*2.3.2 Hungry herd of deer*

Deer or true deer are hoofed ruminant mammals from the family Cervidae (diverse family after bovids) forming the Artiodactyla order. Deer are widely distributed in a variety of biomes, ranging from tundra (treeless mountain tract) to the tropical rainforest, prairie and savanna (open space). Deer are browsers, feed primarily on foliage of trees, grasses, shrubs, forbs and sedges, and secondarily on lichens during winter in northern latitudes. Spotted deer also known as chital deer or axis deer (*Axis axis*), males are bigger than females, antlers are only present on males, upper portions are golden to rufous and covered completely with white spots (**Figure 27**). The throat, ears, rump, insides of legs, tail and abdomen are whole white, whereas a noticeable black stripe goes alongside to back bone [59].

Deer are stylish creatures that can cause extensive damage to strawberry plants. Deer forage on the foliage of strawberries and can consume the entire plant leaving only a stub. Deer can cause serious damage to strawberry plants unless precautions are taken. Deer feed on the leaves and fruit of strawberry plants, and can also trample

**Figure 27.** *Deer.*

plants. There are various methods that can be employed to have deer management and they can be fragmented down into two main types: nonlethal (chemical repellents, fencing to form a physical barrier and wildlife birth control using vaccines administered by dart or shot) and lethal (hunting for meat known as venison or a trophy using a bow and arrow, rifle, muzzle loader or other approved weapons) to keep them away or minimize the damage. Both these methods are used to regulate the population of deer in a specific area if their populations remain high for long periods [60].

Deer damage to orchards by nourishing on roots, leaves and stems of plant. Fortuitously, onion, garlic, catnip, dill, chives, oregano, lavender, sage, rosemary, thyme and spearmint retain deer away from lawn, garden and shrubbery. Even though persons find the odor of these herbs amusing, deer distaste to their fragrance and give a wide berth to areas planted with them. Growers can plant a boundary of more or one of these herbs round whole garden, lawn or landscape expanse, so they may enclose bushes or plants that deer find pretty. Blood meal, feather meal and marketable deer repellents positioned nearby the strawberry plants will be helpful to retain deer not there. It is superlative to usage these repellents earlier to deer start feeding on the plants. One more choice is to shelter the strawberry plants through set up a barrier round the whole orchard. But, this could be a pricey decision dependent on the bulk of the orchard and kind of material selected for the barrier. Odor repellents may keep deer out of gardens and options include soap, dog hair and human hair [61, 62].
