crop or property damage by mammals to reduce human-wildlife conflict
A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 1982–1985 at three tree nursery sites in Connecticut, USA (Conover 1987) found that treating Japanese yew trees Taxus cuspidata with commercially available repellents reduced subsequent losses to herbivory by white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus. Results were not tested for statistical significance. The proportion of shoots browsed by white-tailed deer on trees treated with repellents (23%) was lower than the proportion browsed on untreated trees (41%). Over the three winters from 1982 to 1985, a total of 16 blocks of Japanese yew across three sites were studied. Each block was split into three plots (0.2–0.3 ha), which were randomly assigned to Big Game Repellent, Hinder® repellent or no treatment. Repellent was applied once annually, in November, following manufacturer instructions. Herbivory was assessed the following March, by inspecting 500–1,000 branch terminals in each plot.
(Summarised by: Nick Littlewood)
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