Pine Trees eaten by deer

Question: Will Pine trees eaten by deer come back. They ate the total row of 29 trees. Do you have any suggestions as far as keeping them away in the future?

responder: Deb Kroon  Replied April 15, 2023, 11:20 AM EDT
response: Good morning Linda.  Thank you for reaching out to ask2.extension.  I am so sorry for your problems.  I found this on the Illinois University extension website. Deer can feed on and damage terminal and side branches of small trees and shrubs and they've sure done plenty of this on evergreens this winter. You can see in the first picture how deer have eaten off almost all the foliage that they can reach on this evergreen. ( their pictures looked like yours)  Evergreens are usually not deer's first choice of meal, but with the constant snow cover we've had, that may have just been the only available food for these deer. Repellents could have been used throughout the winter to prevent feeding, as long as reapplied frequently.But remember, if deer are starving, there is little that will prevent feeding.High fencing can be also used to exclude deer. So what's the prognosis for these trees? Iowa State notes that the key to the condition of damaged evergreens is the presence of growing points or buds on the injured branches. Branches that have had all their buds devoured by hungry animals will not produce new growth this spring. As a result, some small evergreens may have been completely destroyed. Larger evergreens may have permanently lost their lower branches. Since buds on arborvitae and junipers are difficult to see, individuals may want to wait until spring before taking any action. Branches that don't produce new growth by mid-June have been destroyed and can be removed. On the U of MN extension site you can find ways to prevent deer from eating, but I think your area may be way to big.  I have learned that if you use fencing, keep it as narrow as you can to keep out deer, but if an area is not large enough for a deer to get in and out of they won’t enter.  If you are interested go to extension.umn.edu and search how to manage deer damage.  Unfortunately once deer visit a spot, they will probably return. I would probably leave your trees and see what happens.  Again I am so sorry.

responder: The Question Asker Replied April 17, 2023, 7:42 AM EDT
response: Thank you for the response. Is there anything being done to control the deer population?  When deer are on our property, destroying our property, what are our rights? On Sat, Apr 15, 2023 at 10:20 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Deb Kroon  Replied April 17, 2023, 10:06 AM EDT
response: I’m sorry Linda, I don’t know an answer to that.  I think you’d have to reach out to the DNR.  I know you can’t shoot a gun within a city limits, but other than that I don’t know.

responder: The Question Asker Replied April 17, 2023, 11:40 AM EDT
response: Last question.  Is there assistance by the Minnesota extension for the cost of replacing trees? ThanksLinda On Mon, Apr 17, 2023 at 9:06 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Deb Kroon  Replied April 17, 2023, 5:15 PM EDT
response: Good afternoon Linda.  I’m going to say that you should check with your county extension office.  They will be able to answer that question.