Screening of Odor and Taste Repellents for Control of White-tailed Deer Browse to Apples or Apple Shoots
A rapid method was developed for evaluating deer repellents using apples or apple shoots were placed on 1 m (3.3 ft) stakes in a highly populated white-tailed deer area. Big Game Repellent (BGR, Putrescent whole egg solids (37%)), Hot Sauce (Capsaicin (2.5%)), and Lifebouy soap (scented or unscented) were the most effective repellents, but they repelled deer for only very short periods of time (1 to 6 days). The perfume from Lifebuoy soap also showed some repellency. Dilution of any of the repellents reduced their effectiveness for inhibiting deer browse. Deer readily accepted apples placed on stakes, but they would not touch broccoli heads.Abstract
Contributor Notes
2Professor, Agricultural Manager, and Agricultural Manager, resp. Appreciation is extended to the National Zoological Park, Smithsonian institute, Front Royal, VA for use of their facilities for conducting these experiments and to the Virginia Commission of Game and inland Fisheries, ICI Americas, Inc., and Miller Chemical for financial support.