Regular summer activities including yard and garden maintenance are in full swing and the possibility is there that you and your neighbours won’t be the only ones stopping by to admire all your hard work. The City of Cranbrook’s urban deer population – both mule and white tail deer – will be active in many areas of the community looking to make a meal out of many plants and shrubs.

In spring and summer months, mule deer eat a variety of herbaceous plants and grasses during the summer, even though they are primarily browsers of shrubs. There are a few techniques that can be used to protect your property from deer damage.

“With a combination of landscaping with deer resistant plants, fencing, hazing techniques and deer repellents, you can protect your property from deer damage,” says Mayor Wayne Stetski. “Fencing is really the only guaranteed method to preventing damage from deer in your yard.”

In the city’s Zoning Bylaw under Fencing, in all residential zones, the maximum height for a fence in the front yard is 1 metre and all other yards, 1.8 metres.

Talk with your landscape professional or visit your favourite local nursery to find out more about deer- resistant plants that thrive locally.

The City of Cranbrook has an information brochure, ‘Living with Urban Deer,’ which is available for pick up at City Hall or by downloading a copy from the City’s website – www.cranbrook.ca.

The Ministry of Environment website also has much information on how to reduce deer conflicts in your yard.

City of Cranbrook

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