Are Deer Rubbing You the Wrong Way?

Are you noticing more deer in your yard lately? Do they seem less cautious than usual? Why? Because deer are mating right now. This season is called "Rutting". It is the time that male deer are marking their territory to attract females and warning other males to stay away. They typically mark their territory by rubbing on the bark of trees.  


Another reason deer will rub against trees is to remove the velvet from their antlers and even when the velvet is removed, they will still rub and scrape trees to polish their antlers.

Unfortunately, all this rubbing and scraping on trees can cause damage to the trees, especially to the bark. Trees favorable to deer can vary in size from just a little sapling to a mature tree 4" to 8" wide.

However, trees have a remarkable ability to naturally close the wound themselves. Once the tree is damaged it will form walls or calluses to slowly cover the damaged area.

Avoid the urge to apply any wound dressings as this will only seal in moisture which can promote further damage later or worse, encourage insects. It is much better that the tree has air and sun to heal on its own. If the damage is severe, gently cutting off the jagged pieces of bark around the edge will help the tree start to cover the wound.

Most often, if the damage has not gone to far into the "Cambium" layer of the tree it will survive by forming a callus over the damaged area thus, beginning to heal itself.

The cambium layer can be found just beneath the bark of the tree and it is responsible for the growth and physical structure that holds the tree up off the ground giving it its strength and flexibility.

What can you do to prevent deer damage on your trees? There are many options available.

- Install a vinyl or wire cage around the trunk of your trees. This method is highly recommended as it gives the trunk air and sunlight.

- Vinyl or gauze like tree wrap can be placed around the trunk of the tree.

- Deer spray can be applied.



In spring, the deer wrap can be removed as rutting season typically begins in November just as the days get shorter and lasts between 1-3 months. However, if you live in a very populated deer area, you may want to leave the tree protection on but check it every so often to make sure it is not hindering the growth habit of your tree.