Deer abound

Deer are everywhere this year. In fields, on haystacks and even inside grain bins, as the accompanying photos demonstrate. Beverly Greenan of Flaxcombe, Sask., sent us the deer-in-bin photo, noting the family had cleaned the bin and left the door open so a robin inside could escape.
“Our resident herd of whitetails took this open bin as an invitation to clean up the leftovers,” wrote Greenan. “I have seen as many as three at a time inside the bin.”

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Mickey Watkins of Craik, Sask., provided this photo of a herd on bale stacks. She reports that it has been a hard winter for deer in central Saskatchewan because of the cold and deep snow.
Anecdotal evidence suggests deer mortality is high as well on prairie roads, because the animals use them to avoid deep snow, to forage in ditches and lick salt used in winter road clearing.
Vehicle damage and injury are unfortunately common on Prairies. These tips for avoiding deer, compiled and released by the Alberta government, may seem like no-brainers but do any of us take this advice all the time?
Further down the list you’ll find tips on reducing wildlife damage to stacks and stored grain.

To reduce the chance of a collision with wildlife:
• Pay attention to all wildlife warning signs and drive accordingly.
• Drive at a speed appropriate to road conditions.
• Reduce speed at night, especially on unfamiliar rural roads lined with trees or near water.
• Scan the road and ditches for animals, especially when travelling at dawn or dusk.
• Slow down in a curve and when reaching the crest of a hill.
• Use high beams when possible. Deer’s eyes will glow when they catch light.
• Remember, at night, lights from oncoming traffic can make it difficult to see animals on the road.

• Improve visibility by keeping your vehicle’s windshield and headlights clean.

Agricultural producers may have problems with deer, moose or elk eating stored hay and livestock feed. Steps to reduce or eliminate this problem include the following:
• Move bales from the field to a feed yard or protected storage area.
• Use straw bales as a protective barrier for feed stores.
• Stack bales two tiers high so that fencing can be more effective.
• Store grain only in storage bins.
• Regularly monitor stored feed to ensure deterrence measures are working